View source for PowerEdge

{{Short description|Server computer platform}}
{{Infobox computer
| name = Dell PowerEdge
| logo = Dell_EMC_PowerEdge_(2018).svg
| image = Dell PowerEdge servers.jpg
| caption = Dell PowerEdge rackmount servers
| type = Server
| developer = '''[[Dell]]'''
| manufacturer = 
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1994}}
| processor = [[x86]] (1994–current); {{br}}[[Itanium]] (circa 2005)
| os = [[Windows Server]]{{br}}[[Linux]]
| weight = 
| predecessor = [[PowerLine SE]]
| related = 
}}{{Redirect|R410|refrigerant|R-410A}}
[[File:Wikimedia Foundation Servers-8055 43.jpg|thumb|Rack-mounted 11th generation PowerEdge servers]]
[[File:Dell PowerEdge R610.jpg|thumb|right|Rack-mountable 11th generation (11G) PowerEdge R610 server with the case opened and the front bezel removed]]

The '''PowerEdge''' ('''PE''') line is [[Dell]]'s [[Server (computing)|server computer]] product line. PowerEdge machines come configured as [[computer tower|tower]], [[rack-mounted]], or [[blade server]]s. Dell uses a consistent chip-set across servers in the same generation regardless of packaging,<ref>
[http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/power/ps4q04-20040198-Fruehe.pdf Dell Extends the Scalable Enterprise with Eighth-Generation PowerEdge Servers]</ref> allowing for a common set of [[device driver|driver]]s and [[system image|system-image]]s.

== Lifecycle and Remanufactured Hardware ==

Dell offers remanufactured PowerEdge servers through its Global Dell Outlet (GDO) program. These systems undergo a rigorous refurbishment and testing process to meet Dell’s original specifications. Remanufactured units are backed by warranty and offer a cost-effective, enterprise-grade option for organizations managing server refresh cycles or expanding infrastructure without compromising on performance.

In 2025, Synergy Associates was recognized by CIOInsights as one of the Top 10 Leading Dell Partners Companies to Watch, in part due to their work with Dell Recertified hardware through the GDO program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Leading Dell Partners Companies to Watch in 2025 |url=https://www.cioinsights.com/magazine/top-10-leading-dell-partners-companies-to-watch-in-2025/#page=32 |website=CIOInsights |access-date=2025-04-18}}</ref>

A 2024 article from StorageReview highlights that Dell Recertified servers offered through the Global Dell Outlet (GDO) undergo full functional testing, firmware updates, and a complete operating system reset. The review notes that performance is comparable to new PowerEdge hardware, making them a viable option for production environments with tighter budgets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spend Less, Move Faster with Dell Recertified Servers |url=https://www.storagereview.com/review/spend-less-move-faster-with-dell-recertified-servers |website=StorageReview |date=2024 |access-date=2025-04-18}}</ref>

[[Original equipment manufacturer]]s (OEMs) and [[value-added reseller]]s also offer solutions based on PowerEdge servers. Loaded with custom software and with minor cosmetic changes, Dell's servers form the underlying hardware in certain [[computer appliance|appliance]]s from [[IronPort]],<ref>Dell Case-studies on the IronPort Email-security Appliance:[http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/2006_ironport_8.pdf Partners in Stopping Crime] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622190536/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/2006_ironport_8.pdf |date=2006-06-22 }}, February 2006, retrieved 28 June 2011</ref> [[Google]],<ref>Dell Case-studies on the Google Search Appliance:
[http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/508_2007_google_v11.pdf - In Search Mode] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520232758/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/508_2007_google_v11.pdf |date=2011-05-20 }}, June 2007, retrieved 28 June 2011</ref>[[Exinda]] Networks,<ref>ITWorld Canada website:
[http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/quad-cpus-gives-exinda-wan-optimization-a-kick/141136 Quad CPUs gives Exinda WAN optimization a kick], 21 July 2010, visited 28 June 2011</ref> and [[Enterasys]].<ref>Dell Case-studies: [http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/508_2007_google_v11.pdf Enterasys- Serving up Security] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520232758/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/508_2007_google_v11.pdf |date=2011-05-20 }}</ref>

==History==
The first PowerEdge systems were released in February 1994. The initial PowerEdge line comprised a range of 15 models, with the lowest-end entries powered by [[Intel]]'s [[i486]] processor and the highest-end entries powered by the newest [[Pentium (original)|Pentium]] processors.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Fitzgerald | first=Michael | date=January 31, 1994 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V2vIciLjnwQC&pg=PA17 | title=Dell server line to grow | journal=Computerworld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=28 | issue=5 | page=17 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Ladendorf | first=Kirk | date=February 8, 1994 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/256403647/ | title=Analysts applaud Dell's move to server line | journal=Austin American Statesman | page=E1 | via=ProQuest}}</ref> The PowerEdge replaced Dell's earlier PowerLine SE server range.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Betts | first=Kellyn | date=March 17, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6wZXSf0Yg78C&pg=PT240 | title=Dell PowerLine 433DE | journal=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=11 | issue=5 | pages=240–241 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Van Cura | first=Jeff | author2=Anne Kalliczak | date=January 20, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9T0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA97 | title=Caution greets Intel's 50-MHz 80486DX | journal=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=14 | issue=3 | pages=97–100 | via=Google Books}}</ref>

Most PowerEdge servers use the [[x86 architecture]]. The early exceptions to this, the PowerEdge 3250, PowerEdge 7150, and PowerEdge 7250, used Intel's [[Itanium]] processor, but Dell abandoned Itanium in 2005 after failing to find adoption in the marketplace.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB112674982696841415 Dell to Phase Out Computers Using Intel's Itanium]
</ref> The partnership between Intel and Dell remained close, with Intel remaining the exclusive source of [[Central processing unit|processors]] in Dell's servers until 2006. In May 2006 Dell announced that it also intended to develop servers using [[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] [[Opteron]] processors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2006/2006_05_18_rr_000 |title=Press Release — Dell's International And Enterprise Business Drives First Quarter Revenue Growth |access-date=2007-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706043938/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2006/2006_05_18_rr_000 |archive-date=2007-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The first Opteron-based PowerEdge systems, the PowerEdge 6950 and the PowerEdge SC1435, appeared in October 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2006/2006_10_23_sf_001 |title=Press Release — Dell Unveils Four- and Two-Socket Servers |access-date=2007-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630211648/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2006/2006_10_23_sf_001 |archive-date=2007-06-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2007 the PowerEdge line accounted for approximately 15% of Dell's overall revenue from [[computer hardware|computer-hardware]] sales.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2007/2007_03_01_rr_000 |title=Press Release — Dell Reports Preliminary Revenue of $14.4 Million |access-date=2007-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521235541/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2007/2007_03_01_rr_000 |archive-date=2008-05-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In subsequent years Dell made the transition from a pure hardware vendor to a solutions-provider and services company, as evidenced, for example, by the acquisition of [[Perot Systems]] and [[KACE Networks]]<ref>Blog of Kristen Mathis [http://kristenmathis7999.blogspot.com/2010/02/faq-what-dell-perot-merger-means-for-it.html What Dell-Perot merger means for IT], 28-2-2010, visited 28 June 2011</ref> and the setup of a special global services department within Dell.<ref>PCWorld [http://www.pcworld.com/article/184863/dell_launches_dedicated_services_organization.html Dell Launches Dedicated Services Organization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202342/https://www.pcworld.com/article/184863/article.html |date=2021-04-19 }}, December 2009, visited 28 June 2011</ref>

==PowerEdge RAID Controller==

Dell uses the name [[Dell PERC|PowerEdge RAID Controller]] (PERC) for proprietary versions of its [[RAID]] computer storage controllers.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.dell.com/Learn/us/en/04/campaigns/dell-raid-controllers?c=us&l=en&s=bsd |work= Dell web site |title=Dell PowerEdge Raid Controller (PERC) |access-date= May 20, 2013}}</ref> The related software in the PERC Fault Management Suite offered facilities such as the Background Patrol read, which aims to fix bad sectors on online RAID disks running under some of the PERC controllers around 2006.<ref> Dell licences its PERC technology from LSI.
{{Cite web
|url= http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/power/ps1q06-20050212-Habas.pdf
|title= Background Patrol read for Dell PowerEdge RAID Controllers
|access-date= May 20, 2013
|author= Drew Habas
|author2=John Sieber
|date= January 30, 2006
|work= Dell Power Solutions
|publisher= Dell Inc
|pages= 73–75
|quote= a proactive tool [...] to help avert [...] data problems by fixing the bad sectors when all of the drive array members are online and redundant. 
}}</ref>
These  cards were equipped with hardware from [[LSI Corporation]]  or Intel, 256&nbsp;MBytes of memory (upgradeable on the 5/i to 512&nbsp;MB), support up to 8x SATA 3.0&nbsp;Gbit/s drives without the use of expanders. They had an optional Battery Backup Unit (BBU) to allow more flexible use of the memory during writes, enhancing performance in RAID5 and 6, and operate over the [[PCI Express]] interface.<ref>
{{Cite web
 |author=Dell SCSI Storage Solution Team 
 |title=A Reference Guide for Optimizing Dell SCSI Solutions 
 |url=http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/stor-sys/spv22xs/en/engr_brf/Stor_Sol.pdf 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709011405/http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/stor-sys/spv22xs/en/engr_brf/Stor_Sol.pdf 
 |publisher=[[Dell]] 
 |page=33 
 |date=2005-11-17 
 |archive-date=2011-07-09 
 |access-date=2009-09-14 
 |quote=Patrol Read is a preventative maintenance background operation (available only on PERC 3 (except PERC 3/DI), PERC 4 and PERC 4e controller families running 3.0 and higher firmware). 
 |url-status=dead 
}}
</ref>

==Chassis systems==
Although PowerEdge is mainly used to refer to servers there are a few systems where the term PowerEdge refers to systems of which servers are (just) a part. Examples of these usages are:
:[[Dell M1000e|PowerEdge M1000e]] - the Dell blade-server system where the complete system uses the term PowerEdge, and M1000e refers to the chassis and the complete combination of components in them. The individual non-server components have also their own name in their 'own' family such as PowerConnect M-switches or [[EqualLogic]] blade-SAN.
:[[Dell PE VRTX|PowerEdge VRTX]] - the converged system consisting of (up to) 4 PowerEdge M-blade servers, the built-in storage solution and the I/O networking module.

==Model naming convention==
Since the introduction of the generation 10 servers in 2007 Dell adopted a standardized method for naming their servers; the name of each server is represented by a letter followed by 3 digits. The letter indicates the type of server: '''R''' (for Rack-mountable) indicates a 19" rack-mountable server, '''M''' (for Modular) indicates a blade server, while '''T''' (for Tower) indicates a stand-alone server.<ref>Infoworld website [http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/dell-revamps-poweredge-line-servers-094 Dell revamps Poweredge line], 12 November 2007, visited 28 June 2011</ref>

This letter is then followed by 3 digits:
* The first digit refers to the number of [[CPU socket|CPU sockets]] in the system: '''1''' to '''3''' for one socket, '''4''' to '''7''' for two sockets, and '''9''' for four sockets. '''8''' can be either two or four sockets depending on generation and CPU maker <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dell.com/us/enterprise/p/poweredge-r810/pd|title = Business Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Electronics &#124; Dell USA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dell.com/us/enterprise/p/poweredge-r815/pd|title = Business Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Electronics &#124; Dell USA}}</ref>
* The second digit refers to the generation: '''0''' for Generation 10, '''1''' for Generation 11, and so on.
* The third digit indicates the maker of the CPU: '''0''' for [[Intel]] or '''5''' for [[Advanced Micro Devices]] (AMD).
For example: The Dell PowerEdge M610 was a modular two-socket server of the 11th generation using an Intel CPU while the R605 was a rack-mountable two-socket AMD-based rack-server of the 10th generation.<ref name="naming">{{Cite web |work= Serverwatch website |author= Drew Robb |url= http://www.serverwatch.com/hreviews/article.php/3747266/Server-Snapshots-Spotlight-on-Dell.htm |title= Spotlight on Dell |date= May 15, 2008 |access-date= May 20, 2013 |archive-date= March 24, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120324054004/http://www.serverwatch.com/hreviews/article.php/3747266/Server-Snapshots-Spotlight-on-Dell.htm |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Prior to the Generation 10 servers, the naming convention was as follows:
* First digit – Height of the server in [[rack unit]]s
* Second digit – Generation of server (up to 9th generation)
* Third digit – Server type (5 for rack server, 0 for tower server, although tower servers could be outfitted with a rack chassis)
* Fourth digit – Indicated whether blade or independent box (5 for blade, 0 for normal independent box)

Example 1: PowerEdge 2650 (
2 = 2U server,
6 = 6th generation,
5 = rack server,
0 = normal )

Example 2: PowerEdge 6950 (
6 = 4U server, 
9 = 9th generation, 
5 = rack server, 
0 = normal )

Example 3: PowerEdge 2800 (
2 = [based on] 2U server 2850, 
8 = 8th generation, 
0 = tower server, 
0 = normal )

Example 4: PowerEdge 1855 (
1 = 1U server, 
8 = 8th generation, 
5 = rack server, 
5 = blade )

Most servers had a tower equivalent. For example, the PowerEdge 2800 was the tower equivalent of the 2850. The naming applies to the tower version too, but the tower version will usually be between 5U and 6U.

==See also==
*[[List of PowerEdge servers|List of PowerEdge Servers]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Dell PowerEdge}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Dell PowerEdge-article.ogg|date=2020-02-09}}
* [http://support.dell.com/support/systemsinfo/documentation.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~subcat=88&~cat=12 Dell Server Documentation]
* [http://www.server-racks.com/dell-t300.html Using a PowerEdge tower on its side in a rack]
* [http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/hardware/2264866/dell-poweredge-r810-review Review Dell PowerEdge R810]
* [http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/hardware/2270746/dell-poweredge-r815 Review Dell PowerEdge R815]


{{Dell Inc}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poweredge}}
[[Category:Dell hardware|PowerEdge]]
[[Category:Server hardware]]
[[Category:Dell servers|PowerEdge]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1994]]