Dell signs up as "exclusive supplier" to Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/ETNZ
by Warren Douglas
Dell has joined the Emirates Team New Zealand challenge for the 34th America’s Cup, adding significantly to the design team’s computer fire power.
Dell will supply the team with IT system design, hardware, system software and implementation.
The technology will help the design team’s programme for the AC72 catamarans that will race in San Francisco is 2013.
Emirates Team New Zealand will build two of the 72ft catamarans, the first due to be launched mid-2012.
The team’s technical director Nick Holroyd said Dell’s high-performance computing cluster – a group of linked servers - will provide the power and performance the team designers and engineers need.
“The cluster includes Dell’s PowerEdge C servers and storage, software and a network optimised for high-performance computer clusters.”
The technology is from Dell’s Data Centre Solutions group based at Austin, Texas.
As an exclusive supplier to the team, Dell will also provide infrastructure and services for day-to-day IT functions, including a virtualisation environment, email, file and print, web services, database and backup.
Dell will help ETNZ develop and execute social media campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
In Detail
The Partnership
• Emirates Team New Zealand has appointed Dell as an “exclusive supplier” for its participation in the 34th America’s Cup match which be conducted in San Francisco in 2013. This includes the team’s participation in various preliminary regattas in 2011 – 2012 and the challenger section series in 2013.
• Dell will supply Emirates Team New Zealand with IT system design, hardware, software and implementation, along with web design and social media programme support functions. This is consistent with Dell’s commitment to providing a full range of solutions and services that increase the effectiveness and productivity of organisations across New Zealand and worldwide.
• The technology will help the Emirates Team New Zealand design team develop yachts for the world’s most competitive sailing event where design, innovation and technology are as important as sailing skill.
The Technology
• The boat will be designed in a high-performance computing cluster* featuring the power that the team’s designers and engineers need to design the boat for the Cup. With a long history of providing high-performance clusters, Dell and Emirates Team New Zealand believe this technology will give them the edge needed to outperform the competition.
The cluster includes Dell’s PowerEdge C servers and storage, software and a network optimised for high-performance computing clusters. A key feature of its architecture is power efficiency and ultra-density, giving it significant computing capability in a small footprint.
The technology comes from Dell’s Data Centre Solutions group out of Austin, Texas, which develops high-performance computing cluster and cloud platforms.
• As a leader in ruggedized** mobility solutions and workstations, Dell is able to provide ETNZ with technology that will withstand harsh conditions at sea.
• Dell will also provide infrastructure and services for ETNZ’s day-to-day IT functions, including a virtualisation environment, email, file and print, web services, database, and backup.
Social Media
• Beyond IT, Dell will help ETNZ develop and execute social media campaigns. Dell is a global frontrunner in this space and has used social media platforms for many years to communicate with customers.
*A cluster is a group of linked servers designed to provide optimum power and performance.
** Ruggedised solutions are specifically designed to reliably operate in harsh usage environments.
Emirates Team New Zealand
America's Cup
