Dell has introduced a new 'ultra-light' server range aimed at datacentres and web hosting environments. The new servers can be fitted 12 at a time into a single 2U chassis, and have the lowest power consumption in the industry, according to Dell.
Available from June, the XS11-VX8 is designed for dense deployments, enabling datacentre operators to pack more compute power into less physical space.
The server is based on the power-efficient VIA Nano U2250 processor from VIA Technologies. Although aimed more at laptops, the chip has support for 64-bit operating systems and hardware support for virtualisation.
Using the Nano U2250 enabled Dell to build a server that consumes only 15 watts when the operating system is idle, and 20 to 29 watts under full workload capacity, the lowest power draw in the industry, the firm claimed.
Dell said that the introduction of multi-core processors had boosted server performance beyond the requirements of many applications, resulting in the under-utilisation of system resources.
While this problem can be addressed using virtualisation, Dell believes there is a niche for a high-density, power-efficient server such as the XS11-VX8.
The systems will be available in a blade-like hot-plug form factor, with prices expected to start at below $400 (£260).
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