Dell to begin selling uninterruptible power supplies

Dell on Wednesday said it would start selling uninterruptible power supplies with its own brand name as it tries to expand its reach in the server space.

This is first time attempt by Dell to sell UPS systems with its own brand name, said Sally Stevens, vice president of platform marketing at Dell.

UPS systems are external devices that provide power protection to systems like PCs and servers by identifying issues like power outages or voltage fluctuations.

The systems can correct the problems by activating an alternate power source like a battery inside the UPS to keep hardware running. The systems can be key in data centers to keep systems up and running.

The company will sell 28 UPS products ranging from 500 watts to 5600 watts for rack or tower servers. The devices will be available through the Dell's UPS Web site, with prices starting at $US269.

The UPS systems deliver 95 percent or greater efficiency rating, leading to less dissipation of heat and reduction in cooling costs, according to the company.

Dell is targeting the UPS line at servers in datacenters and other areas like telecommunication equipment. The line will be manufactured by Eaton in partnership with Dell, which is helping determine the product specifications.

A number of selection tools based on wattage will be available on the Web site to help customers select the right UPS system.

The UPS systems can be configured to work with servers from different companies, Stevens said. Management software bundled will allow the UPS systems to be remotely managed either through console software like Dell's OpenManage.

The management software monitor battery and systems connected to a UPS. LCD displays on the boxes show details like actual battery run time and fault codes that make troubleshooting possible without logging into a console.