Next generation Dell/EMC CX4 storage arrays bring new levels of performance, flexibility, and resource utilization to enterprise-class storage. Features such as virtual provisioning, enterprise flash drives, and customizable network interconnects make this latest generation of CX arrays well suited to meeting data growth and performance requirements while keeping costs under control.

Dell's PowerEdge blade servers and the M1000e Modular Blade Enclosure offer the operational simplic-ity and cost savings of blade technology. Designed to stand up to demanding enterprise requirements, the M1000e includes new energy-efficient technology and flexibility features that anticipate future tech-nologies and provide investment protection. Blade switches are upgradable, and patent-pending FlexAd-dress technology lets users swap out or upgrade blade servers without having to update MAC and WWN identifiers to help reduce application down time.

Together, CX4 arrays and PowerEdge M1000e enclosures are ideal components of a multi-tiered Oracle or Microsoft Exchange 2007 solution. This paper outlines the new CX4 and PowerEdge M1000e fea-tures and presents reference architectures of how these products can effectively be used in Oracle and Exchange 2007 environments.