Day 2 at the Dell Storage Forum is pretty much a sequel of information to benefit Dell’s channel partners, added with some guided training and hands-on labs for customers. A hands-on lab is dedicated for every Dell Storage product, from basic configuration of arrays to integrations with common applications and partner’s software. Like IBM, Dell is is building platform-agnostic services business.  But unlike IBM, which targets large enterprises, Dell is on the lookout for SMBs, as pointed out by Dell Director of SMB Business Tony Parkinson in an interview with the Cube.

The day kicked off with a general session dubbed the Foundation and Future of Dell Fluid Data Architecture, presented by Darren Thomas and Phil Soran, VP and GM of Dell Storage, and CEO of Compellent respectively. The discussion centers on the present and future approach of the company to a fluid datacenter, as well as the complementary relationship of EqualLogic and Compellent. The two companies have been working together to innovate and develop new products.

We’ve also heard a discussion about bringing fluid data architecture to common customers, addressed by Greg Davis, VP and GM of global commercial channels for Dell and Brian Bell, executive director of worldwide sales for Dell Compellent.

Moreover, EqualLogic today unveiled some big announcements. The company started with Firmware 5.1 which is by far its biggest new enhancement in load balancing between arrays. Compared to the previous version, it boasted a 3-5 percent performance improvement in its load-balancing engine. It also supports DCB, and is expected to be released in Q3 of this year.

Next up is the EqualLogic FS7500 Appliance. This new product will add clustered network-attached NAS capabilities to the EqualLogic array, and can be entirely handled through the same EqualLogic management GUI that controls the rest of the EqualLogic environment. There are four 1 Gbps IP ports per node for backend iSCSI connectivity per box.

Lastly, the company unveiled MD3600f and MD3620f PowerVault Units. This new array contains four four 8Gbps Fibre Channel ports per controller and can be hooked up to 64 hosts altogether provided with an FC switch.

These product releases are valuable additions to the EqualLogic’s portfolio and we can expect innovations and software enhancements to keep on coming.

Today marks the third day of the event and we can expect a day full of information, starting with a general session titled “A Fireside Chat on Fluid Data w/ Michael Dell.”  It will be followed by several other sessions, including the long-awaited NDA.

TheCube is on the front line covering the event from every angle. Check out SiliconAngle TV for key notes and interviews with several Dell executives and its partners’ executives.