Dell settles storage scuffle with EMC

Dell and EMC have announced a multi-billion dollar alliance today, calling an end to their head-to-head storage battle.

The agreement will see the two companies co-branding EMC's midrange Clariion storage systems aimed at Dell's enterprise customers. The alliance will also see Dell become a reseller of the Clariion product line, becoming the firm's standard offering for storage area networks (SAN) and high-end network-attached storage (NAS) installations.

The companies also agreed to promote EMC's more powerful Symmetrix line of storage systems and software to businesses.

The relationship allows Dell to address different customer needs with storage products that provide additional high-end features, including support for Unix operating systems. For EMC, the relationship allows it to work with partners and to increase its presence in the rapidly growing Windows NT and Windows 2000 storage markets.

Both companies refused to disclose the exact financial terms for the five-year agreement.