Create a Dell eQuote

You may access Dell's educational pricing through UB ShopBlue or the UB Dell Premier Store. UB ShopBlue is the preferred method for placing online orders and may replace the Dell Premier Store in the future. Note that to order server hardware you currently must use the UB Dell Premier Store.

The Dell Store can be accessed by anyone with a valid UB appointment who needs to purchase computing hardware with UB funds. A UBITName and password are required.

If you are experiencing login issues, please contact the CSE administrative staff at cse-purchasing@buffalo.edu, or the UB ShopBlue System Support Team at 716-645-4500 or UBS-ShopBlue-Support@buffalo.edu

UB ShopBlue is a fully integrated eProcurement system allowing authorized UB faculty and staff to place orders for necessary goods and services. The UB ShopBlue Dell Store offers a curated selection of hardware and accessories that meet the current computing and security standards recommended by UB.

Use the link below to access the UB ShopBlue interface. After logging in, go to the 'Showcases' widget and select the Dell icon under the Electronics heading. You will be directed to the Dell Store in a 'punch out' window. You may need to configure your browser to allow pop-up windows for the 'punch out' window to display correctly.

The UB Dell Premier Store provides access to Dell's full catalog of computing equipment. To configure specialized server hardware or order accessories that are not included in the standard configurations you may use the UB Dell Premier Store.

Use the link below to access the UB Dell Premier Store. After logging in, a brief welcome page will be displayed. Verify that your first name and UBITname appear correctly and click 'Create an E-Quote' to view the Dell catalog.

Follow the instructions below to generate an eQuote from the Dell Store. eQuotes will be sent directly from Dell to the email addresses provided.

1. Access Dell's website through UB ShopBlue or the UB Dell Premier Store as noted above.
   
2. Select and configure hardware and accessories and add them to your cart using the Dell Store website.
   
3. While viewing your Cart, select the 'Save as eQuote' button.
4. Enter a name for the eQuote, e.g. 'Project Server for AI Lab', in the 'Name' field and your UB email address in the 'Saved By' field.
5. Fill in the optional Description and Notes fields.
6. Fill in your personal information under 'Order Contact'. The 'Company name' field may be left blank.
7. Add the email addresses of the contacts that should recieve order details and notifications.
   
8. If the eQuote is ready for immediate processing, add cse-purchasing@buffalo.edu to the list of email contacts. This will send a copy of the eQuote directly to the CSE administrative staff in charge of placing the order.
   
9. Select the 'Save eQuote' button. A copy of the eQuote will be mailed to the 'Saved By' email address as well as the email addreses supplied under 'Order Contact'.
10. Review your eQuote and forward it to cse-purchasing@buffalo.edu for processing if you did not already do so above.
    

Please note the following requirements and recommendations if you are ordering server hardware that will be stored in the CSE server rooms.

Please allow CSE IT staff to review your E-Quote before sending it to purchasing to make sure your equipment is compatible with CSE's infrastructure.

1. Server rack rails (required). Under 'Rack Rails', select 'ReadyRails Sliding Rails Without Cable Management Arm' or equivalent. Rack rails are required to mount the server hardware in the CSE server room cabinets.
   
2. Redundant power supply (recommended). Under 'Power Supply', select a dual, redundant power option. In addition to allowing the server to remain functional in case of hardware failure, the CSE server room cabinets contain local UPS units that will provide backup power in case of power problems in the building. Dual power supply units allow a connection to building power and local backup power to mitigate outages should a single power source fail.
   
3. RAID configuration (recommended). Under 'RAID Configuration', select the appropriate RAID option, and configure 'Hard Drives' to match. RAID provides recovery options in case of drive failure. Make sure the correct number of hard drives have been allocated for the chosen configuration. A mirrored pair (RAID1) of drives is recommended for servers with small storage requirements. Parity drives (RAID5/6) with hot spares are recommended for servers with larger amounts of storage.
   

If further assistance is needed regarding the ShopBlue platform and your specific order, please contact the CSE administrative staff in charge of purchasing at cse-purchasing@buffalo.edu.