Exclusive Dell looks set to copy rival HP with a new blade chassis due out this Fall, The Register has learned.

According to our sources, Dell will hit consumers with a 10U chassis that holds two layers of blades. Each layer should fit eight servers, leaving the whole chassis with 16 systems. The upcoming chassis, due in the late third quarter or early fourth quarter, will mark Dell's third attempt at getting blade gear right.

Dell's design should seem familiar to HP customers using the company's relatively new c-Class chassis. That box holds 16 half-height blades and 8 full-sized blades in a 10U chassis. And, wouldn't you know it, Dell poached former HP blade boy Rick Becker last October.

HP and IBM have dominated the blade server market, while Dell and Sun Microsystems look on with admiration. Both Dell and Sun have thrown a couple of different chassis and server designs at customers with nothing much working so far.

We'll bring more details on the Dell gear as they arrive. ®