New SoftLayer calculator

SoftLayer has released a new calculator tool to help customers build a quote / configuration quickly and easily.  The quote is not official so prices aren’t actionable like the SoftLayer.com site.   You can’t provision / order from this site so it is safe to play around.

• Sample templates
• Allows you to save the config for modification later
• Export to PDF, XLS and CSV
• Allows you to quote items not possible on regular site such as storage, firewall, etc
• Compares against traditional on-premises capex models

The website is http://www.softlayer.com/total-cost

You will land at the following page where you can chose from 3 options

“No preset data” – you will start with a blank configuration.

“Load a sample configuration…” – Will load a predefined configuration hopefully close to what you need.

“Restore saved input” – Use this option if you have previously save a config (They hold your configure for 2 months), you need to remember the 15 digital code you were provided when you saved your last config.

You can also watch a couple of videos from this page that help guide you on how to use this tool, just click the blue “See how” links.  Here is the video:

 

It is much easier and faster to configure up a server, especially if you are adding a lot.  You can add one configured server (bare metal or virtual) and then duplicate, edit, delete, change quantity.

 

You get a nice one page summary, that can be exported in a couple of different formats.  Please note the “Save your input” button at the top, this is how to save your config onto the server and get your 15 digital code.

 

You can even have to the tool perform a basic Total Cost Ownership comparison, the nice bit here is you can change the figures for your on-premises gear and services.