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Solution providers are betting that Dell will expand beyond its hardware roots with the acquisition of a storage-focused software vendor, with CommVault commonly cited as a prime target. Other storage software vendors such as Acronis, BakBone and DataCore, and even Sun Microsystems (NSDQ:JAVA)' hardware line, also are cited as possible fits as Dell looks for ways to restart the growth it historically enjoyed. Dell declined to discuss potential storage acquisitions.

Rather, the company may have decided it has little choice than to do a big acquisition. It reportedly is looking to hire a top-flight M&A maven that would report to the CFO (why not to Michael Dell himself, I wonder?). Never mind that the 25 year old company has essentially zero success when it comes to buying and successfully integrating companies.

So what could Dell go after next? Here are five potential candidates:

1. Allscripts-Misys Health Care Solutions (MDRX)

2. Quality Systems (QSII)