DALLAS, June 2, 2003 — Today at Microsoft® TechEd, Microsoft Corp. introduced Windows®
Storage Server 2003 as part of the recently branded Windows Server System (TM) . The product, formerly known as Windows Powered Network Attached Storage (NAS) and based on the Windows Server (TM) 2003 operating system, will be released to manufacturing in June and will be broadly available from a network of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in September.
Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 is a dedicated file server that offers a dependable and highly scalable storage solution that integrates seamlessly with existing information technology (IT) infrastructure to reduce total cost of ownership for customers. Windows Storage Server 2003 is easy to install and manage, and offers many features that simplify data storage, file serving and backup of mission-critical data.
Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 helps organizations of all sizes store and protect valuable data, from file servers in branch offices to fully integrated datacenters. Windows Storage Server 2003 offers a highly scalable solution ranging from 160 gigabytes to multiple terabytes. The product incorporates advanced features from Windows Server 2003 such as the ability to create an intelligent infrastructure for
“shadow”
copies (or copies of data from a specific point in time) of a single volume or multiple volumes using Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), which provides a high-fidelity backup and recovery solution by restoring deleted or corrupted data within minutes. Other key availability features include Distributed File System (DFS), server clustering and Multipath Input/Output (I/O) technology. Windows Storage Server 2003 also will support the Windows Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) initiator, which provides an easy way to manage and incorporate a NAS device into an IP-based Storage Area Network (SAN).
Microsoft Windows Server System is a comprehensive, integrated and interoperable server infrastructure for building, deploying and managing flexible business solutions. As part of Microsoft Windows Server System, Windows Storage Server 2003 extends Microsoft’s commitment to providing customers with the best technology to reduce IT complexity through solutions such as storage consolidation and business continuity, which helps lower the cost of running their business and helps them create new value for their business through the strategic use of IT assets.
“Our customers are facing intensive cutbacks in spending during our current economic climate and, at the same time, are dealing with substantial increases in data storage needs,”
said Charles Stevens, corporate vice president of the Enterprise Storage Division at Microsoft.
“In tandem with our valued partners, Windows Storage Server 2003 will directly address customer concerns by offering a dependable and scalable storage solution that lowers their total cost of ownership.”
Partners and Customers
Working with industry-leading partners is paramount to the success of Windows Storage Server 2003. Microsoft is dedicated to collaborating with leading OEMs such as Dell, EMC Corp., Fujitsu Siemens Computers, HP, IBM Corp., Iomega Corp., Legend Group Ltd., NEC Corp. and others to bring the best value in networked storage to customers. Microsoft and industry partners have noticed a strong demand for Windows Powered NAS. According to Gartner Inc., the unit share for Windows Powered NAS devices represents 38 percent of overall NAS deployments in 2002, displaying strong momentum for the new Windows Storage Server 2003.*
Customers of previous versions of Windows Storage Server span industries including healthcare, education, transportation, retail, government and manufacturing. One such customer, DraftWorldwide Inc., a member of The Interpublic Group of Companies which spans 60 offices in 30 countries and serves a roster of 800 blue-chip clients, needed a storage and data replication solution to eliminate downtime and data loss. Windows Powered NAS along with NSI Software’s Double-Take high-availability and data replication product provided a solution that lowered Draft’s total cost by simplifying deployment, providing higher availability and eliminating unplanned outages.
“This is an industry where success hinges on creativity and quick reaction,”
said Julian Morris, senior vice president and director of information technology for Draft.
“Every minute down means lost productivity and lost opportunity. Unfailing communication on demand is vital for Draft’s competitive advantage, and the combined Windows Storage Server and NSI Double-Take solution is helping Draft maintain that advantage by virtually eliminating downtime and data loss.”
More information on Windows Storage Server is available online at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/wss2003/productinformation/overview/default.mspx .
About the Microsoft Enterprise Storage Division
Microsoft’s Enterprise Storage Division was formed to bring greater focus to Microsoft’s customers’ increasingly complex storage requirements. The division is focused on three primary objectives: to make Windows a better platform for storage, to catalyze the industry to develop innovative storage solutions, and to bring to market Microsoft storage products. Additional information on Microsoft’s storage offerings can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/storage/ .
About Microsoft TechEd 2003
TechEd, one of Microsoft’s premier developer training events, which reaches more than 75,000 people worldwide annually, provides attendees with access to technical experts, the latest technical information, and hands-on labs to learn the skills they need to build state-of-the-art solutions. Sponsors of TechEd 2003 include Dell Computer Corp., HP, IBM Corp. and VERITAS Software Corp.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Gartner Network-Attached Storage Market Share, 2002 (released March 2003)
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