REDMOND, Wash., July 31, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Compaq Computer Corp. selected Windows 2000 for its new TaskSmart N-Series appliance, becoming the first to deliver a Microsoft® Windows® Powered network attached storage (NAS) appliance to the market. NAS appliances, based on Windows 2000 technology, offer enterprise customers and service providers a highly available, manageable and scalable storage solution optimized for sharing and serving files. The announcement is yet another example of the commitment by Microsoft to extend the benefits of Windows 2000 to meet the growing customer demand for dedicated function server appliances based on Windows 2000 technologies. Earlier announcements included a small-business multifunction server appliance and a Web-hosting appliance.
Utilizing Windows 2000 technologies, Compaq’s TaskSmart N-Series appliance offers customers the best price performance on the market today. Working together, Microsoft and Compaq have optimized Windows 2000, enabling easier setup, deployment and management to allow customers to get up and running in as little as 30 minutes. In addition, Windows 2000 core technologies enable the level of interoperability required by enterprise customers and service providers managing heterogeneous environments.
“The new Compaq TaskSmart N-Series redefined the network attached storage appliance marketplace by providing a high-performance solution based entirely on industry standard architecture,”
said John Young, vice president, TaskSmart Servers, Industry Standard Server Group, at Compaq Computer Corp.
“Compaq and Microsoft have worked together to optimize Windows 2000 to provide an NAS solution that satisfies our customers’ needs for radically simplifying data management.”
“We are very excited to be working together with Compaq on its second Windows Powered server appliance,”
said Bill Veghte, vice president of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft.
“With the introduction of Compaq’s TaskSmart N-Series solution, customers now are able to more efficiently manage their data with unique Windows 2000 technology such as offline folders, Active Directory™ integration and functionality that allows a single file system to be used across multiple devices.”
The Compaq TaskSmart N-Series enables rapid customer deployment and delivers industry-leading common Internet file system (CIFS) performance. The solution includes volume management and integrates Compaq’s management tools, which facilitate seamless integration into existing IT environments and enable remote management and maintenance. High-speed data access, centralized backup and data protection are critical not only to enterprise customers, but also to application and Internet service providers.
“As a Web-hosting and application service provider to small to medium-sized businesses, the ability to quickly and easily increase storage capacity while maintaining 99.9 percent uptime is imperative to our success,”
said Robert Malally, chief technology officer of Interland Inc.
“Interland is excited about the release of a Windows Powered NAS appliance, and we believe that Windows technology will deliver a highly available and scalable storage solution that will meet the demands of our customers.”
For more information on the availability and pricing of the TaskSmart N-Series, contact Compaq or visit http://www.compaq.com/ . For more information on Microsoft Windows Powered NAS appliances, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/nas/default.asp .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and 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.
Microsoft, Windows and Active Directory are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
