REDMOND, Wash., March 12, 2003 — Microsoft Corp. today announced it will deliver Internet SCSI (iSCSI) support for Windows® client and server environments in June. Microsoft’s iSCSI software driver will be provided via Web download at no charge for Microsoft®
Windows 2000 client and server versions, Windows XP client, and the forthcoming Windows Server 2003 family of products. iSCSI, as recently ratified by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), will provide a lower-cost option for customers that require high levels of performance and reliability for their planned storage area network (SAN) implementations. According to Gartner Dataquest,* by 2006 iSCSI will emerge to connect nearly 1.5 million servers to SANs — more than any competing technology.
“Operating system support for the iSCSI specification will facilitate deployment of interoperable storage products”
said James Opfer, chief analyst at Gartner.
“These products will meet the needs of customers for whom connectivity and familiarity with IP are of paramount importance.”
“Microsoft’s support of the IETF-ratified iSCSI protocol signals the company’s continued focus on making Windows a stronger platform for storage,”
said Zane Adam, director of product development and marketing for the Enterprise Storage Division at Microsoft.
“We’re pleased at the level of industry excitement for iSCSI and are working together with our associates to make enterprise storage operations more accessible to a broader spectrum of customers.”
Rallying the Industry
Microsoft is playing an important role in bringing the storage vendor community together to make iSCSI-based applications and storage devices a reality for customers. To date, more than 60 independent software vendors (ISVs) and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) are in the planning stages or are developing Windows-based applications and storage hardware products for iSCSI. To ensure technology interoperability and quality assurance for its customers, Microsoft has created an iSCSI Designed for Windows Logo Program to enable IHVs to qualify their Windows-targeted iSCSI hardware components. The qualification process will begin in June with the availability of iSCSI support. The Designed for Windows test qualification program will be provided to ensure optimal reliability and interoperability with Microsoft Windows products.
In February, Microsoft hosted an iSCSI Plugfest on its Redmond campus to facilitate broad development and testing of iSCSI-based software applications and storage hardware products. The event was well-received, with a total of 26 IHVs, ISVs and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in attendance. The Microsoft iSCSI Plugfest and similar Microsoft- and industry-sponsored forums have resulted in strong industry support and have fueled customer interest in bringing iSCSI-based products to market.
The list of vendors currently participating in Microsoft’s iSCSI beta program includes Adaptec Inc., Advanced Digital Information Corp., Agilent Technologies Inc., Alacritech Inc., Allocity Inc., American Megatrends Inc., Amherst Technologies, Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Broadcom Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Contemporary Cybernetics Group Inc., Crossroads Systems Inc., DataCore Software Corp., DCM Technologies Ltd., Dell Computer Corp., Elipsan, EMC Corp., Emulex Corp., EqualLogic Inc., Eurologic Systems, Even Enterprises Inc., FalconStor Software Inc., FibreStream Inc., Fujitsu Siemens Computers, HCL Technologies Ltd., HP, IBM Corp., I.I.S. Intelligent Information Systems Ltd., Intel Corp., Intransa Inc., Invio Software Inc., iReady Corp., iVivity Inc., LSI Logic Corp., NEC Corp., NEC Solutions (America) Inc., Network Appliance Inc., Nishan Systems Inc., PolyServe Inc., Porthus, Promise Technology Inc., QLogic Corp., Quantum Corp., SANRAD Inc., ServerWorks Inc., Silicom Connectivity Solutions Inc., Siliquent Technologies Ltd., Silverback Systems Inc., SimpleTech Inc., Spectra Logic, Stackable Design, StoneFly Networks Inc., StorageConnections.Net, Trebia Networks Inc., Vibren Technologies Inc., Wasabi Systems Inc., Wind River Systems Inc. and YaGUSA Technology LLC.
Microsoft iSCSI
Microsoft’s iSCSI driver download will include support for data encryption including Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), Internet Storage Name Service for both server and client, management via Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and an architecture that aggregates the different hardware initiators into a common framework. Microsoft is encouraging ISVs, IHVs and end customers to begin their tests of the beta 2 version of its iSCSI support when it becomes broadly available later in March. Interested parties can sign up for the beta release at http://www.betaplace.com/ , using the guest ID
“iSCSI”
(case sensitive).
Microsoft Enterprise Storage Division
Founded one year ago, 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/ . When released, information on the iSCSI Designed for Windows Logo Program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/winlogo/benefits/default.mspx . Additional information on IETF-ratified iSCSI can be found at http://www.ietf.org/ .
About Microsoft
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.
*
“Storage Network Infrastructure 2002: Market Share and Forecast,”
June 25, 2002, by James OpferMicrosoft and Windows 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. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
