Storage UPDATE, July 7, 2003

1. Commentary: Windows Storage Server 2003, Part 3

2. News and Views - Microsoft Releases iSCSI Drivers

3. Instant Poll - Results of Previous Poll: iSCSI Excitement? - New Instant Poll: Which Office Suite?

4. Announcements - Find Your Next Job at Our IT Career Center - New Active Directory Web Seminar!

5. Events - New--Mobile & Wireless Road Show!

6. Resources - SEC Compliance and Storage Management

7. New and Improved - Resume Backups from the Point of Failure - Store Data on an NDAS - Submit Top Product Ideas

8. Contact Us - See this section for a list of ways to contact us.

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==== 1. Commentary: Windows Storage Server 2003, Part 3 ==== by Mark Smith, [email protected] My previous two commentaries briefly described the features and functionality of Microsoft's optimized file server OS. In this column, I focus on some common uses for Windows Storage Server 2003 and show you how your company can benefit from Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices based on Windows Storage Server.

The most obvious use for Windows Storage Server is for file serving because Windows Storage Server is a highly optimized file server. In fact, some companies have replaced as many as seven Windows NT file servers with one Windows-based NAS device. I have written before about how file server consolidation provides one of the highest Returns on Investment (ROIs) for IT expenditures today. Using Windows Storage Server for a file server consolidation project will result in significant performance gains, improved availability, improved storage manageability, and easier migration to Windows Server 2003. If you use a Windows Storage Server NAS head/gateway in front of a Storage Area Network (SAN), you can consolidate application and file data onto the combination SAN/NAS device. Based on the configurations I've seen, payback for a file consolidation project can occur in less than a year. So, if you need to consolidate file services or add new file server storage, seriously consider Windows Storage Server in your IT planning.

The next area in which Windows Storage Server can confer benefits is backup and restoration. As the cost of hard disks continues to fall, using Windows Storage Server as a secondary storage device makes sense. For example, to use Windows Storage Server for backup and recovery, you can employ replication technology to make real-time copies of your remote office data in a centralized location, rather than use tape drives at your remote offices. The remote office data replicates to Windows Storage Server in a central location. Because the replicated files are in a closed state, you can perform a backup at any time during the day--without having to wait for a backup window. And because the data replicates to a central site, IT professionals are available to assist in any necessary restore process.

Windows Storage Server is also an ideal solution for backing up files on individual users' workstations and laptops. Many leading backup software companies feature client-based agents that are configured to back up business-critical files stored on client PCs. Storing business-critical files on a Windows Storage Server device lets users initiate their own restore process, when necessary, by using the client-based agent. Windows Storage Server lets IT configure regular snapshots of user datasets and back up the datasets to tape devices or other Windows Storage Server devices. Windows Storage Server can back up files stored on client PCs quickly, efficiently, and with very little need for ongoing intervention by onsite IT administrators.

In my next commentary, Windows Storage Server, Part 4, I'll discuss other uses for Windows Storage Server and look at the future of Windows-based storage. The first NAS devices based on Windows Storage Server 2003 should be ready for release in September 2003, so keep that date in mind as you plan your fourth quarter infrastructure deployments.

Read more about Storage Server 2003 features:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/storage/productinformation/overview/future.mspx

Microsoft/Dell Webcast: Using NAS for Reliable Backup and Recovery http://www.microsoft.com/usa/webcasts/ondemand/1981.asp

Windows Storage Server, Part 1: http://www.winnetmag.com/windowsserver2003/index.cfm?articleid=39263

Windows Storage Server, Part 2: http://www.winnetmag.com/windowsserver2003/index.cfm?articleid=39359

==== 2. News and Views ==== by Keith Furman, [email protected]

Microsoft Releases iSCSI Drivers Microsoft released the final version of its Internet SCSI (iSCSI) driver for Windows, which has been in beta form since earlier this year. The software package, which includes an iSCSI initiator service and iSCSI initiator software driver, is available from Microsoft's site for Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) approved the iSCSI standard in February. iSCSI is expected to connect nearly 1.5 million servers to Storage Area Networks (SANs) by 2006, according to research firm Gartner Dataquest.

The Microsoft iSCSI package includes support for data encryption, including IP Security (IPSec); Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS); management through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI); and a common framework for iSCSI. The release of the official driver from Microsoft is expected to help the growth of iSCSI devices for Windows. http://www.microsoft.com/storage

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=12cb3c1a-15d6-4585-b385-befd1319f825&displaylang=en

==== 3. Instant Poll ====

Results of Previous Poll: iSCSI Excitement? The voting has closed in the Windows & .NET Magazine Network's Storage Admin Channel nonscientific Instant Poll for the question, "Are you looking forward to iSCSI making its presence felt in the enterprise?" Here are the results from the 48 votes: 54%--Yes 25%--I don't really care 21%--No, not really

New Instant Poll: Which Office Suite? The current Instant Poll question is, "Which Office Suite does your company use?" Go to the Storage Admin Channel home page and submit your vote for a) Microsoft Office, b) WordPerfect Office, c) OpenOffice, d) Sun Microsystems StarOffice, or e) Other. http://www.storageadmin.com

==== 4. Announcements ==== (from Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

Find Your Next Job at Our IT Career Center Check out our new online career center, in which you can browse current job openings, post your resume, and create automated notifications to notify you when a job is posted that meets your specifications. It's effective, it's private, and there's no charge. Visit today! http://windows.itcareerpath.com

New Active Directory Web Seminar! Discover how to securely manage Active Directory in a multiforest environment, establish attribute-level auditing without affecting AD performance, enhance secure permission management with "Roles," and more! There's no charge for this Aelita Software-sponsored event, but space is limited--register today! http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/securead

==== 5. Events ==== (brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine)

New--Mobile & Wireless Road Show! Learn more about the wireless and mobility solutions that are available today! Register now for this free event! http://www.winnetmag.com/roadshows/wireless

==== 6. Resources ====

SEC Compliance and Storage Management With news of corporate misconduct, accounting irregularities, and mounting bankruptcies, regulatory and compliance concerns are taking on a new meaning. Corporations must protect themselves against litigation as never before. Consequently, storage administrators are becoming increasingly responsible for understanding how storage can meet their enterprise's needs, in addition to making sure capacity is available to users and applications. To learn more about SEC Compliance and storage management, click the following URL: http://www.storageadmin.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=26084

==== 7. New and Improved ==== by Carolyn Mader, [email protected]

Resume Backups from the Point of Failure Reliaty and Network Appliance (NetApp) codesigned and codeveloped Restartable Backup, software that resumes backup processes at the point of failure so that you don't have to restart a disrupted backup job from the beginning. The software provides automatic continuation of backups disrupted by system, network, or media errors. For pricing, contact Reliaty or Network Appliance. http://www.reliaty.com http://www.netapp.com

Store Data on an NDAS XiMeta Technology announced NetDisk, a Network Direct Attached Storage (NDAS) device that you can plug into an Ethernet or USB 2.0 port to store backup data. Designed for small and midsized companies, NetDisk is recognized as a local disk on the network and increases network storage capacity. NetDisk is available in two models: NetDisk Portable and NetDisk Removable. NetDisk Portable starts at $269 and NetDisk Removable costs $599. Contact XiMeta Technology at [email protected]. http://www.ximeta.com

Submit Top Product Ideas Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving you time or easing your daily burden? Do you know of a terrific product that others should know about? Tell us! We want to write about the product in a future What's Hot column. Send your product suggestions to [email protected].

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==== 8. Contact Us ====

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