Windows Powered NAS - White Papers

This white paper provides a fast recovery demonstration designed to enable system administrators to implement fast recovery solutions in their own Active Directory environments.

Differing data requirements, system complexities, and cost constraints mean that storage needs vary enormously from business to business. Microsoft is committed to offering a broad range of storage solutions to meet this diversity of need. Most recently this includes support for iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface). The Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator makes it possible for businesses to take advantage of existing network infrastructure to enable block-based storage over wide distances, without having to invest in additional hardware. This white paper is intended for storage administrators and others who are interested in capitalizing on the emerging iSCSI technology.

Consolidating servers to place the organization's workload onto a smaller number of Windows Powered network attached storage (NAS) devices is an increasingly popular concept, but it can be difficult to gather hard data to make the business case for doing so. This paper describes a process that allows you to gather the necessary data to build a business case to get sponsorship for server consolidation projects.

Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 is the latest version of Windows Powered NAS. Built on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system, Windows Storage Server 2003 is a dedicated file server that offers dependable storage while integrating seamlessly with the existing corporate network infrastructure. Easy to install and manage, Windows Storage Server 2003 offers outstanding economics. It enables substantial file server consolidation and provides one of the best platforms for simplified file sharing, backup and replication of businesses essential data.

Businesses of all sizes are seeking cost effective storage management solutions that keep critical data protected and highly available. This white paper outlines the major storage challenges facing today's businesses, and shows how the integrated storage services in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 provide manageable, reliable and cost effective solutions designed to meet those challenges.

Tape-based backup and restore technologies have for decades been the primary mechanism by which data is protected from corruption or loss, and it continues to be the best method for archiving data. However, managing multi-server tape-based backups in a local area network (LAN) environment can become problematic as small and midsize businesses grow. Using Dell's Windows Powered Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers as the means by which to control the backup and recovery process, NAS streamlines management operations, lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO), and offers a rapid backup and restore solution using disk-to-disk backup technology solutions.

As the number of mission-critical servers and storage resources grow, so does the importance of protecting against service interruptions, disasters, and other problems that may threaten the organization's ability to provide access to its key data when needed. This white paper examines four separate data protection strategies, then compares their merits for the most common business continuance scenarios.

This white paper describes some technologies and approaches for achieving business continuity within the Windows environment; specifically, by combining replication software and Windows Powered Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, businesses can reliably safeguard their data while realizing cost and efficiency improvements in their storage management and provisioning.

This white paper explains the benefits of integrating Microsoft Windows Powered Network Attached Storage (NAS) into a Storage Area Network (SAN) with Microsoft Exchange 2000. It focuses on using SAN storage consolidation with the hp StorageWorks modular SAN array 1000 (msa1000) and the hp StorageWorks b3000 Windows Powered NAS solution.

This white paper describes how Windows Powered NAS devices can be deployed in a Dfs environment without the Active Directory™ directory service and provide scalability as well as enhanced availability of data and how, for the highest degree of availability, fault-tolerance, and load balancing, Windows Powered NAS should be deployed with Active Directory and the File Replication Service (FRS) to synchronize data replicas.

This white paper outlines the benefits of the NT File System (NTFS) that provides the foundation for Windows Powered NAS appliance file services, and features of the Distributed File System (DFS), IP Security (IPSEC), Encrypted File System (EFS), and Group Policy (GP) services that can be leveraged by an AD integrated Windows Powered NAS appliance to deliver high performance, secure, and robust enterprise storage solutions.