Microsoft make biggest storage push yet

By Stuart Finlayson

Microsoft used the platform of the Storage Decisions conference in Chicago to announce the availability of its Windows Storage Server 2003, a dedicated file and print server solution and the first version of the Windows operating system focused specifically on managing storage.

The company claims that it has cured the ills that dogged Windows 2000, which did not sit easy in a SAN environment, so that Windows Storage Server 2003 can hook into any SAN without performance being compromised.

"IT professionals continue to tell us they need cost-effective storage solutions to help ensure data availability, realize the savings of file server consolidation and maintain business continuity," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Enterprise Storage Division at Microsoft. "With enterprise-ready features like Volume Shadow Copy Services (VSS), Virtual Disk Service (VDS) and failover clustering, Windows Storage Server 2003 meets those critical storage needs."

Windows Storage Server 2003 comes in two versions. The Enterprise Edition is a file storage server targeted at enterprise data centres, while the Standard Edition is a dedicated file and print server for enterprise departments, branch offices, and small and medium-sized businesses.

A number of vendors – with the notable exception of IBM - have come out in support of the new OS, including HP, Dell, EMC, Veritas, CommVault, Computer Associates and Legato.

Microsoft also announced the creation of the online Microsoft Storage Community (http://www.microsoft.com/storagecommunity/), where customers can interact with storage experts, peers, and developers and product managers, to share knowledge and news about Microsoft storage software and technologies.

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