Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 Frequently Asked Questions

A. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 is a dedicated file and print server based on Windows technology that is designed for dependability, ease of integration, and value. This network storage product, previously referred to as Windows Powered Network Attached Storage (NAS), is the new release of the operating system used by original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners to create NAS devices.

A. The name was changed to reflect the integration of this product into the recently-announced Windows Server System.

A. A dedicated file and print server is a server built on Windows Server 2003 as a fixed function device. All of the functionality unrelated to file serving has been removed, increasing reliability and lowering the overhead on the machine CPU.

A. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 is a solution for consolidating your file serving functions on one device, replacing your general purpose servers that are dedicated to file serving.

A. Besides being dedicated exclusively to file serving, Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 contains some important features not available in Windows Server 2003. These features include an advanced storage manager for file filtering and quota management, a new Network File System (NFS) server to improve performance, and a fully integrated Web-based user interface for remote management. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 also incorporates Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) for point-in-time shadow copy capabilities, support for the enhanced version of distributed file system (DFS), and support for the Microsoft Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Software Initiator.

A. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 has been designed for improved performance, better interoperability with storage area networks (SANs), and better scalability and failover capabilities. Other improvements include integrated point-in-time shadow copy capability and a more complete Web-based user interface. For more details, see Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 Features.

A. No, these devices are specifically designed to be file servers with large amounts of storage capacity. They cannot be used to deploy business applications such as Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft Exchange Server. Backup, antivirus, and other applications typically used in a file serving environment are supported along with any embedded database functionality including SQL Server and/or MSDE.

A. Yes. Since this product is based on Windows Server 2003, all popular management frameworks can be used to manage devices built on Windows Storage Server 2003 R2.

A. There are many different models that are scalable through the addition of disk drawers to the main filer. Capacity varies from 320 gigabytes (GB) to over 60 terabytes. Multiple devices can also be added to the network to increase capacity as needed. The NTFS file system that powers Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 has no limits (over four billion tested) in terms of the number of files on a volume and each NTFS volume can be up to 256 terabytes in size (tested).

A. The devices offered by IBM come in multiple configurations, from single disk devices to fully redundant hardware configurations at the storage failover level and the power supply and fans level. New features in Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 that can further increase redundancy are MultiPath IO (MPIO) and support for eight node clustering. Note that MPIO support depends on the OEM implementation.

A. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 can authenticate and use existing Active Directory group policies without the need for a dedicated server to manage the Active Directory service. This makes integration into existing environments easier for administrators and less costly to organizations.

A. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 can run all popular Windows antivirus applications to scan data on storage devices. There is no need for additional servers, and no performance impact due to extra workload.

A. This makes possible up to 512 point-in-time shadow copies per volume, which is critical to manage a flexible shadow copy schedule, whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly. VSS is currently the only snapshot technology that can integrate with applications to ensure high-fidelity backups.

A. Microsoft is committed to the storage market and so will ensure that Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 is supported into the future and will be compatible with future storage offerings from Microsoft.

A. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 fully supports the iSCSI Software Initiator developed by Microsoft. OEM partners decide what connectivity and configuration options are best to offer to their customers.

A. This solution is recommended for organizations with multiple existing file servers that are experiencing growth in data requirements, or are looking to consolidate storage in one central area.

A. Any agent that can be run on Windows Server 2003 can be run on Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 (CA Unicenter, MOM, SMS, Tivoli, OpenView, etc.).