| Q1. |
What is Windows Storage Server 2003 and what's new in Release 2 (R2)? |
| A1. |
Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 is a version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 that is optimized for file and print services. It provides improved productivity, more robust storage management and simpler branch office integration. It contains a host of new and improved features compared to its predecessor (Windows Storage Server 2003 Service Pack 1), including:
- Performance Optimizations: Up to 20% faster file serving performance than a general-purpose Windows Server 2003 R2 installation on the same hardware.
- Single Instance Storage (SIS): Recovers up to 35% of disk space by de-duplicating file storage. Identifies identical files, stores a single copy of the file in a central repository, and replaces the files with pointers to the file in the SIS common store. (Note that SIS is available only on Standard and Enterprise O/S editions)
- Search Enhancements: Indexing Service extracts the information from a set of documents and organizes it in a way that makes it quick and easy to access that information through the Search function for computers running Windows 2000 or Windows XP
- HP-enhanced File Server Management Console: Features the familiar look and feel of the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
- File Server Resource Manager (FSRM): Provides both on-demand and scheduled reports detailing storage use, allows administrators to create and manage folder and volume quotas, and permits both name-based screening of files and allowing/disallowing file creation on specified folder trees.
- Windows SharePointŪ Services
- Distributed File System (DFS) Management Console: Updated DFS namespace failover, failback and prioritization controls.
- Distributed File System Replication (DFS-R): State-based, multi-master replication engine that uses a new compression algorithm to efficiently update files over limited bandwidth networks by replicating only the changes needed to ensure global file consistency. |
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| Q2. |
What is the difference between Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 and Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 x64 operating systems? |
| A2. |
Both operating systems are based on their respective Microsoft Windows Server 2003 counterparts and provide the best of Windows-powered performance and management.
Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 x64 introduces 64-bit processing, which primarily increases the amount of memory that can be addressed by the storage server. For instance, for Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 (Standard Edition), the maximum memory allowed is 4GB; for Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 (Standard x64 Edition), the maximum memory allowed is 32GB. The result is a potential for greater expandability, greater performance, and a longer usable lifetime.
64-bit Windows Storage Server operating systems are compatible with 32-bit applications, but check for qualification with 64-bit Windows operating systems before purchase and installation of software on x64-based ProLiant Storage Servers. |
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| Q3. |
What is the advantage of a ProLiant Storage Server over a general-purpose server for file serving? |
| A3. |
ProLiant Storage Servers come with either Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 or Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003 pre-installed, and are specifically designed and optimized to serve files to heterogeneous clients. In fact, a ProLiant Storage Server will deliver up to 20% faster file serving performance out-of-the box than the same platform running Windows Server 2003 R2. In addition to file optimization, ProLiant Storage Servers include integrated software designed to support multi-protocol environments, snapshots, replication, and volume expansion. And finally, the following features are available only on a storage server:
- Single Instance Storage (SIS): Recovers up to 35% of disk space by reducing the amount of redundant data stored. Identifies identical files, stores a single copy of the file in a central repository, and replaces the files with pointers to the file in the SIS common store. (Note that SIS is available only on Standard and Enterprise O/S editions)
- Search Enhancements: Indexing Service extracts the information from a set of documents and organizes it in a way that makes it quick and easy to access that information through the Search function for computers running Windows 2000 or Windows XP
- HP-enhanced File Server Management Console: Features the familiar look and feel of the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
When you take those software features and add the fact that everything is pre-configured and pre-tested, you'll find that a ProLiant Storage Server is a high-value solution that truly is the fastest, easiest, and most full-featured way to add file storage to your network. |
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| Q4. |
What is the advantage of a ProLiant Storage Server over building my own file server? |
| A4. |
First off, Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 and Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003 aren't available as software-only to end users, so you'll have to build your file server with Windows Server 2003 R2 (or another server O/S). Then you'll miss out on unique features like default file serving performance optimization, Single-instance Storage, and the Search Indexing Service . And you'll spend hours building and configuring your file server, while a ProLiant Storage Server has everything pre-installed and pre-configured so that you're up and serving files over your network in minutes. All you need to do is power up, run the Rapid Start-up Wizard, answer a few configuration questions, and then get back to more important things. |
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| Q5. |
How do ProLiant Storage Servers compare to competitive products? |
| A5. |
ProLiant Storage Servers are based completely on industry-standard world-class components, from the Microsoft Windows-powered operating systems to the powerful and reliable ProLiant platforms. Unique file server features like Single-instance Storage and Integrated Lights-Out2 or Lights-Out 100i remote management coupled with value pricing make ProLiant Storage Servers stand out against other Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices.
The ProLiant DL160 G5 offers enterprise-class features like quad-core processing and support for both SATA and SAS drives.
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| Q6. |
What do the print services included with an HP ProLiant DL160 G5 Storage Server allow? |
| A6. |
The print services feature in Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 allows users to configure the DL160 G5 Storage Server as a print server to provide management of an unlimited number of network printers. Print Management Console (PMC) allows you to manage multiple printers and is integrated into the core functionality of the operating system. PMC can be used within an ADS environment, works efficiently over WAN for branch office scenario, and also implements a push printer capability |
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| Q7. |
Why do I need the Installation Service? |
| A7. |
If you can't or don't want to self-install your ProLiant Storage Server, you can leverage HP’s experience by purchasing an installation service. We set up a file share and configure a host to access that file share to demonstrate operability. ProLiant Storage Server product orientation also provides a good overview of how to set these features for your entire environment and how to use the basic management features. |
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| Q8. |
What about ongoing maintenance or assistance? |
| A8. |
HP has a very broad selection of these types of services that we call HP Care Packs. Included are various response times (4 hour same day, next day, etc.) as well as coverage periods (Monday – Friday, 24x7, 1 year, 3 year, etc.). These services are available for both hardware and software to meet all your support needs. |
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