News
Microsoft and Dell Roll Out Unified Storage
Dell and Microsoft Corp. announced Wednesday that the PC maker is shipping
a unified, networked storage system based on the software giant's Unified
Data Storage Server 2003.
Dubbed the Dell PowerVault NX1950, the new server isn't cheap -- it starts
at $17,000, with configurations that have 4.5 TB of disk space start at
less than $24,000, according to a joint statement by the companies.
The NX1950 includes either single or two-node cluster configurations
featuring a redundant SAS-based back-end storage array scaling up to 45
drives.
According to the statement, Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003
is a new Microsoft storage platform that provides an advanced file server
and IP SAN (iSCSI) capabilities, as well as unified management tools for
deployment and maintenance in heterogeneous environments.
Dell's new storage solution features unified iSCSI block and file storage
services, compatibility with both Windows CIFS (Common Internet File System)
and Linux, Unix and Macintosh Network File System environments, redundant,
multi-node cluster configurations, and advanced Windows Storage Server
2003 R2 capabilities such as single-instance storage, full indexed text
search, distributed file services, and management of user quotas, file
screening and storage reports. (See "Now
Serving: Windows Storage Server 2003 Release 2," April 5, 2006.)
Integrated solutions with clustering and drive expansion, along with
SAN gateway capabilities, will be available in the first half of 2007,
the companies said.
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.