EqualLogic Announces Availability of Windows Storage Server NAS Gateway for EqualLogic PS Series SAN.Integrated solution from EqualLogic and AMS AMS - Andrew Message System Storage combines best of iSCSI block SAN storage and Microsoft Windows NAS (1) See network access server. (2) (Network Attached Storage) A specialized file server that connects to the network. A NAS device contains a slimmed-down operating system and a file system and processes only I/O requests by supporting the popular file services NASHUA, N.H. -- EqualLogic[R], the leading provider of enterprise-class iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions, today announced a Windows Storage Server A Windows-based network attached storage (NAS) operating system from Microsoft. Originally released as Windows Powered NAS, Windows Storage Server provides file and print sharing, but does not execute applications. As of Windows Storage Server 2003, it also stores Exchange Server data. See NAS. Network Attached Storage (NAS) gateway solution that is optimized for EqualLogic SANs. The NAS gateway is manufactured by AMS Storage using Microsoft's Windows Storage Server 2003 R2. It allows EqualLogic customers to cost-effectively consolidate, scale and protect all data with an iSCSI SAN while maintaining tight integration of Windows-based file services with Windows server and client systems as well as UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). , Linux and Apple systems. Combining an EqualLogic PS Series SAN with a Windows Storage Server NAS gateway lets IT managers leverage NAS and SAN functionality in a consolidated yet simplified environment. This approach provides customers an alternative to existing 'unified' storage architectures. EqualLogic's integration with Microsoft's Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 NAS products includes seamless interoperability with Microsoft data protection and management features via Simple SAN Solution certification. The combination of the two products lets customers scale SAN and NAS services independently and gives customers a choice of NAS services based on application needs and client operating system See desktop operating system. selection. Quantitative Services Group LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control (QSG QSG Quick Start Guide (reference manual) QSG Quality Support Group QSG Quick Study Guide (aviation) QSG Quantum Singularity Generator (game) QSG Quantitative Sciences Group ), a provider of sophisticated equity analysis and consulting to institutional investment companies, plans to combine an EqualLogic SAN with a Windows Storage Server NAS gateway. QSG's Systems Administrator Bryon Blofstein said, "We purchased five PS400Es for our production SQL SQL in full Structured Query Language. Computer programming language used for retrieving records or parts of records in databases and performing various calculations before displaying the results. databases that support our main business - online data analysis by institutional investment clients. We also bought a Windows Storage Server gateway from AMS to provide front-end NAS services and serve as an off-SAN backup server. This will allow us to scale the EqualLogic block storage for our growing databases independently from our NAS services." Microsoft director of Windows Server branch and storage solutions Bala Kasiviswanathan said, "Booting and serving Windows Storage Server from an EqualLogic iSCSI SAN is an absolute win for midrange enterprise NAS users. File sharing, enterprise home directories, Web content delivery and technical computing data stores are all common applications for the combination of a Windows NAS gateway and EqualLogic SAN. EqualLogic's mantra of offering customers choice, tight integration with Windows clients and simplified storage is enhanced with Microsoft's Windows Storage Server offerings." For the hundreds of EqualLogic resellers, this approach allows them to add multi-protocol NAS functionality as an incremental sales opportunity at an attractive price for customers. Additionally, it allows them to offer a better integrated feature set for simplified NAS and SAN deployments than expensive midrange unified storage products. "Most of our customers would benefit from consolidating more of their storage onto an iSCSI SAN, but need reliable and well integrated Windows file services as well," said Bill Billings, product manager at EqualLogic value added reseller See VAR. (company) value added reseller - (VAR, or "value added retailer") A company which sells something (e.g. computers) made by another company (an OEM) with extra components added (e.g. specialist software). CXtec. "Packaging an EqualLogic SAN with Windows Storage Server for NAS makes a lot of sense to address both of those needs. EqualLogic delivers products that are simple to use, which pays off in the time and money customers don't spend on managing storage. This lets us elevate our conversation beyond RAID sets to advanced features such as single instance storage, data protection and recovery that can be easily deployed and operated." EqualLogic's customers and partners can immediately obtain Windows Storage Server R2-based NAS gateways that are integrated with EqualLogic SAN implementations from AMS Storage, which markets the gateway as the DakotaNAS-EQ. The product includes the rich feature set of all Windows servers that is tightly integrated with Windows clients to ensure an optimal user experience and easy administration. Beyond basic CIFS (Common Internet File System) The file sharing protocol used in Windows. It evolved out of the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol in DOS, which is why the terms CIFS/SMB and SMB/CIFS are sometimes seen. The word "Internet" in the CIFS name has little relevance. NAS protocol connectivity (as well as NFS (Network File System) The file sharing protocol in a Unix network. This de facto Unix standard, which is widely known as a "distributed file system," was developed by Sun. See file sharing protocol and WebNFS. NFS - Network File System , AFP (1) (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) The file sharing protocol used in an AppleTalk network. In order for non-Apple networks to access data in an AppleShare server, their protocols must translate into the AFP language. See file sharing protocol. , FTP and HTTP HTTP in full HyperText Transfer Protocol Standard application-level protocol used for exchanging files on the World Wide Web. HTTP runs on top of the TCP/IP protocol. ), the DakotaNAS-EQ contains management features that are only available in NAS solutions built on Windows Storage Server, including: * Single Instance Storage (SIS) for file-level data de-duplication, * Distributed file system Software that keeps track of files stored across multiple networks. When the data are requested, it converts the file names into the physical location of the file so it can be found. support (DFS-N and DFS-R) enabling selective file or directory-level replication, and * Instant file recovery by users on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003 client systems via Shadow Copies for Shared Folders. Additionally, EqualLogic's Host Integration Tools (HIT) kit comes pre-loaded in the gateway appliance. This delivers an out-of-the-box Simple SAN Solution integration with the Microsoft iSCSI software initiator, Microsoft MPIO MPIO Multipath Input/Output MPIO Multi-Play Internet Audio MPIO Multi Path Input Output , Volume Shadow Copy Services (VSS) snapshots, Virtual Disk Service (VDS) and EqualLogic's AutoSnapshot Manager. The gateway can be configured to leverage clustered server configurations. "Windows Storage Server gateways combined with enterprise-class EqualLogic SANs are a perfect fit for mid-tier businesses that need flexible and full-featured NAS services," said John Joseph, vice president of marketing for EqualLogic. "These solutions are especially well-suited for businesses that rely on Microsoft Windows clients and applications." Pricing, Availability and Specifications The Dakota NAS-EQ gateway is currently shipping. List prices start at $6,675. Further product information, specifications and quotes are available at: http://amsstorage.com/html/dakota_nas_eq.htm About EqualLogic EqualLogic makes data storage systems that radically simplify the way mid-size and large businesses store and protect information. EqualLogic's award-winning PS Series storage area network (SAN) solution provides sophisticated management capabilities that reduce the time and money IT staff spend on storage. EqualLogic serves thousands of customers in 35 countries from its headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire Nashua is a city in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, Nashua had a total population of 86,605[1], making it the second largest city in the state after Manchester. As of 2005, the population is estimated to be 87,986. , and offices throughout Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.equallogic.com. EqualLogic is a registered trademark of EqualLogic, Inc. 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