Blade Watch

http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?Article=articles/p2850/30p50/30p50.asp&GUID=

Network storage requirements are growing amongst many SMEs as they face challenges from compliance programs, disaster recovery, and related activities. However, many storage solutions are out of reach for many SMEs on budget and staffing fronts. Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) and some choice OEM hardware partners are positioning Microsoft Storage Server 2003 R2 to fill this burgeoning gap by bringing a NAS (network-attached storage) operating system running on industry-standard (“off the shelf”) hardware to market.

Microsot’s version of network attached storage certainly looks interesting and is worth evaluating for a cheap way of doing san. The challenge (as with most things) is cost, as pcs get faster, and the operating system less important (most operating systems will share files between each other), a cheap server running linux, windows 2000, or even mac would provide similar functionality. It all depends on what you’re willing to pay. The filer is a fantastic solution, the snapshot/role back really works, but the typical SME probably wouldn’t want to pay the cost/management of a filer, that said windows storage system does look very cool and will no doubt be very easy to manage on a day to day basis.

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