Business Value

Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 provides a cost effective, reliable and scalable solution to address challenges on how file data is accessed, moved and managed. The amount of data supported within the organization continues to grow every year, pushing conventional storage requirements to their limits. Digitization of content, regulatory requirements and archival demands are resulting in the need to retain information for longer periods of time. Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 provides the platform to meet the storage demands of today’s businesses. Learn more about Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 and download the Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Datasheet.

What’s new in Storage Server 2008 R2

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 provides the same reliable and flexible file services that are in Windows Server 2008 R2, and provides small business to enterprises, file serving solutions that are easy to manage with powerful file serving features. These solutions are delivered on a mature platform using industry-standard hardware. Learn more about File Services in Windows Server 2008 R2.

File Services Components in Windows Storage Server 2008 R2:

Server Message Block (SMB) version 2.1. At the core of file services is the SMB 2.1 protocol, introduced in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. SMB 2.1 is faster and more efficient than previous versions of the protocol. SMB 2.1 is also optimized for low bandwidth connectivity and improved for better flexibility, compatibility and resiliency for clients running Windows 7.

Network File System (NFS). NFS enables organizations with heterogeneous environments to consolidate their file sharing resources on Windows Storage Server. Computers running Windows and other operating systems can easily share data.

Distributed File System (DFS). DFS replication and namespaces provide organizations with better access to data and simplified access to files and shares across a network-wide infrastructure. DFS also extends traditional file serving by making file shares easier to locate and more resilient, which helps to ensure user productivity.

File Services Resource Manager (FSRM). FSRM is a single-management interface that delivers better managed file services across CIFS/SMB and NFS, as well improved control and compliance over files. With built-in reporting, FSRM provides insight into how your file serving resources are used for audit and planning purposes.

File Classification Infrastructure (FCI). Windows Server 2008 R2 classification infrastructure provides insight into your data by automating classification processes so that you can manage your data more effectively. Organizations can save money and reduce risk by storing and retaining files based on their business value or impact. The built-in solution for file classification provides expiration, custom tasks, and reporting. Learn more about File Classification Infrastructure in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Key Features of Windows Storage Server

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 adds to the Windows Server 2008 R2 File Services such as:

iSCSI block I/O storage. The Microsoft iSCSI software target 3.3 enables block storage data access, accessed as iSCSI logical unit number (LUNs), for applications such as SQL Server, Microsoft SharePoint, Exchange Server, and operating system data like Hyper-V virtual machines or bootable images.

File data deduplication. The Single Instance Storage (SIS) feature in Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 appliances provides file deduplication by actively comparing and eliminating identical files on volumes to optimize storage capacity. Duplicate files are transparently replaced with file system links to the single copy retained in the SIS Common Store, which increases the efficiency of disk utilization. In addition, protection and recovery by SIS-aware backup solutions can also reduce the time to perform backups and disaster recovery.

Simplified Deployment and Management. Windows Storage Server 2008 is deployed in an appliance form-factor which means hardware and software requirements are pre-configured vastly simplifying the deployment tasks normally associated with a new file server. The appliance form-factor also greatly reduces the required amount of time to deploy removing many management tasks and minimizing the impact of deployment on the organizations file infrastructure. View our Windows Storage Server OEM Partners.

How to Buy

Windows Storage Server is an OEM-only product, which means Microsoft OEM partners package and offer Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 NAS appliances. Find OEM partners with Windows Storage Server based solutions and learn how to buy.