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EqualLogic Supports Microsoft's Universal Distributed Storage Vision With Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Integration

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 December 2005, 15:00 CST

PS Series arrays work seamlessly with Windows Server 2003 R2's Storage Manager for SANs, ensuring interoperability with all Windows platform storage capabilities

EqualLogic, a leading provider of complete, intelligent iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions, announced today that its PS Series family of storage arrays supports the new Storage Manager for SANs in Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 R2. The move is the most recent development in EqualLogic's ongoing support for Microsoft's Universal Distributed Storage vision and follows the company's achievement of Microsoft's Simple SAN for Windows Server designation.

Microsoft's Universal Distributed Storage vision offers IT managers a simpler, more cost-effective way to store and protect data throughout Windows environments, and the Simple SAN program is a component of that effort. EqualLogic's PS Series SAN was the first networked storage solution to achieve Microsoft's Simple SAN designation. Now, EqualLogic is on the forefront of support for Windows Server 2003 R2's storage capabilities. The new Storage Manager for SANs simplifies SAN setup and storage resource management tasks in storage arrays that are compatible with Microsoft's Virtual Disk Service (VDS).

"EqualLogic set out to create a networked storage experience for customers that shatters the old paradigm of cost and complexity with a simpler SAN that delivers enterprise-class reliability and intelligent storage management to companies of all sizes," said John Joseph, vice president of marketing for EqualLogic. "We are completely in synch with Microsoft's storage vision, and we continue to deliver practical integration with Windows storage initiatives to our midrange and enterprise customers. More than 90 percent of EqualLogic's 700 customers are using Windows Server 2003. If you are managing a Windows environment and you are considering networked storage, EqualLogic's PS Series is the only SAN you need."

"Large enterprises have long benefited from SAN technologies in which storage is uncoupled from servers and attached to the network, but traditional SANs have been difficult to deploy and maintain," said Jeff Price, senior director in the Windows Server Division at Microsoft. "Microsoft is pleased to continue to work with EqualLogic to provide highly scalable and flexible storage resource allocation, high-efficiency backup solutions and better storage utilization with Windows Server 2003 R2."

Since its founding in 2001, EqualLogic, a certified Microsoft Gold Partner, has been at the forefront of iSCSI SAN deployments in Windows environments - making EqualLogic's Simple SAN designation and Windows Server 2003 R2 integration a straightforward process. EqualLogic's PS Series family is fully compatible with Windows Server platforms and is designed to complement Microsoft's storage technologies such as the Microsoft iSCSI Software Architecture, Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), Multi-Path Input/Output (MPIO), Microsoft Cluster Server and Microsoft Virtual Disk Service (VDS). EqualLogic has worked closely with Microsoft to ensure integration of the PS Series and Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2006 within Windows environments.

"EqualLogic's integration with Microsoft's storage initiatives makes it much easier for us to implement SANs into our clients' Windows environments," said John Dodge, solutions architect at Foedus, a solution provider and EqualLogic partner. "Thanks to EqualLogic's PS Series, you don't have to be a Fortune 100 company to have a sophisticated storage solution anymore. A SAN can be the cornerstone of any business' data center, providing a strong foundation for a rich and stable data environment."

EqualLogic's award-winning and data-center-proven PS Series is the only native iSCSI SAN solution to offer a comprehensive and fully integrated standard feature set at no additional cost. Each PS Series storage array comes with fully redundant fault-tolerant hardware and includes full-featured automatic storage-management software in a self-contained chassis. Multiple arrays can be combined to form a scalable enterprise storage grid of more than 100 terabytes.

About EqualLogic

EqualLogic, Inc., is a leading provider of intelligent, enterprise-class iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions that enable businesses - from Fortune 100 to small and mid-size organizations - to realize the economic benefits of consolidated, self-managing storage. The EqualLogic PS Series of storage arrays, based on the company's patented peer storage architecture, is the industry's first automatic storage platform that delivers operational simplicity, comprehensive data management services and high data availability in a single, scalable pool of storage. EqualLogic's headquarters are located in Nashua, New Hampshire. For more information, please visit http://www.equallogic.com.

EqualLogic is a registered trademark of EqualLogic, Inc. Other marks belong to their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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