HP ProLiant Storage Servers

Multi-Protocol File and Print Serving

Deploy a dedicated network attached file server to address growing storage requirements. Data protection features and support for multiple file protocols (CIFS/SMB, NFS, NCP, AppleTalk, FTP and HTTP) make HP ProLiant Storage Servers an ideal solution for heterogeneous file and print serving.

IP-based storage solution for Exchange, SQL, and Oracle

The Microsoft® iSCSI Software Target adds iSCSI target functionality to HP Storage Server products, enabling customers to combine file, print, and block storage services on a single platform. Unlike environments with separate file, print, email, and database servers, or environments using proprietary technologies, this approach delivers single-platform manageability, easy scalability, and centralized backup. It provides investment protection by enabling low-cost storage consolidation using industry-standard hardware and software on existing Ethernet infrastructure. The Microsoft® iSCSI Software Target solution is ideal for small or medium businesses that wish to take advantage of the simplification of storage consolidation and are application-focused on Microsoft® Exchange, Microsoft® SQL or other block based application storage.. It is easy-to-use and affordable, yet delivers powerful functionality usually reserved for higher-priced and more complex storage architectures.

Server Consolidation

Consolidate multiple file servers to reduce costs and improve availability. HP ProLiant Storage Servers are proven solutions for file server consolidation with customers realizing the benefits of improved reliability, easier management, and lower TCO.  Now application serving environments can also consolidate and benefit from the added flexibility and centralized block storage management granted by Microsoft® iSCSI Software Target. With the iSCSI Software Target, storage can be allocated when and where it is needed. If a Windows Exchange Server is running low on disk space, more capacity can be allocated without taking the network or application servers offline. It is no longer necessary to physically allocate internal disk storage capacity within a Windows system. Storage capacity can be centrally managed through an integrated Windows iSCSI SAN and made available immediately when and where it is needed.

Backup/Restore and Data Replication

Enable rapid restoration of mission-critical data with a disk-to-disk backup solution from HP. ProLiant Storage Servers can be used for backup of multiple production servers without taking them offline. HP Data Protector Software Software offers data protection and disaster recovery to help ensure recovery from any disruption. Data Protector is the most efficient backup and recovery application for HP Storage Server devices. It also gives you the ability to scale from a single server to a distributed enterprise and covers heterogeneous applications, operating environments and storage configurations with a single solution. For data replication between HP ProLiant Storage Servers, HP StorageWorks Storage Mirroring Software is a host-based application that performs replication over an IP LAN/WAN. Storage Mirroring software is a cost-effective disaster recovery alternative from one HP ProLiant Storage Server to another within a LAN or storage center, or for direct attached storage between metro offices and regional centers.

NAS/SAN Fusion

The HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Storage Server (SAN storage model) and DL585 Storage Server combine the best of NAS and SAN capabilities on a shared storage pool. The power of fusion connects NAS "heads" or "gateways" to a SAN to provide file services to clients. As a result, NAS scales to the limits of the SAN. For enterprise-level deployments, the DL380 Storage Server and DL585 Storage Server allow you to demand more from your IT SANs-more flexibility, more agility and superior ROI.

Examples of applications, agents and devices that complement the file and print serving function of Windows Storage Server 2003 and can be hosted HP ProLiant Storage Servers (NAS) are:

• iSCSI
• Backup and Recovery (using NAS as a source or target)
• Virus Protection (antivirus)
• Replication
• System and Network Management agents
• Protocol Accelerators (i.e. TOE)
• Storage Migration agents
• E-mail Archive
• Remote Deployment agents

Microsoft Corporation considers Windows Storage Server 2003 to be equivalent to Windows Server 2003 from a Qualification and Support perspective if an application has been qualified for the "Certified for Windows" logo. If a third party application or device has been qualified on Windows Server 2003, then it is considered qualified on Windows Storage Server 2003. Microsoft supports overall Windows Storage Server 2003 configurations, regardless of the applications installed, but does not directly support individual third party applications. Any issues related to a third party application will be referred to that third party for support.

Microsoft restricts by license hosting applications on a Windows Storage Server 2003 device that DO NOT complement file and print serving. (See Restricted Applications section at end of document for further information.).

Hewlett Packard has taken the extra step of testing the operation of specific applications on HP ProLiant Storage Servers. These applications constitute the most common solutions used to complement HP NAS in customer environments. These applications have passed qualification testing specifically on HP ProLiant Storage Server products. Although support for individual products will be referred to the product vendor, these additional tests give a higher degree of confidence of solution compatibility.

Examples of applications that do NOT complement the file and print serving function of Windows Storage Server 2003, and are therefore NOT supported solutions are:

• E-mail Application Servers
• Database Application Servers
• CAD Applications
• Systems and Patch Management Applications (i.e. SMS)

Microsoft recommends that Windows Server 2003 be used instead to host these types of applications described above.

Data storage for Email, Database, or other applications CAN BE hosted on a Windows Storage Server 2003, just not the actual application itself.