Hi Folks –
A few weeks ago, I blogged about how I was working with IBM on a new webcast that focused on Windows Storage Server 2012 running on IBM System x hardware. The webcast is now available online here. (Note: Registration is required.)
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The one-hour webcast included presentations by yours truly and by Joshua Jankowsky, IBM North America Storage Product Manager. In a nutshell, it covered how customers who buy from IBM Business Partners can get storage solutions custom-tailored to their needs via the IBM Reseller Option Kit (ROK) program, to which IBM has recently added a Windows Storage Server 2012 offering.
Josh kicked things off, covering the following topics:
- Feature and licensing differences between Windows Storage Server 2012 Workgroup and Standard editions (Note: IBM only offers the Standard edition as part of its Reseller Option Kit.)
- Scenarios where Windows Storage Server 2012 on System x is particularly attractive—including remote office, standalone unified storage, and NAS gateway. A deeper look at each of the above scenarios, including recommended hardware configurations, system specs, and IBM ROK part numbers.
- How IBM System x solutions can be expanded using IBM’s EXP2500 and Storwize V3700 offerings
- A look at how System x running Windows Storage Server 2012 can take advantage of:
- The latest Intel Xeon processors and Intel’s Intelligent Storage Acceleration Library (Intel OSA-L)
- IBM SATA 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch MLC Enterprise Value SSDs, IBM SAS 2.5-inch MLC Enterprise SSDs, and IBM SAS 2.5-inch Hybrid Hard Drives for System x
At this point I took over, covering the following topics:
- Key storage-related technologies in Windows Storage Server 2012, including
- SMB 3.0 versus Direct Attached Storage
- Support for NFSv2, NFSv3, and NFSv4.1
- Microsoft iSCSI Software Target (now included in the box with Windows Storage Server 2012)
- Other features that contribute to improved performance, security, and access
- Data deduplication in Windows Storage Server 2012
- A typical branch office deployment scenario
- File server scalability improvements
- A typical VDI storage deployment scenario
- How the new storage innovations in Windows Storage Server 2012 can help companies to:
- Reduce planned maintenance downtime
- Address causes of unplanned downtime
- Increase availability of apps and services
- Increase storage efficiency and reduce IT costs
- Streamline storage management by using Server Manager to administer the File and Storage Services Role in Windows Storage Server 2012
You can download the slide deck we used in the webcast here.
Combined with the IBM System x servers powered by the latest Intel Xeon processors, the addition of Windows Storage Server 2012 to the IBM Reseller Option Kit enables IBM Business Partners to provide preinstalled, custom-tailored, affordable, all-in-one solutions. It’s good news for companies of all sizes—from first-time users of network-attached storage to companies that require advanced storage solutions.
Cheers,
Scott M. Johnson
Program Manager
Windows Storage Server
@SuperSquatchy