Aberdeen AberNAS 120 User manual

CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION
Mailing address: Aberdeen LLC 9130 Norwalk Boulevard Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Phone [phone] Sales [phone] Fax [phone]
Web site: www.aberdeeninc.com E-mail: [e-mail]
Aberdeen LLC
February 2005
AberNAS 120 / 126

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
1. Preface
Congratulations on your purchase of the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 1U rackmount server.
This manual is written for professional systems integrators and PC technicians. It provides information for the
installation and use of the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 rackmount server. Installation and maintenance
should be performed by experienced technicians only. Please refer to the included motherboard specifications
file(NAS120-motherboard.pdf) and the chassis specifications file(NAS120-chassis.pdf) included within this
documentation CD.
2. Overview
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 is a high-end single processor, 1U rackmount server. It supports a single
478-pin Intel Pentium 4 microPGA processor at up to 3.40 GHz with HT (hyper-threading) technology (or single a
Intel Celeron processor of up to 2.80 GHz) and up to 4 GB of ECC or non-ECC unbuffered DDR400/333/266
SDRAM memory.
Please refer to our web site for information on operating systems that have been certified for use with the
ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 (www.aberdeeninc.com) and for regular updates on supported processor
speeds.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND
CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that
is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It has
been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance with the
specifications in Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against
such interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense will be required to take
whatever measures may be necessary to correct the interference.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from digital apparatus set out in
the Radio Interference Regulation of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils
numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique publié par le ministère des
Communications du Canada.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOM)
Electrical Safety Statement
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de operación deben ser respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo, cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o
cerca de una alberca, etc.
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales que sean recomendados por el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea recomendado por el fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más allá a lo descrito en las instrucciones de
operación. Todo otro servicio deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico
sobre una cama, sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se debe colocar en libreros o
gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los orificios de ventilación.
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u
otros aparatos (incluyendo amplificadores) que producen calor.
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o
como se indique en el aparato.
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados
sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen del aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las lineas de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no sea usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de
ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del aparato; o
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en su desempeño; o
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
3. Table of Contents
1.
Preface.............................................................................................................................................- 2 -
2. Overview..........................................................................................................................................- 2 -
3. Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................- 5 -
4. Getting Started................................................................................................................................- 6 -
5. Disk Placement Chart ....................................................................................................................- 8 -
6. Server Installation ..........................................................................................................................- 9 -
7. Getting Connected .......................................................................................................................- 10 -
8. Powering Up..................................................................................................................................- 10 -
9. Motherboard Specifications........................................................................................................- 11 -
10. Chassis Specifications ................................................................................................................- 13 -
11. Software Management .................................................................................................................- 14 -
12. Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003...................................................................................- 14 -
13. 3ware Disk Manager (3DM 2).......................................................................................................- 15 -
14. Troubleshooting...........................................................................................................................- 16 -

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
4. Getting Started
This section provides a quick setup checklist to get your ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 up and running.
Following these steps in the order given should enable you to have the system operational within a minimum
amount of time.
4.1. Unpacking the System
The Aberdeen AberNAS 120 Server ships with the following items enclosed in the package:
•ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 Server
•Rackmount Server Rails & Hardware
•A Power Cable
•Installation/Driver CD
•Documentation CD
You should inspect the box in which the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 was shipped and note if it was
damaged in any way. If the server itself shows damage you should file a damage claim with the carrier who
delivered it. Decide on a suitable location for the rack unit that will hold the server. It should be situated in a clean,
dust-free area that is well ventilated. Avoid areas where heat, electrical noise and electromagnetic fields are
generated. You will also need it placed near a grounded power outlet. Read the Rack and Server Precautions in the
next section.
4.2. Preparing for Setup
The box in which the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 was shipped should include two sets of rail assemblies,
six rail mounting brackets and the mounting screws you will need to install the system into the rack. Follow the
steps in the order given to complete the installation process in a minimal amount of time.
4.3. Choosing a Setup Location
•Leave enough clearance in front of the rack to enable you to open the front door completely (~ 25 inches).
•Leave approximately 30 inches of clearance in the back of the rack to allow for sufficient airflow and ease
in servicing.
4.4. Rack Precautions
•Ensure that the leveling jacks on the bottom of the rack are fully extended to the floor with the full weight
of the rack resting on them.
•In single rack installation, stabilizers should be attached to the rack.
•In multiple rack installations, the racks should be coupled together.
•Always make sure the rack is stable before extending a component from the rack.
•You should extend only one component at a time - extending two or more simultaneously may cause the
rack to become unstable.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
4.5. Server Precautions
•Determine the placement of each component in the rack before you install the rails.
•Install the heaviest server components on the bottom of the rack first, and then work up.
•Use a regulating uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect the server from power surges, voltage
spikes and to keep your system operating in case of a power failure.
•Allow the hot plug SCSI drives and power supply units to cool before touching them.
•Always keep the rack's front door and all panels and components on the servers closed when not servicing
to maintain proper cooling.
4.6. Ambient Operating Temperature
If installed in a closed or multi-unit rack assembly, the ambient operating temperature of the rack environment may
be greater than the ambient temperature of the room. Therefore, consideration should be given to installing the
equipment in an environment compatible with the manufacturer’s maximum rated ambient temperature (Tmra).
4.7. Reduced Airflow
Equipment should be mounted into a rack so that the amount of airflow required for safe operation is not
compromised.
4.8. Mechanical Loading
Equipment should be mounted into a rack so that a hazardous condition does not arise due to uneven mechanical
loading.
4.9. Circuit Overloading
Consideration should be given to the connection of the equipment to the power supply circuitry and the effect that
any possible overloading of circuits might have on overcurrent protection and power supply wiring. Appropriate
consideration of equipment nameplate ratings should be used when addressing this concern.
4.10. Reliable Ground
A reliable ground must be maintained at all times. To ensure this, the rack itself should be grounded. Particular
attention should be given to power supply connections other than the direct connections to the branch circuit (i.e. the
use of power strips, etc.).

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
5. Disk Placement Chart
NOTE
The disk drive trays must be properly seated completely back into their sockets and they must be in their proper positions in order to
avoid software corruption and/or hardware damage.
5.1. Hard Disk Drive Shipment
Your AberNAS by Aberdeen storage appliance has four columns of one hard disk drive each. The disk drive are
labeled numerically from left to right and in succession from 0 - 3. For safety during shipment to you, the drives
may have been removed and shipped separately.
5.2. Hard Disk Drive Installation
The positioning stickers on the hard drive packages correspond to their placement in the chassis. Proper placement
of the drives is critical in retaining the integrity of any software or operating system that has been loaded.
5.2.1. ENSURE THAT THE DISK DRIVE IS SECURELY MOUNTED TO THE DRIVE BAY
5.2.2. SLIDE THE HARD DRIVE INTO PLACE WITH THE RETAINING HANDLE EXTENDED.
5.2.3. WHEN THE DRIVE IS FULLY INSERTED,PUSH THE RETAINING HANDLE BACK UNTIL IT IS FULLY
SEATED AND SNAPPED INTO THE LATCH.
Column A Column B Column C Column D
Row 1 0 1 2 3
Latch
Retaining Handle
5.3. Hard Disk Drive Removal
5.3.1. PUSH IN THE LATCH BUTTON SHOWN ABOVE TO RELEASE THE RETAINING HANDLE.
5.3.2. PULL THE RETAINING HANDLE BACK UNTIL THE DRIVE IS FULLY REMOVED FROM THE CHASSIS.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
6. Server Installation
NOTE
For more detailed setup instructions, please refer to the user manual on the documentation CD.
6.1. The first step is to attach the rearinner slide rails to the server as shown below. The server
is shipped with the front rails preinstalled.
•First, locate the right rear inner rail (the rail that
will be used on the right side of the chassis when
you face the front of the server).
•Align the two square holes on the rail against the
hooks on the right side of the chassis.
•Securely attach the rail to the chassis with the
supplied M4 flat head screws.
•Repeat these steps to install the left rear inner rail to the left side of the chassis.
6.2. Next, determine where you would like to place the server in the rack then perform the
following steps:
•Position the chassis rail guides at the desired
location in the rack, keeping the sliding rail
guide facing the inside of the rack.
•Screw the assembly securely to the rack using
the supplied brackets.
•Attach the other assembly to the other side of
the rack, making sure that both are at the exact
same height and with the rail guides facing
inward
•Next, line up the rear of the chassis rails with
the front of the rack rails. Slide the chassis
rails into the rack rails until they “click” into
place and slide all the way back. At this point
it may be necessary to depress the locking tabs
while pushing to slide the server completely
into the rack.
•Conclude by tightening the thumbscrews that
hold the front of the server to the rack.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
7. Getting Connected
7.1. Confirm the following connections are in place:
•Power Cord(s)
•Keyboard, Monitor, and Mouse
•Ethernet LAN Cables
•Com 1 & Parallel Ports (if applicable)
Note
It is recommended to use a regulating uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect the server from power surges, voltage spikes
and to keep your system operating in case of a power failure.
8. Powering Up
8.1. Press the large red power button
Located on the front of the chassis in the middle.
8.2. Press the button on the slim CD-Rom drive to eject the tray
•Insert preferred OS installation media.
•Proceed with OS installation by following the manufacturer’s recommended setup procedures.
Note
Important: It is recommended that you install the latest service packs and/or updates to obtain the highest performance and
reliability from your server.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
9. Motherboard Specifications
At the heart of the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 lies a single processor motherboard designed to provide
maximum performance. Below are the main features of the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126.
NOTE
For further detailed documentation regarding the motherboard installed in this server please refer to the accompanying
NAS120-MOTHERBOARD.PDF found within the Aberdeen User’s Manual CD-ROM.
9.1. Chipset
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 is based on Intel’s E7210 chipset. The E7210 chipset is made up of two
main components:
9.1.1. MEMORY CONTROLLER HUB (MCH)
The MCH controls the flow of data between the host (CPU) interface, the memory interface and the I/O
Controller Hub interface. It contains advanced power management logic and supports dual-channel
(interleaved) DDR memory, providing bandwidth of up to 6.4 GB/s using DDR2-400 SDRAM.
9.1.2. I/O CONTROLLER HUB (6300ESB)
The 6300ESB ICH provides the I/O subsystem with access to the rest of the system. It integrates a dual-channel
Ultra ATA/100 bus master IDE controller, two Serial ATA (SATA) host controllers, the SMBus 2.0 controller,
the LPC/Flash BIOS interface, the PCI-X (66MHz) 1.0 interface, the PCI 2.2 interface and the System
Management Controller.
9.2. Processors
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 supports a single Intel® Pentium® 4 processor of up to 3.40 GHz with
hyper-threading technology in a 478-pin microPGA socket (must be 0.09 or 0.13 micron technology) or single a
Intel® Celeron® processor of up to 2.80 GHz.
•Hyper-Threading Technology provides thread-level-parallelism (TLP) on each processor resulting in
increased utilization of processor execution resources. As a result, resource utilization yields higher
processing throughput. Hyper-Threading Technology is a form of simultaneous multi-threading technology
(SMT) where multiple threads of software applications can be run simultaneously on one processor. This is
achieved by duplicating the architectural state on each processor, while sharing one set of processor
execution resources. Hyper-Threading Technology also delivers faster response times for multi-tasking
workload environments. By allowing the processor to use on-die resources that would otherwise have been
idle, Hyper-Threading Technology provides a performance boost on multi-threading and multi-tasking
operations for the Intel NetBurst® microarchitecture.
9.3. Memory
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 has four (4) 184-pin DIMM sockets that can support up to 4 GB of ECC
or non-ECC unbuffered DDR400/333/266 SDRAM modules. (Memory operates in a dual-channel, or interleaved
configuration for increased performance.) Low-profile memory modules are required for use in the 1U form factor
of the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126. Module sizes of 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB may be used to
populate the DIMM slots.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
9.4. Serial ATA
A Serial ATA controller is incorporated into the E7210 chipset to provide a two port Serial ATA subsystem.
9.5. PCI Expansion Slots
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 has two 64-bit, 66 MHz PCI-X slots and two 32-bit 33MHz PCI slots.
9.6. Ethernet Ports
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 includes dual on-chip Gigabit LAN ports.
9.7. Onboard Controllers & Ports
An onboard IDE controller supports one floppy drive and up to four Ultra ATA 100 hard drives or ATAPI devices.
Onboard I/O back panel ports include one serial COM port, one parallel port, four USB ports, PS/2 mouse and
keyboard ports and two GLAN (RJ45) ports.
9.8. ATI Graphics Controller
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 features an integrated ATI video controller based on the Rage XL
graphics chip. Rage XL fully supports sideband addressing and AGP texturing. This onboard graphics package can
provide a bandwidth of up to 512 MB/sec over a 32-bit graphics memory bus.
9.9. Other Features
Other onboard features that promote system health include eight voltage monitors, a chassis intrusion header, auto-
switching voltage regulators, chassis and CPU overheat sensors, virus protection and BIOS rescue.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
10. Chassis Specifications
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 is a 1U rackmount server platform configuration. The following is a
general outline of the main features of the chassis.
NOTE
For further detailed documentation regarding the chassis and power supply installed in this server please refer to the accompanying
NAS120-CHASSIS.PDF found within the Aberdeen User’s Manual CD-ROM.
10.1. System Chassis
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 utilizes a 1U chassis and features eight hot-swap SATA hard drive bays,
and a superb cooling design that can keep today's most powerful processors running well below their temperature
thresholds.
10.2. System Power
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 includes a 300W power supply.
10.3. Serial ATA Disk Subsystem
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 chassis was designed to support up to four external Serial ATA hard
drives and one internal OS 2.5” drive. The external Serial ATA drives are hot-swappable units.
10.4. Front Panel Control
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 control panel provides important system monitoring and control
information. LEDs indicate power on, network activity, hard disk drive activity and overheat conditions. The control
panel also includes a main power button and a system reset button.
10.5. Rear I/O Panel
The rear I/O panel on the ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 provides one motherboard expansion slot, one
COM port (another is internal), two USB ports, PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports, a parallel (printer) port, a graphics
port and two GB Ethernet ports.
10.6. Cooling System
The ABERDEEN LLC AberNAS 120 / 126 chassis has an innovative cooling design that features five 4-cm high
performance cooling fans. The fans plug into headers on the motherboard and operate at full rpm continuously.

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Aberdeen LLC AberNAS 120 / 126
11. Software Management
The Aberdeen AberNAS 120 has been completely configured and integrated with all software installed. The server
is ready for deployment within minutes.
NOTE
For further detailed documentation regarding the installed software including the Microsoft Windows Storage Server2003 and 3ware
3DM 2 RAID management utility please refer to the accompanying NAS120 software .PDF files found within the Aberdeen User’s
Manual CD-ROM.
12. Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003
If you connect a monitor (1024x768x85Hz resolution), a keyboard and a mouse to your Aberdeen NAS Server for easy setup
purposes.
12.1. Initial Set-Up
•Power up the device and Login as:
User: Administrator
Password: monster
The easy Graphical User Interface (GUI) NAS interface will start. Click on “Administer this Server Appliance” and
a detailed help menu embedded into interface will appear. If you see a connection error on Internet Explorer, simply
click “Try Again.”
If you don’t want to connect your Aberdeen NAS Server to a monitor, keyboard and a mouse:
Connect the server to your network, turn it on and allow it approximately two (2) minutes to boot up. Go to any
computer connected to the same network, open up your web browser and type https://abernas:8098
•Enter the default login information:
User: Administrator
Password: monster
The easy Graphical User Interface (GUI) NAS interface will start. Click on “Administer this Server Appliance” and
a detailed help menu embedded into interface will appear. If you see a connection error on Internet Explorer, simply
click “Try Again.”
If your network has a special IP Number or a Layer 2-3 switch and there is no DHCP Server present on your
network, second method may not function and it will be necessary to install a monitor, keyboard and mouse on the
NAS Server.
12.2. Changing the RAID Array Setup (Only for Experienced Administrators)
Entering https://abernas:888 on any browser will give you access to the RAID Array setup. If you change your
Server name, replace “monster” with your server name.
12.3. Menu Access
To Manage Disk Volumes or Remote Desktop menus, you must be using Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. For other
menus, any web browser application should function properly.

Introduction to Windows Storage Server 2003 Architecture
and Deployment
Microsoft Corporation
Published: July 2003
Abstract
Microsoft Windows® Storage Server 2003 is the latest version of Windows Powered NAS. Built on
the Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 operating system, Windows Storage Server 2003 is a
dedicated file server that offers dependable storage while integrating seamlessly with the existing
corporate network infrastructure. Easy to install and manage, Windows Storage Server 2003 offers
outstanding economics. It enables substantial file server consolidation and provides one of the best
platforms for simplified file sharing, backup and replication of businesses essential data.
This white paper introduces the reader to the new and enhanced features of
Windows Storage Server 2003 file server and network attached storage (NAS) technologies.

The information contained in this document represents the current view of
Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of
publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market
conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of
Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information
presented after the date of publication.
This White Paper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT
MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE
INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the
user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document
may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the
express written permission of Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights,
or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this
document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement
from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any
license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual
property.
The example companies, organizations, products, people and events
depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company,
organization, product, person or event is intended or should be inferred.
© 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Microsoft, Active Directory, Windows, and Windows NT are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be
the trademarks of their respective owners.

Microsoft® Windows Storage Server 2003 White Paper
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview of Windows Storage Server 2003................................................................................ 2
What is Windows Storage Server 2003?..................................................................................... 2
Advantages of Windows Storage Server 2003............................................................................ 2
The Basics: How NAS Works .......................................................................................................4
File Serving Component .............................................................................................................. 4
Hardware Component.................................................................................................................. 4
Storing Component...................................................................................................................... 4
Optimizing NAS............................................................................................................................ 5
Windows Storage Server 2003 Features..................................................................................... 6
Networking................................................................................................................................... 6
File Serving .................................................................................................................................. 7
Storage......................................................................................................................................... 9
NAS Management Software ...................................................................................................... 10
Performance............................................................................................................................... 11
Integrated Snapshots................................................................................................................. 12
Improved End-User Experience................................................................................................. 12
New Features in Windows Storage Server 2003 ...................................................................... 14
Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)........................................................................................ 14
Virtual Disk Service (VDS)......................................................................................................... 15
Multipath I/O (MPIO).................................................................................................................. 16
Distributed File System (DFS) ...................................................................................................17
NAS Deployment Scenarios ....................................................................................................... 18
File Serving ................................................................................................................................ 18
Server Consolidation.................................................................................................................. 20
Local and Remote Site Replication for Business Continuity...................................................... 20
NAS-SAN Fusion ....................................................................................................................... 22
Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 23
Related Links ............................................................................................................................... 24

Microsoft® Windows Storage Server 2003 White Paper
Introduction
Development of technologies delivering storage over the network has revolutionized the availability,
distribution and accessibility of storage resources. Attaching storage directly to the company network
helps to eliminate or reduce the drawbacks business experience when using directly attached
storage. These drawbacks include:
•Limited storage capacity and scaling constraints as data assets grow.
•Proliferation of computer hardware and software to meet increased storage capacity needs.
•Proliferation of hardware and software necessary to protect the data allocated to new storage.
•Increased management complexity for the system administrator(s) configuring and maintaining IT
client and server systems.
•Poor or inconsistent protection of data on client desktops and laptops.
•Limited or laborious access to data, especially between company workgroups, departments and
branches.
•Temporary or permanent loss of data resulting from hardware failures, data corruption or user
error.
•Spiraling costs associated with capital expenditure, increased staffing, and production downtime
resulting from data loss.
Network attached storage (NAS) is one solution to these challenges. NAS storage and file serving
devices can be attached directly to the company intranet. Storage directly attached to the network
becomes accessible to all computers that can access the network. NAS servers are designed for
ease of deployment: they can be plugged directly into the network without disruption of services,
management is minimal and simplified, and they are largely maintenance free. NAS devices are an
ideal means by which to consolidate file servers and backup equipment and to expand storage
capacity.
A second networked-storage solution is the installation of a storage area network (SAN). Unlike NAS
solutions, these dedicated storage networks require considerably more planning to deploy, and their
management is more complex. SAN solutions are ideal for database and on-line processing
applications requiring rapid data access, but because SAN storage devices serve block-level data
rather than files, the installation of a Fibre Channel network to transport the SCSI (Small Computer
System Interface) commands is necessary
1
.
A third storage network solution is a hybrid one: NAS devices can be attached to SANs. In this
configuration, the NAS components necessary for filing are physically separated from the
components necessary for storing: a NAS “head” or “gateway” (containing the filing functionality)
attaches to the LAN network, and behind that lies the storage component—a “backend” SAN
consisting of the Fibre Channel network (wiring and switches) and the storage disks.
1
Microsoft, with its iSCSI initiator software released in June 2003, is enabling block transport over company intranets.
See the Enterprise Storage Division white paper, “Microsoft Support for iSCSI” for details.

Microsoft® Windows Storage Server 2003 White Paper
Overview of Windows Storage Server 2003
What is Windows Storage Server 2003?
Microsoft® Windows® Storage Server 2003 is a network attached storage (NAS) operating system
that enables original equipment manufacturers to build appliances that provide dedicated file serving
capabilities and storage on the network. Windows Storage Server 2003 is built on top of Microsoft
Windows Server™ 2003, which ensures that NAS devices built upon the Windows Storage Server
operating system have all the performance and scalability benefits associated with
Windows Server 2003.
A NAS appliance built Windows Storage Server 2003 is designed to perform without requiring a
monitor, keyboard and mouse. Instead, this “headless” appliance is remotely managed through a
Web-based user interface for the minimal configuration tasks required for setup. Unlike application
servers which require proper planning to implement well, NAS devices built with
Windows Storage Server 2003 are designed to be deployed in under 15 minutes, and can be
attached directly to the company local area network (LAN) with no interruption to services. Once
plugged in, these NAS devices require minimal maintenance.
Unlike proprietary solutions, Windows Storage Server 2003 works with standard hardware
2
from
multiple original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This gives businesses maximum flexibility in
choosing among vendors with the hardware solution that best meets their needs.
Advantages of Windows Storage Server 2003
Windows Storage Server 2003 is designed for simplicity, reliability and performance. NAS appliances
built on Windows Storage Server operating system integrate seamlessly into the IT network to
provide one of the most economical file serving and network attached storage solutions available to
departmental and enterprise-sized businesses.
•Ease of Deployment. Depending on the expertise of the system administrator and the
complexity of the computing environment, installation of an application or general purpose server
can take anywhere from several hours to a day or more of work. Because
Windows Storage Server 2003 comes preconfigured, other than using the web browser interface
to set up users and shares, the only installation work necessary is plugging the device into the
company LAN. In less than 15 minutes, gigabytes to terabytes of storage can be made available
to users across multiple OS platforms.
•Simple Management. Windows Storage Server 2003 can be managed remotely though Terminal
Services sessions or through a Web browser interface from any desktop on the network. Because
Windows Storage Server 2003 uses the Windows operating system, administrators already
familiar with Windows do not have to learn a new NAS operating system.
•Dependability. Windows Storage Server 2003 is designed to fully support redundant hardware
components—disks, power supplies and fans—to provide continuous and uninterrupted
availability should a hardware failure occur. And because NAS devices are designed this way, the
potential points of hardware failure are fewer than with general purpose servers.
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Any system designed to run an operating system.

Microsoft® Windows Storage Server 2003 White Paper
•Enhanced Data Protection. Through built-in point-in-time shadow technology,
Windows Storage Server 2003 helps businesses keep their data online 24x7 year-round. Using
the infrastructure provided by Windows Server 2003 Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), the
system administrator can use point-in-time shadow copy technologies to make up to 512
snapshots per volume using NTBACKUP (of which 64 are reserved for Shadow Copies for
Shared Folders). These shadow copy backups are available for rapid restores should the need
arise. Unlike tape backups which can take hours to restore, these shadow copy backups can be
restored in minutes.
The end user can also benefit from point in time imaging technologies, using the Shadow Copies for
Shared Folders (SCSF) feature. SCSF enables users to restore accidentally deleted or overwritten
files or entire folders without the need for IT intervention. A maximum of 64 SCSF per volume can be
created.
•ISV Utility Support. NAS devices developed with Windows Storage Server 2003 include all of
the benefits of application support available in Windows Server 2003. Critical ISV utilities, such as
antivirus, backup, replication and disk quota software, are immediately available and supported in
Windows Storage Server 2003. NAS devices not based on Windows Storage Server 2003 are not
able to support these kinds of products without special versions, or those operational procedures
must be performed from application servers on the NAS files and file.
•Robust Security. Because it can be integrated seamlessly with Active Directory services,
Windows Storage Server 2003 can take advantage of the Windows security features such as
data and file encryption, network authentication, secure network transport, and network wide
group policies.
•Load Balancing and Server Fail Over. Windows Storage Server 2003 integrates effectively with
the Distributed File System, enabling effective management of the servers and files on the
business network. DFS works to provide a single hierarchical view all the servers and their
shares. Replicating the data across multiple servers and keeping the data synchronized with File
Replication Service (FRS) is an effective way to balance the network load. In the event that a
server fails, DFS will automatically redirect clients to the closest available server.