Performance
DakotaNAS is built on a powerful server-class Dual-Core Xeon platform with a dual independent bus architecture and up to 16 GB of memory.  Featuring the latest in Fibre Channel and iSCSI storage connectivity, DakotaNAS provides high performance file sharing resources for Direct Attached Storage systems and/or SANs.  In addition to the dual Gigabit Ethernet connections with Intel I/O acceleration technology and jumbo frame support, optional TCP/IP Offload Engines enhance performance and accelerate Ethernet throughput to near wire speed. DakotaNAS runs a NAS optimized version of Windows Server 2003 R2 and is 15-20% faster than a general purpose Windows Server 2003 R2 in file serving.

Scalable Networking Pack
Microsoft’s Scalable Networking Pack can help optimize server performance and maximize network throughput via the following ways:
- Reduces CPU overhead related to network packet processing
- Dynamically load balances inbound network processing across multiple processors
- Helps support more users and process requests faster

Scalable Network Accelerators
DakotaStor-WP2 models with Scalable Network Accelerators provide 40% faster throughput and support 50% more users with the same response time.  This is achieved by utilizing the TCP Chimney Offload feature of Microsoft’s Scalable network Pack to free the system CPU of the burden of network packet processing.

Reliability and Data Availability
DakotaNAS is integrated with best-of-breed components and is based on Windows Server™ 2003 R2, a robust operating system that provides high reliability and data protection.  Redundant hot swap power supplies and mirrored operating system drives ensure high availability in the event of component failure.  A mature journaling file system enables easy, dependable file system recovery in the event of unscheduled downtime. Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 is a dedicated file and print server and has all functionality unrelated to file serving removed, increasing reliability and lowering CPU overhead. The Distributed File System (DFS) solution provides simplified, fault-tolerant access to files and WAN-friendly replication. The DakotaNAS Enterprise Edition, with cluster support, provides high availability and disaster tolerance for mission-critical file sharing environments.

Multi-Protocol Connectivity
Because DakotaNAS is powered by Windows Server 2003, it is designed to exist in heterogeneous network environments and transfer data using industry standard file sharing protocols (SMB/CIFS, NFS, AFP, FTP and HTTP) over industry standard network protocols. Therefore, clients can share storage resources, regardless of their operating environment. Cross platform connectivity provides common storage resources and increased user productivity.

Security
DakotaNAS features the tight enterprise-level security of Windows Server 2003 R2. Full Active Directory Services™ support enables DakotaNAS to integrate seamlessly into a Windows enterprise network. Other authentication features include NT Domain Authentication (PDC) and Unix Network Information Services (NIS). DakotaNAS also integrates completely into Distributed File System (DFS) environments.

Manageability
The Windows Storage Server 2003 MMC-based management console enables administrators to perform the majority of storage management tasks from a central location.  The Unified Share and Storage Management snap-in provides wizard-based provisioning of volumes, shared folders, and iSCSI targets, as well as the ability to configure quotas, file screening, Single Instance Storage, and indexing.  DakotaNAS can be managed remotely via a web browser from Windows and non-Windows clients.  A keyboard, mouse, and monitor (or KVM) is supported for local management.

File Server Resource Manager

File Server Resource Manager provides a suite of tools for administrators to understand, control, and manage the quantity and type of data stored on their servers. File Server Resource Manager enables you to place quotas on folders and volumes, actively screen files, and generate comprehensive storage reports.

Storage Management for SANs

Storage Manager for SANs helps you create and manage logical unit numbers (LUNs) on fibre channel and iSCSI disk drive subsystems in your storage area network (SAN). Storage Manager for SANs can be used on storage subsystems that support Virtual Disk Service (VDS). Use Storage Manager for SANs to create and assign LUNs, manage connections between LUNs and the servers in your SAN, and set the security properties for iSCSI storage subsystems.

Unified Share and Storage Management

With the Share and Storage Management snap-in, you can easily set up and manage shared folders and storage. Share and Storage Management provides the following:

• MMC-based management of shared folders and storage.
• Provision Storage Wizard for creating and configuring storage, including creating a LUN and formatting a volume.
• Provision a Shared Folder Wizard for creating and configuring shared folders that can be accessed using either the server message block (SMB) or NFS protocol.
• This makes it possible to complete most of the administrative tasks required to create and manage shared folders and volumes, configure Single Instance Storage (SIS), configure quotas, configure file screening, and enable indexing from a single management point.

Distributed File System (DFS)

The Distributed File System (DFS) solution in Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 provides simplified, fault-tolerant access to files and WAN-friendly replication. Distributed File System consists of two technologies:

• DFS Namespaces. Formerly known as Distributed File System, DFS Namespaces allows administrators to group shared folders located on different servers and present them to users as a virtual tree of folders known as a namespace. A namespace provides numerous benefits, including increased availability of data, load sharing, and simplified data migration.

• DFS Replication. The successor to File Replication service (FRS), DFS Replication is a new state-based, multimaster replication engine that supports scheduling and bandwidth throttling. DFS Replication uses a new compression algorithm known as Remote Differential Compression (RDC). RDC is a protocol that can be used to efficiently update files over a limited-bandwidth network. RDC detects insertions, removals, re-arrangements of data in files, enabling DFS Replication to replicate only the deltas (changes) when files are updated.

For more information on DFS Replication visit: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/storage/dfs/default.mspx

iSCSI Software target Option
Microsoft iSCSI Software Target enables you to implement an iSCSI SAN with storage provisioning and management capabilities. Managed via the Integrated Management Console, administrator’s can create and manage iSCSI targets and iSCSI virtual disks, as well as schedule, export, and locally mount snapshots for use in backup and recovery operations.  Wizards are provided to facilitate these features.
Virtual Disk Storage
Disks created using iSCSI Software Target are iSCSI virtual disks, which are files in the virtual hard disk (VHD) format. These virtual disks offer flexible and effective storage. They are dynamically extendable to provide extra capacity on demand, enable efficient storage utilization, and minimize the downtime required to create and install new disks.
Snapshots
To facilitate backup and recovery operations, you can schedule and create snapshots of iSCSI virtual disks. Snapshots can be scheduled to be created automatically without stopping programs and can be mounted locally or exported to facilitate backup and recovery operations.
Hardware Providers
To support advanced management of iSCSI virtual disks and snapshots, you can install the Virtual Disk Service (VDS) and Virtual Shadow Copy Service (VSS) hardware providers, provided with system.
Security
The Microsoft iSCSI Software Target supports security protocols and configuration such as: iSNS integration; IPv6; IPsec; CHAP authentication.

Indexing Service
Indexing Service extracts the information from a set of documents and organizes it in a way that makes it quick and easy to access that information through the Search function for computers running Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP. This information can include text from within a document (its contents), and the characteristics and parameters of the document (its properties), such as the author's name. Once the index is created you can query the index for documents that contain key words, phrases, or properties.

Single Instance Storage

Single Instance Storage (SIS) recovers disk space by reducing the amount of redundant data stored on a volume by identifying identical files, storing only a single copy of the file in the SIS common store and replacing the files with pointers to the file in the SIS common store.

Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)

System administrators can use point-in-time shadow copy technologies to make up to 512 snapshots per volume (of which 64 are reserved for Shadow Copies for Shared Folders) using applications that have a VSS requestor. 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. 

Windows SharePoint® Services

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services is a powerful Web-based team collaboration environment that is included in Windows Storage Server 2003 R2. Windows SharePoint Services provides an integrated portfolio of collaboration and communication services designed to connect people, information, processes, and system both within and beyond the organizational firewalls.

Print Management

Print Management is an updated Microsoft Management Console snap-in that you can use to view and manage printers and print servers in your organization. You can use Print Management to manage all network printers on print servers running Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, Windows Storage Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, or Windows Storage Server 2003 R2.

Configuration and Scalability
DakotaNAS is available in 1U or 2U models with SCSI, Fibre Channel, or iSCSI storage connectivity ports, providing the flexibility you need to fit your current and future storage requirements.  Redundant hot swap power supplies and mirrored operating system drives are standard on all models. External SCSI port(s) are optional.

Fibre Channel SAN Connectivity
DakotaNAS supports Flexible Volume Mounting, enabling proper auto-mounting behavior for LUNs and volumes. With auto-mounting disabled, DakotaNAS mounts only volumes and LUNs that an administrator explicitly directs it to mount. This behavior helps prevent data corruption incidents.

iSCSI SAN Connectivity
Support for Microsoft’s iSCSI software initiator or third party iSCSI HBAs enables DakotaNAS to easily integrate with IP targets and IP SANs. Alacritech iSCSI Accelerators enhance the performance of Microsoft’s iSCSI initiator.

Disk-to-Disk-to-Tape (D2D2T) Backup
DakotaNAS can be configured as a powerful and versatile network disk-based Backup Appliance. Data can be backed up to RAID protected hard disks, greatly accelerating the backup process and providing for near-instant data restores, then transferred to tape for off-site or long-term archive. DakotaNAS supports Windows Server 2003 compatible backup applications and agents.

Anti-Virus Support
Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 is built upon the Windows Server family of operating systems, therefore you can benefit from the increased security provided by existing antivirus software from a variety of supported Microsoft partners. For more information on Microsoft’s antivirus partners, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/security/partners/antivirus.asp

Total Cost of Ownership
DakotaNAS enables you to reduce your total cost of ownership by ensuring fast deployment, seamless network interoperability, high uptime, low administration and no client license costs.

For more information about Windows Storage Server 2003 R2, visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/wss2003/default.mspx