According to the company, during July—June 2005 sales of Windows
Server grew faster than the market itself
Microsoft
CorporaÂtion India Pvt Ltd announced recenÂtly the availability of Windows
Server 2003 R2 (Release 2). Aimed at small and large organizations, Windows
Server 2003 R2 delivers new capabilities and value for customers. The product
delivers simplified branch server management, improves identity and access
management, reduced storage management costs, provides a rich web platform and
cost effective server virtualization. At the event, Microsoft also showcased a
range of its infrastructure server offerings including Windows Storage Server,
Compute Cluster Server 2003 beta 2and Virtual Server 2005 Release 2.
At the event, Microsoft also
said that in the period July—June 2005 over 2004, sales of Windows Server have
grown faster than the market itself. As per IDC, the server hardware market grew
by approximately 38 percent year-on-year, while the Microsoft Windows Server
units have grown by 45 percent during the same period.
Discussing Microsoft's
Infrastructure Server offeÂrings, Amit Kumar, Senior Product Manger-Windows
Server, Microsoft India said, “For IT investments to be successful and provide
straÂtegic value in the long term, making the right investments in the
infrastructure is critical as this forms the foundation for the future. Our
range of infrastructure offerings will provide Indian enterprises with a robust,
secure, scalable and reliable platform for their enterprise applications and
solutions.”
“With its enhanced funcÂtionality
and features, WinÂdows Server 2003 Release 2 can be the IT backbone for
companies planning geograÂphic expansion now or in the future,” he added.
Microsoft also announced the
availability of ISA Server 2004 Service Pack 2, which includes specific enhanceÂments
for branch office security and management. ISA Server 2004 SP2 inteÂgrates with
Windows Server 2003 R2 to provide advanced policy-based protection for branch
office servers and clients.
In addition, Microsoft
released its Branch Office Infrastructure Solution (BOIS) update, which includes
more concise instruction as well as an updated architecture planning model, new
downlÂoadable templates that can be modified to suit the realities of any
environÂment and reflects imÂproveÂments made in Windows Server 2003 R2 and
other product improvements, such as ISA Server 2004 SP2.
Elaborating on the offeÂring,
Kumar said, “Branch offices represent a big manaÂgement challenge, as well as
an efficiency and security challenge in moving informaÂtion around between the
branches. Windows Server 2003 R2 includes new technoÂlogies distributed file
system and Remote DifÂferential Compression (RDC), which provide a highly
available and centralized management experience for branch office data and
really improves the efficiency and speed of replicating data — up to a
90-percent decrease in network utilization for replicating data around the
network between branches.”
From a storage persÂpective,
Windows Server 2003 R2 enables storage partners to further enhance integration
and compatibility efforts through the Simple SAN program with new features such
as Storage Manager for SANs (SMS) and File Server Resource Manager (FSRM).
Customers will now be able to
purchase Windows Server 2003 R2 pre-installed on hardware through companies such
as HP, HCL, IBM, Dell and Wipro.