Summary (Server Clusters : Storage Area Networks - For Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003)

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Storage area networks provide a broad range of advantages over locally connected devices. They allow computer units to be detached from storage units, thereby providing flexible deployment and re-purposing of servers and storage to suit current business needs. You do not have to be concerned about buying the right devices for a given server, or with re-cabling a datacenter to attach storage to a specific server.

Microsoft fully supports storage area networks both as part of the base Windows platform, and as part of a complete Windows Clustering, high availability solution. One or more server clusters can be deployed in a single SAN environment, along with standalone Windows servers and/or non-Windows-based platforms.