Integrated Snapshots; Improved End-User Experience - Aberdeen AberNAS 120 Manual

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Windows 2000 Server
Figure 1. NetBench comparison of file serving performance in NAS 2.0 (Windows 2000 Server) and
Windows Storage Server 2003 (Windows Server 2003).

Integrated Snapshots

In NAS 2.0, point-in-time imaging (snapshot) technology is only available through the integration of 3
party advanced backup software. In Windows Server 2003, snapshot technology is part of the
Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and is fully integrated into the operating system, thus making it
part of the Windows Storage Server 2003 package. Snapshot technology enables open file backups
and fast restores. The technology is especially useful when the goal is the restoration of individual
files, which can be done by the end user without the need for system administrator intervention.

Improved End-User Experience

Windows Storage Server 2003 has a number of enhanced user interfaces (UIs) for the end user and
the system administrator. On the client side, the Previous Versions user interface (Shadow Copies for
Shared Folders) allows end users to directly restore their own files in the event of accidental deletion,
overwriting or file corruption (Figure 2). On the system administrator side, UIs for volume
defragmentation, task scheduling, folder and share management, volume management, and UPS
management make administration of storage much more convenient than before.
Peak SMB Performance
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Windows Server 2003
Microsoft® Windows Storage Server 2003 White Paper
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