Storage Server Roles; File Server; Print Server - HP ProLiant DL100 G2 Administration Manual

Storage server roles

There are two primary roles that a ProLiant Storage Server can perform in your environment.
•

File server

•

Print server

File server
A file server is a NAS solution that provides easy-to-use, rapidly deployable network storage with
multi-protocol file sharing and print serving services. The file server comes pre-installed with the Microsoft
Windows Storage Server 2003 operating system and storage-specific management tools.
The following are scenarios where a file server can be deployed:
• File server consolidation
As businesses continue to expand their information technology (IT) infrastructures, they must find
ways to manage larger environments without a corresponding increase in IT staff. Consolidating
many servers into a single file server decreases the number of points of administration, and
increases the availability and flexibility of storage space.
• Multiprotocol environments
Some businesses require several types of computing systems to accomplish various tasks. The
multiprotocol support of the file server allows it to support many types of client computers
concurrently.
• Protocol and platform transitions
When a transition between platforms is being planned, the ability of the file server to support most
file sharing protocols allows companies to continue to invest in file storage space without concerns
about obsolescence. For example, an administrator planning a future transition from Windows
to Linux can deploy the file server with confidence that it can support both CIFS and NFS
simultaneously, assuring not only a smooth transition, but also a firm protection of their investment.
• Remote office deployment
Frequently, branch offices and other remote locations lack dedicated IT staff members. An
administrator located in a central location can use remote administration methods of the storage
server or Microsoft Terminal Services to configure and administer all aspects of the storage server.
• Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 Feature Pack deployment
The Feature Pack is available for select file servers. The Feature Pack allows Microsoft Exchange
Server 2003 databases and transaction logs to be stored on a file server running Microsoft
Windows Storage Server 2003. A single file server running the Feature Pack can host the
databases and transaction logs of up to two Exchange servers and up to 1,500 Exchange
mailboxes.
The Feature Pack installs new components on both the storage server and Exchange Server 2003.
These components provide tools and services that allow Exchange databases and transaction
logs to be moved to a file server, and they perform the necessary configuration updates to give
Exchange Server 2003 access to the remotely stored files.
Print server
A print serving solution provides network printing, print driver distribution, and print management.
The print server may be used in a secondary role for multiprotocol file sharing services with limited
scalability of storage. The print server comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows Storage Server
2003 operating system and easy to use print specific management tools.
The following are possible use scenarios for a print server:
• Quick and easy way to add print capacity without affecting the general purpose server.
• With a host network printer management application (for example, Microsoft PMC or HP Web
JetAdmin)
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The HP storage server solution