Microsoft Datacenter Solutions Offering

I wanted to put together a lot of information in regards to the Microsoft Datacenter Solutions Offering. I know this is quite a bit to read, but I promise, you won't be disappointed.

The Datacenter solution from Microsoft provides a comprehensive platform on which to build and run your infrastructure. With supporting technologies ranging from Identity Management, Systems Management, Virtualization, Storage, and Networking, you can be sure that you have all the tools you need to run a highly efficient and modern datacenter.

Microsoft datacenter solutions are built with industry standards and integration in mind. By connecting together technologies such as Windows Server, Windows 7, Hyper-V, and System Center, you can be sure you are getting the best ROI and lowest TCO for your datacenter.

Integrating the below technologies is what makes the Microsoft Datacenter Solution the perfect choice for the server environment.

Datacenter Virtualization & Management:
Your business depends on a highly reliable, scalable, and manageable datacenter. We can relate. At Microsoft we run large-scale cloud services like Bing, Windows Live, and Windows Azure in our datacenters around the world on hundreds of thousands of servers. As such, we take the core learnings from running these datacenters as the foundation for the software that we deliver to you to run in your own datacenters.

For many organizations, a highly virtualized datacenter is just the beginning for realizing large scale benefits such as improved utilization, reduced floor space, and reduced power costs. With virtualization as the starting point, you can add on to that foundation with highly agile and flexible datacenter services through both private and public cloud solutions.

 Microsoft provides you with the most comprehensive set of technologies to evolve your datacenter over time. Whether you want to virtualize, build a private cloud, scale your services through a public cloud, or have a mix of all three, Microsoft datacenter solutions can help you better manage your datacenter today and accelerate your journey towards cloud computing.

Core Server Infrastructure:
Using the Core IO model, your server and branch infrastructure can be transformed into a powerful strategic advantage. For many organizations, their current server and branch architecture is often the result of a history of tactical, point solutions to specific business needs.

 However, by implementing a branch solution, you can leverage your branch infrastructure to provide a competitive advantage in providing world-class customer service.

Key Benefits:

• Comprehensive identity management
• Integrated physical and virtual management
• Best Microsoft building blocks for your cloud journey
• Best Microsoft solutions for branch offices and remote workers

Networking Solution from Microsoft:

The comprehensive networking solution from Microsoft, powered by Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, helps connect your datacenter to your users, virtually wherever they are, in the most efficient way possible.

With the Microsoft networking solution in your datacenter, you can count on having some of the most up to date industry standards and can connect your servers both physically and virtually. You can help your users be more productive with virtually seamless connections to the corporate network and access to files. In addition, we work with key industry partners to ensure our solution supports and extends your investment in a broad range of hardware.

There are key industry trends that are occurring in almost every business today: IT is moving to virtualization and cloud based workloads, and there is a marked increase in the size of the remote workforce. The networking solution you deploy needs to be robust and comprehensive enough to grow with your infrastructure and your end users.

The Virtual Private Networking (VPN) solution from Microsoft

The VPN solution is seamlessly integrated into both Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 to ensure your users can connect to your corporate network from virtually anywhere (internet connection required). With most VPN solutions, the user must manually initiate a connection to the corporate network through a cumbersome process involving additional software and launching of an application. Microsoft’s VPN solution, Direct Access, is directly integrated into the operating system allowing users to visit a corporate internal SharePoint collaboration website to view documents just as easily as they can visit Bing.

The Branch office networking solution from Microsoft

Help drive down the cost of WAN connectivity by ensuring that copies of key documents are cached locally in branch offices. BranchCache reduces the amount of networking traffic over your WAN links by allowing users to download local copies of these documents instead of traversing the WAN to retrieve.

Storage Solution

One of the biggest challenges that IT administrators face today is the exponential growth in file storage needs. This trend is the result of numerous business drivers such as regulatory requirements to retain data and increased levels of digitization of content. IT budget cuts have forced CIOs and system administrators to manage and deal with this data growth with reduced staff. Enterprises are looking for new and additional ways to cut costs.

 Microsoft offers cost effective, enterprise storage solutions for Windows and mixed environments through Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Storage Server 2008 R2, and Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2010.

Windows Server 2008 R2

Delivers extensive file-serving, data management and data protection capabilities as part of an award winning set of technologies and features.

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2

Is built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system to provide a platform for network-attached storage (NAS) appliances. Optimized to deliver a better file serving experience, the Windows Storage Server product family includes storage technologies such as file de-duplication, an iSCSI software target for unified file services and block I/O storage, simplified deployment and management of individual appliances, and dual-node, highly available storage clusters.

Data Protection Manager 2010

Delivers unified data protection for Windows servers and related workloads such as SQL Server, Exchange, SharePoint, Virtualization and file servers -- as well as Windows desktops and laptops.

Benefits

• Storage Solutions from Microsoft offer capabilities that span all of your storage needs.
• Microsoft’s storage offerings helps to ensure your data is backed up, protected, and available for easy and quick restores in the event of a disaster. Our tools use industry leading standards and include broad support for devices you already have and can purchase for your infrastructure.

 

I hope this informaiton is useful and a good read. I would like to hear any feedback on it. Thanks!