Alignment with Microsoft
EqualLogic works with Microsoft engineering teams to provide an integrated and simple storage experience for customers. Currently, EqualLogic equipment resides in many of Microsoft's operating system, iSCSI, and application development labs so that Microsoft can leverage the unique capabilities of the PS Series array. EqualLogic shares Microsoft's vision of bringing high-end SAN functionality to all customers by offering all-inclusive, reliable, easy to use components. With this vision, Microsoft has developed the Simple SAN initiative to simplify a customer's experience when working with a SAN.

View how EqualLogic and Microsoft Simplify Storage Management

PS Series Array First to be Simple SAN Designated
Recently, the PS Series array became the first SAN to receive Microsoft Simple SAN designation. EqualLogic has built into the array components that plug into Microsoft's frameworks for disk management (VDS), data snapshot (VSS), and failover (MPIO). In addition, we have met specific ease-of-use and installation time requirements that make it simple for customers to setup, manage, and grow their storage.

Simple to Setup
With the EqualLogic Remote Setup Wizard and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, you can set up a new SAN in about five minutes. The Remote Setup Wizard makes it simple to add servers and storage for Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows 2003. This is especially useful for organizations that are implementing a SAN for the first time or those that want to migrate away from expensive, complex, pay-per-feature solutions.

Simple to Manage
Most add-on storage software is complicated and riddled with bugs - but now, you have an alternative. With EqualLogic, you can manage storage from an intuitive web-based GUI or from Windows Storage Manager for SANs. Either way, creating and managing storage volumes has never been so easy.

Simple to Grow
Growing storage volumes used to be a painful experience that required re-provisioning of primary data as well as snapshot volumes. With Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 and an EqualLogic PS Series array, those problems are gone. Microsoft has embedded functionality into their Storage Manage for SANs GUI that used to only be available in the Diskpart CLI. EqualLogic's patented provisioning methods ensure that the relationships between snapshot space and primary data volumes are never lost.