iSCSI Update

As you'll recall, back in March I did a fairly detailed post about storage management.  In that post I demoed via a screencast the String Bean Software WinTarget software we acquired.  Lots of questions are starting to surface about this technology.  This is probably due to the fact that we are in the timeframe we said to expect a release.  So here's an update on what's going on.

First, if you head over to the Microsoft Download Center, you'll notice in May we released Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator Version 2.02 build 1895.  This is the client side implementation of iSCSI and you'll see the list of supported operating systems.  Pretty much every OS we still support is in the list with a notable exception.  My favorite, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 isn't listed.  I think it's probably an oversight.  Or at least I hope so.  Later this year I'll try it out and see.  By then I'll be running Windows Vista Ultimate anyway and the initiator comes with it.

Second, please take the time to re-read our announcement on the acquisition of WinTarget.  As you can see in the fourth paragraph, we will not be selling the iSCSI target technology per se.  This technology is being integrated in the Windows Storage Server product line.  After we get done with our part, we'll hand the operating system and technologies over to the storage partners we have.  They'll need some time for final testing, integration and certification of their solutions.  I fully expect to see those solutions early this fall, long before Santa Claus comes to my house.  Hopefully he'll bring me a nice little SAN.

For more information, stay tuned to https://www.microsoft.com/storage.