Evaluating and Implementing the HP Data Center Program for Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

evaluating and implementing the hp data center program for Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

• dot-coms with requirements for high availability and security, including site integrity, and data

protection

• consultant/systems integrators (C/SI) who are seeking industry standard cost affectivity to provide

reliable services to their clients and end users

key features:

Windows 2000

Datacenter Server

Designed for the most demanding levels of availability and scalability, Windows 2000 Datacenter

Server includes the following key features:

• Windows 2000 features, such as Active Directory

• enhanced 4-node clustering (compared to 2-node clustering for Windows 2000 Advanced Server)

• support for up to 64 GB main memory (compared to 8 GB for Windows 2000 Advanced Server)

• support for up to 32-way Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) (compared to 8 processors for

Windows 2000 Advanced Server)

• compatibility with the Windows 2000 Datacenter Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)

• support for Winsock Direct, which streamlines communications between distributed components

• VI System Area Network (SAN)

Table 1 shows a comparison between the Windows 2000 operating systems.

table 1. Windows 2000 server operating systems

feature Windows 2000 Server Windows 2000

Advanced Server

Windows 2000

Datacenter Server

processor limit 4 8 32

memory support 4 GB Intel 8 GB Intel physical

address extensions (PAE)

64 GB Intel (PAE)

network load balancing no yes (maximum 32 nodes) yes (maximum 32 nodes)

Microsoft Cluster Server

(MSCS) server clustering

no yes (maximum 2 nodes) yes (maximum 4 nodes)

job object job object API job object API process control tool

winsock direct no no yes

hardware compatibility list yes yes Datacenter HCL

certifying the

The certification process involves meeting stringent requirements set by Microsoft. For HP, exceeding

these requirements is key to achieving the total data center solution. HP engineers extend prolonged

stress tests by adding applications with kernel level drivers such as backup, management, and virus

protection software.