Mac Integration a Major Concern for Organizations Implementing DFS

[news 28]

Mac Integration a Major Concern for Organizations Implementing DFS - Published on 03/24/09

 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

A new study announced today by Group Logic showed that 73% of organizations planning or currently implementing DFS have Multiple Mac users in their Windows-based organizations and have concerns about Cross-Platform Support. The study, conducted with eMedia USA, surveyed approximately 300 IT professionals at a wide range of private, public and non-profit organizations.

 

Arlington, VA - IT professionals at organizations across a wide range of industries are concerned about having native Mac support as part of their Distributed File System (DFS) strategy and infrastructure. This is according to the results of a new study announced today by Group Logic, the leading provider of Mac/Windows connectivity solutions and a founding member of the Enterprise Desktop Alliance, an organization that supports the integration of Macs into Windows-based environments. Respondents cited the importance of multiple aspects of DFS, including file replication and flexibility in reconfiguring the location of file shares between servers.

 

The study, conducted with eMedia USA, surveyed approximately 300 IT professionals at a wide range of private, public and non-profit organizations. More than a third of all organizations (35%) said they have implementation plans for DFS, or are already underway. Nearly three-quarters of these organizations (73%) have multiple Mac users, and nearly half (48%) are interested in solutions that can help them integrate Mac users into their DFS infrastructures. Without a solution that includes native Mac support for DFS navigation, these organizations must purchase additional products to enable the process.

 

"The study's findings confirm the increased interest we have seen in the industry for Mac support for DFS," said T. Reid Lewis, President and CEO of Group Logic. "These organizations want cost-effective solutions that will provide them a single, virtualized namespace for access and replication of files between globally dispersed environments."

 

Respondents indicated several key issues of importance to their organization's DFS implementation strategy:

 

* 71%: Data replication between servers

 

* 62%: The ability to seamlessly move file shares to a different server

 

* 57%: High availability through redundant targets

 

* 56%: The need to spread files sharing load across multiple servers

 

* 38%: Site costing and reduced WAN Traffic

 

* 31%: The above benefits for user home directories

 

Group Logic currently has a public beta of ExtremeZ-IP with support for DFS available for testing on its web site. Version 6.0 of ExtremeZ-IP, the proven standard and most trusted solution for file and print sharing between Mac desktops and Windows servers, will include support for DFS and is scheduled for release shortly.

 

"Today's workplace has dramatically changed with the increased presence of the Mac in environments running Windows," said Laura DiDio, principal of Information Technology Intelligence Corp. in Boston. "The IT administrator's job of managing files on the network is ever more challenging across globally distributed environments. Tools that help make access to files seamless and cost-effective are critical to both management and the bottom line."

 

Those interested in becoming a beta tester or learning more about ExtremeZ-IP support for DFS should visit the Group Logic web site.

 

Group Logic offers two complementary product lines:

 

MassTransit Product Line: Enterprise software solution proven to transform digital file transfers into strategic business processes. MassTransit increases productivity and empowers users to manage all aspects of the file transfer process by simplifying the exchange of digital files, ensuring accountability and providing visibility into the entire process.

 

ExtremeZ-IP Product Line: ExtremeZ-IP is the proven standard and most trusted solution for file and print sharing between Mac desktops and Windows servers, delivering no-compromise access and providing complete platform and application compatibility. ExtremeZ-IP delivers reliable integration between Mac desktops and Windows servers, creating a single-point of management for enterprise-wide printing.

 

Group Logic Web Site: http://www.grouplogic.com

More About ExtremeZ-IP: http://www.grouplogic.com/products/extremeZ-IP/

DFS Beta Request Form: http://www.grouplogic.com/ads/dfs_beta/

ExtremeZ-IP Free Trial: http://www.grouplogic.com/products/extremez-ip/?fa=free-trial

Buy Online: http://www.grouplogic.com/store/

Group Logic Resource Center: http://www.grouplogic.com/resource-center/

 

 

Group Logic is the leading provider of network software solutions that enable customers to gain strategic value, increase productivity and leverage existing infrastructure investments through enterprise file transfer and Mac/Windows connectivity solutions. Group Logic is a founding member of the Enterprise Desktop Alliance, an organization that supports the integration of Macs into Windows-based environments. With more than 20 years of unmatched experience, Group Logic's emphasis on customer success is the very core of its business. More than 4,000 customers trust Group Logic every day to move and share their files around the world. For more information, visit Group Logic on the Web. Group Logic can also be reached at 800.476.8781/+1.703.528.1555.

 

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Kate Bland

Director of Marketing

703-778-8446

 

katebland ( -at -) grouplogic.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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