Fletcher also said that prior to installing the software, Arcadis' 75 branch offices had problems backing up 240 Wintel servers. They experienced backup failures that caused data losses, and in some cases, they had to ask untrained personnel to handle tapes.

The disk-to-disk replication and continuous data-protection features in the new release have eliminated many of those problems, Fletcher said.

The improved backup capabilities have already reduced administrative overhead and data losses, said Fletcher, though he couldn't provide details on cost savings.

"The only thing I think really needs to be addressed by Microsoft is biometrics," said Jeff Cohen, CIO at DestiNY USA , the developer of an 800-acre retail complex in Syracuse, N.Y., that will be powered by reusable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels.

Cohen said he's been beta-testing Windows Server R2 for six months alongside a 22TB SAN powered by a high-end EMC DMX1000 array. He said the software has been able to discover and monitor all of the components on his SAN.