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Is there any significant reason to &nbsp;use a multiprocessor server over a single processor server when it is used as a file server, not an application server, both running Windows 2003 Server OS? Isn't file serving an I/O intensive rather than CPU intensive process anyway? Wouldn't it be better to apply the money towards purchasing a cluster if what you are primarily after is improved file storage/retrieval speed and get load balancing and fault tolerance as well. Thanks for your comments.
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Is there any significant reason to  use a multiprocessor server over a single processor server when it is used as a file server, not an application server, both running Windows 2003 Server OS? Isn't file serving an I/O intensive rather than CPU intensive process anyway? Wouldn't it be better to apply the money towards purchasing a cluster if what you are primarily after is improved file storage/retrieval speed and get load balancing and fault tolerance as well. Thanks for your comments.

Multiprocessor file server versus a single processor file server.

The term "Backup" means the methods and processes involved to copy computer data (system data as well as application data) to media other than the ones where the data originally live (disk, tape, optical, cloud). "Restore" in turn means the methods and processes involved in data recovery, i. e., bringing back copied computer data to their original location. Backup/Restore primarily serves as a means of protection against data loss, be it due to disaster, corruption or sabotage. It can also be used for recovering data from an earlier point in time and even for cloning machines or applications. There is a wide variety of backup/restore software available, from expensive commercial products to free or open source tools.

Storage Software

Windows Server 2003 was based on Windows XP and was released in four editions: Web, Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter. It also had derivative versions for clusters, storage and Microsoft’s Small Business Server. Important upgrades included integrating Internet Information Services (IIS), improvements to Active Directory (AD) and Group Policy (GP), and the migration to Automated System Recovery (ASR).