Finalists:
• Symantec Ghost Corporate Edition 7.5, Symantec Corp., (800) 745-6054, (408) 517-8000. www.symantec.com

• Xdrive Workgroup, Xdrive, (310) 586-7151. www.xdrive.com

In the fiercely competitive world of Fibre Channel switch equipment, QLogic's SANbox2 stands out among entries from big competitors such as McData and Brocade. The SANbox2's performance and compatibility are top-notch, and its price is competitive. Featurewise, the product isn't flashy, but it boasts compatibility and a good user interface, which is your entrée to everything you need to administer and configure an enterprise SAN.

Finalists:
• SilkWorm 3800, Brocade Communications, (408) 487-8000. www.brocade.com

• Sphereon 4500 Fabric Switch, McData Corp., (800) 545-5773, (303) 460-9200. www.mcdata.com

Dell's PowerEdge 6650 is our top server pick thanks to its solid, across-the-board performance numbers and stellar usability and maintenance features. On the connectivity front, the 6650 is on the leading edge with eight expansion slots, dual on-board Gigabit Ethernet ports and dual USB 1.1 ports. As for software, Dell's OpenManage Server Assistant installation application more than gets the job done, simplifying server OS installations. Finally, the OpenManage systems-management software combines usability with power, including perks like driver and BIOS updates from Dell's Web site. The PowerEdge 6650 is also our pick as Storage & Server product of the year.

Finalists:
• IBM x255, IBM, (888) SHOP-IBM, (800) BM-4YOU. www.ibm.com

• Xserve, Apple, (800) MY-APPLE. www.apple.com

Steven J. schuchart Jr. covers storage and servers for Network Computing. Previously he worked as a network architect for a general retail firm, a PC and electronics technician, a computer retail store manager, and a freelance disc jockey. Write to him at sschuchart@nwc.com.

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