End of Windows Server 2003 seen sparking data center sales
Server sales could get a big lift next year when Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows Server 2003 software reaches its scheduled end of life. A report by Pacific Crest Securities on Monday compared the impact to the boost seen in personal computer sales as Windows XP approached its end of support on April 8. The end of life for Windows Server 2003 on July 14, 2015, is one of two catalysts that could spark an enterprise data center revival next year, the investment bank said. The other factor is Intel ‘s (INTC) new Grantley server platform, which is set to ship in late September or early October, Pacific Crest said. Among the companies likely to benefit from the server sales rebound are Intel, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Western Digital (WDC), Seagate Technology (STX), SanDisk (SNDK), F5 Networks (FFIV) and A10 Networks (ATEN). Last year, data center spending fell for the first time since the…