The best products of 2004

Hardware and Software Platforms

Best Server Hardware
Apple Xserve G5
Tightly integrated hardware/OS combo that raises the bar for other server makers

Best Blade System
HP Consolidated Client Infrastructure
Combines popular management tools with unrivaled reliability and scalability

Best Operating System
Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)
Still sets the bar for simplicity and ease-of-use among 64-bit-capable OSes

Best Virtual Server
VMware ESX Server 2.1.1
Enables an extraordinary array of high-availability services and management capabilities

Networking

Best Networking Hardware

Extreme Networks BlackDiamond 10808

Excellent performance paired with a powerful and flexible operating architecture

Best WAN Accelerator
Riverbed Steelhead 2000
Reduces file-transfer times via WAN links by several orders of magnitude

Best IP PBX
Zultys MX250 Enterprise Media Exchange
Not the most scalable or feature-rich, but the best truly standards-based solution we tested

Best Wireless LAN Solution
Trapeze MX-20 Mobility System
Takes the gold for polish, flexibility, granular management, and seamless roaming

Storage

Best SAN Solution
Dell/EMC AX100
Simple to set up, easy to manage, comprehensive in capabilities, and competitively priced

Best Storage Router
Brocade Silkworm Multiprotocol Router
Consolidates multiple SAN islands regardless of transport protocol

Best IP Storage Router
Stonefly Networks i3000 Storage Concentrator
Provides a safe, easy migration path from direct-attached storage to IP SANs

Best NAS Solution
NetApp FAS270C
Manageable, scalable, high-performance, close to the ideal multipurpose storage solution

Systems and Network Management

Best Systems Management Solution
Novell ZENworks 6.5 
Improves support for handhelds, reaches out to Linux

Best Network Management Solution
Rendition Networks TrueControl 3.0
Feature-rich, broad in scope, excels in change management and reporting

App Dev