Windows Server 2012 Storage Virtualization Explained

Windows Server 2012 storage subsystem now consists of multiple physical disks into a single logical structure extraction and specify the storage virtualization. Processes are grouped into containers called storage pools, the selected physical disk, so collectively these partners of the physical disks total capacity can appear and become easier to manage as a single and continuous space. Then, storage administrators can create virtual disks in the storage pool, configure the RAID level is essentially and will serve as a disk or Windows Explorer, open the folder images, layout storage memory for the virtual disk.

Multiple disks with the collective as a single logical entity, i.e., a storage pool, Windows Server 2012 could function as a pool of storage RAID controller as a software RAID virtual disk is configured. However, scalability, recovery and provide optimized storage subsystem is more accurately a software RAID provides. Windows Server 2012 itself brings native support for the storage subsystem as a set of functions of virtualization and optimization of storage and Raid, software only. I was using the term software RAID, to convey a well-known concept here, but not as a set of features of the equivalent storage subsystem.

Storage Space:

It is an abstraction of a set of physical disks storage functionality, if the ability is a logical entity called a pool. For example, through consolidation into a single storage group and the original four physical disk space 500 GB, allows the system administrator to configure the storage subsystem 2 TB (four separate physical disk group) as the storage logical, apparently still continued, without having to directly manage a single disk drive capacity. Physical characteristics of storage space protection, and shows the selected as one can create a virtual disk storage requirements of specified pools of storage capacity (that is, the level the Raid) and provisioning systems and presentation in Windows Explorer as a disk or a folder of images. To eat. Follow diagram illustrates this concept.

Storage Pool:

Physical disk can contain a heterogeneous storage pool. Note in Windows Server 2012 storage space just gross physical disk drives in the storage environment of various types of hard drives, including USB, SATA and SAS disk drives, as well as the looks of VHD/VHDX file attached like that. With a storage pool, Windows Server 2012 include hard disk physics presents itself as a single logical entity. Distribution capacity for the storage pool is created depending on the storage pool followed to create a disk virtual image later volumes and the letter of the disk drive or an empty folder. In the image, based on a virtual pool of storage volumes of the disk will be poster, just like a conventional hard disk drive or a folder in Windows Explorer.

Process of creating a storage pool is a simple file/server administrator user interface and storage services/pool/volume. In General, a set of all the physical disks in a storage group. The basis for creating a virtual disk on the storage group. Then create disk volumes and image based on the virtual disk drive letter to a volume or folder is empty. Now, the image of disk drives or folders in Windows Explorer. Through the Organization of storage pools, simply add the disk to the need to increase the physical capacity of the physical disk storage pool. To configure a pool, such as RAID software in a typical routines included in the server administrator:

• The physical disk and attach the VHD/VHDX file to the Windows Server 2012 targets.
• Go to file/volume storage and storage services, please note that the original storage pool contains all the physical disks are not affected.
• Use the right mouse button to click the original or on pools of storage list task pane drop-down to create with the physical disk storage pool selected.
• Create a storage pool after, the pane starts a new virtual disk virtual disk wizard and then select the storage pool you created in step 3.
• In the simplest case, the wizard displays the available storage space layout and is essentially a mirror of the parameters of the software RAID 5 and RAID 0, 1 Raid, delivering the physical disk is enough to wait the number of RAID configurations. A plan of commissioning (thin or fixed), specify the size of the virtual disk must be created.
• Create a virtual disk, right-click the virtual disk created in step 4 and needed to put online, and then create a new volume that can be assigned to a disk or mount a pre-existing discs on an empty folder.
• After you create a volume, disk or mount drive letter assignment is available in a folder in Windows Explorer.

In step 4, there are two schemas to store configuration. As shown in the following figure, optimize storage thin provisioning virtual disks available through subscription too capacity and distribution of the storage pool using just in time. In other words, use the provisioning of virtual disk pool capacity depends on whether the virtual disk is not on the size of the virtual disk size. Thin provisioning provides the flexibility and optimization, and other disk virtual provisioning system, fixed is to obtain specified when the disk was created for the ability to get the best performance.