Module 10
Configuring and Managing
Storage Technologies
Module Overview
• Windows Server 2008 Storage Management Overview
• Managing Storage Using File Server Resource Manager
• Configuring Quota Management
• Implementing File Screening
• Managing Storage Reports
• Understanding Storage Area Networks
Lesson 1: Windows Server 2008 Storage
Management Overview
• Capacity Management Solutions
• Storage Management Solutions
• What Is File Server Resource Manager?
What Is File Server Resource Manager?
File Server Resource Manager is a File Services
role that integrates:
Capacity
Management
Monitors usage patterns and
utilization levels
Policy
Management
Restricts unauthorized files (file
screening)
Quota
Management
Controls the amount of space used for
a volume, folder, or share.
Reports
Provides extensive storage reports
Capacity Management Solutions
Solution
Windows-based Tool or
Application
Capacity
Management
• File Server Resource Manager
(FSRM)
Charge-Backs
• Indirect support through FSRM
Data and Media
Migration
• File Server Migration Toolkit
(FSMT)
Performance and
Availability
Management
• System Center Operations
Manager (using a hardware
vendor management pack)
Policy
Management
Quota
Management
• FSRM (file screening)
• FSRM
Storage Management Solutions
Solution
Windows-based Tool or Application
Asset
Management
• Fibre Channel Information Tool
Configuration
Management
• VDS
• Virtual Disk Service (VDS)
• Storage Manager for SANs
Event
Management
• Operations Manager (using a
hardware vendor management
pack)
Performance and
Availability
Management
• Fibre Channel Information Tool
• Operations Manager (using a
hardware vendor management
pack)
Lesson 2: Managing Storage Using File Server
Resource Manager
• FSRM Functions
• FSRM Console Components
• FSRM Configuration Options
FSRM Functions
Using FSRM, you can perform the following tasks:
• Create quotas to limit the space allowed for a volume
or folder
• Have quotas automatically generated
• Create file screens
• Monitor attempts to save unauthorized files
• Define quota and file screening templates
• Generate scheduled or on-demand storage reports
FSRM Console Components
FSRM Configuration Options
FSRM configuration options include:
• Configuring e-mail notifications
• Configuring the default parameters for
storage reports
• Changing report repository locations
• Configuring file screen audit
Lesson 3: Configuring Quota Management
• FSRM Quotas vs. NTFS Disk Quotas
• Creating and Modifying a Quota
• Monitoring Quota Usage
FSRM Quotas vs. NTFS Disk Quotas
Quota
Features
NTFS Disk Quotas
FSRM Quotas
Quota
Tracking
Per user/per volume
By folder or by volume
Disk Usage
Calculation
Logical file size
Actual disk space
Notification
Mechanisms
Event logs only
E-mail, custom reports,
command execution, event logs
Creating and Modifying a Quota
When creating a quota, options include:
• Create quota on path
• Auto apply template and create quotas on existing
and new subfolders
Modify a quota by:
• Updating quotas by editing a quota template
• Editing an auto quota
• Updating individual quotas listed in the details pane
Dirquota {Quota | Autoquota | Template | Admin}
Monitoring Quota Usage
You can monitor quota usage by:
• Viewing quota information
• Generating a Quota Usage
report
• Creating soft quotas
Quotas typically have an
I/O performance overhead
of 10 percent or less
Lesson 4: Implementing File Screening
• What Is File Screening?
• What Are File Groups?
• What Is a File Screen Exception?
• What Is a File Screen Template?
What Is File Screening?
Provides a flexible method to control the types of files that
are saved on company servers
The File Screening Management node allows you to:
• Create file screens
• Define file screen templates
• Create file screen exceptions
• Create file groups
What Are File Groups?
Used to define a namespace for a file screen, file screen
exception, or storage report
A file group consists of a set of file name patterns,
which are grouped into:
• Files to include
• Files to exclude
What Is a File Screen Exception?
A file screen exception
overrides any file screen
that would otherwise
apply to a folder and all its
subfolders in a designated
exception path
What Is a File Screen Template?
A file screen template defines:
• Which file groups to block
• The type of screening to perform
• A set of notifications to be generated
Lesson 5: Managing Storage Reports
• What Are Storage Reports?
• What Is a Report Task?
• Generating On-Demand Reports
What Are Storage Reports?
Storage reports provide information about file usage
on a file server
Types of storage reports include:
• Large Files
• Files by Owner
• Files by File Group
• Duplicate Files
• Least Recently Used Files
• Most Recently Used Files
• Quota Usage
• File Screening Audit
What Is a Report Task?
You can schedule reports by creating a Report Task
A report task specifies:
• The volumes and folders to report on
• Which reports to generate
• What parameters to use
• How often to generate the reports
• Which file formats to save the reports in
Generating On-Demand Reports
Use the Generate
Reports Now action to
open Storage Reports
Task Properties and
select desired reports
Lesson 6: Understanding Storage Area Networks
• What Is a Storage Area Network?
• What Is a Fibre Channel SAN?
• Example of a Basic Fibre Channel SAN Configuration
• Discussion: Designing Redundancy in a Fibre Channel
SAN – Possible Solution
• What Is iSCSI?
• What Is the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator?
• Example of a Basic iSCSI SAN Configuration
• What Is Storage Manager for SANs?
• Troubleshooting SAN Storage
What Is a Storage Area Network?
A high-performance network dedicated to
delivering block (unformatted) data between
servers and storage
NAS vs. SAN Solutions
• NAS servers are typically used to consolidate
file servers and back up equipment and to
expand storage capacity
• SAN solutions are ideal for database and online
processing applications requiring rapid data
access and block storage
What Is a Fibre Channel SAN?
Based on serial SCSI technologies to deliver
high-performance block I/O to storage devices
within a SAN
Components used in a Fibre Channel SAN include:
• Host bus adapters installed on host servers
• Switches
• Disk array
• Optional components such as tape libraries
Discussion: Designing Redundancy in a
Fibre Channel SAN – Possible Solution
Host
HBA
HBA
FC
Switches
Disk
Array
Controller
Controller
LAN
HBA
HBA
Host
SAN
Tape
Library
What Is iSCSI?
An industry standard that enables transmission of
SCSI block commands over an existing IP network
by using the TCP/IP protocol
Provides advantages such as:
• Connectivity over long distances
• Lower cost than Fibre Channel SANs
• Simple implementation and management
• Built-in security
What Is the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator?
Installed on a host server; enables connectivity to
iSCSI target volumes on a storage array
Enables storage management tasks such as:
• iSCSI target discovery
• Security
• Session initiation and termination
• Device management
What Is Storage Manager for SANs?
A component included with Windows Server
2008 that provides the following
functionality:
• Uses VDS to manage storage
• Discovers both Fibre Channel and iSCSI
storage arrays
• Can be used to create, delete, and expand
LUNs
• Can be used to configure LUN options
• Allows for the allocation of LUNs to specific
servers on the SAN
• Monitors LUN status and health
Troubleshooting SAN Storage
Gather information, analyze, recommend change, implement
change, monitor result, and document for future reference
Check the following items:
• Gather information about the SAN and server
configuration
• Operating system, Host Bus Adapter (HBA), SAN switch,
and storage device event logs
• Installed operating system hotfixes
• Firmware and driver revision
• Performance Monitor metrics
• Windows Catalog compliance
• SAN zoning configuration