Windows Server 2003 R2 Simplifies Storage Management
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Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 provides new functionality designed to greatly simplify storage management for all storage architectures. With the continuous growth of storage needs fueled by new compliance requirements and the deployment of new data-intensive applications, managing storage growth and provisioning storage have become time-demanding tasks for information technology (IT) administrators. Two new features in Windows Server 2003 R2—the File Server Resource Manager and Storage Manager for Storage Area Networks (SANs)—are designed to simplify these tasks.
Windows Server 2003 R2 helps you:
| • | Curtail your storage growth by providing granular end user quotas. |
| • | Plan your storage infrastructure by providing rich reporting. |
| • | Maximize your storage assets by providing file screening. |
| • | Simplify LUN management tasks on your external storage array. |
Windows Server 2003 R2 will help Windows administrators deploy and manage their storage assets. Whether the application data resides on DAS, NAS, or SAN, Windows Server 2003 R2 will help maximize storage assets and will simplify most of the tasks associated with creating and managing SAN storage, regardless of whether the architecture is based on Fibre Channel or iSCSI. By leveraging Virtual Disk Service (VDS) hardware providers from storage vendors, it is also easy to integrate the server infrastructure with storage arrays from multiple vendors.
Storage Manager for SANs
The new Storage Manager for SANs (SMfS), introduced in Windows Server 2003 R2, offers IT administrators basic SAN functionality without requiring the specialized consulting services typically needed for successful deployment and trouble-free maintenance of SANs. By leveraging VDS as the storage management layer, it makes it easy for administrators to provision SANs even in multivendor environments. With SMfS, the following tasks can be all executed from the host:
| • | Device discovery |
| • | Storage provisioning, including creation, extension, and deletion of logical unit numbers (LUNs) |
| • | Allocation of storage resources to servers on the SAN |
| • | Management of Microsoft Multipath I/O (MPIO) functionality |
File Server Resource Manager
Quota Management. Administrators often find it is necessary to slow storage growth by controlling the amount of space claimed by users. The new Quota Management tool in File Server Resource Manager (FRSM) allows administrators to monitor and manage hard disk space per volume, folder, or share. FSRM also offers the rich notification mechanisms to help the administrator control user expectations.
File Screening. FSRM enables administrators to restrict the use and propagation of non-business files throughout the organization. File screening rules apply to all users in a folder tree or volume. Exceptions limiting inheritance of screening policies can be configured.
Storage Reporting. File Service Resource Manager (FSRM) provides a simple way to quickly identify, monitor, and fix inefficiencies in storage resource management. Administrators can configure specialized reports or request reports in predefined outputs, including by:
| • | File size |
| • | Least recently used |
| • | Owner |
| • | Duplicates |
These reports are available in multiple formats.
Additional Resources
Executive Chat: Storage in Windows Server 2003 and Windows Storage Server 2003
Please join Gabriel Broner, General Manager for the Windows Core File Services team, for an open discussion about all things storage in Windows Server 2003 and Windows Storage Server 2003. Join us to exchange points of view, ask tough questions, share experiences and get answers.
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Storage Management in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
See how one company applied storage management solutions by using the platform technologies in Windows Server 2003 R2.
R2 Webcast on Storage Management
October 27, 2005
Georgi Matev, group product manager at Microsoft, presents the new new quota management and storage area network (SAN) management features in Windows Server 2003 R2, with particular focus on how these are designed and configured. Included in this discussion are details on Microsoft Virtual Disk Server 1.1 in the context of SAN.
White paper on storage management in R2
Businesses of all sizes are seeking effective storage management solutions to help them deal with the rapid growth in stored data. This white paper examines the common problems faced by storage administrators and shows how new storage management tools are integrated into Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Storage Server 2003 R2.
TechNet Webcast: A More Secure and Well-Managed Infrastructure
November 23, 2005
Are you including best practices for security when you develop storage solutions for your organization? Kai Axford, a security specialist with Microsoft, discusses how vital it is to manage and protect storage, and what features can help in the operating system. Included in this webcast is information about Microsoft Data Protection Manager and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Windows Rights Management Services.
Community Chat on File Server Resource Manager (FSRM)
December 6, 2005
Read the transcript of a discussion on FSRM with several experts.