How to Handle NTFS Folder Permissions, Security Descriptors and ACLs in PowerShell

1. Overview Some time ago, I was automating a few tasks with PowerShell and needed to set NTFS permissions on a folder. I was tempted to use the good old ICACLS.EXE command line, but I wanted to keep it all within PowerShell. While there are a number of different permissions you could want to set for … Continue reading How to Handle NTFS Folder Permissions, Security Descriptors and ACLs in PowerShell →

Announcing Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials!

Joel Garcia announced from TechEd Europe the release Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials, a new member of the Storage Server product family. In the blog post, he outlines the main features: Easy to use Backup and Recovery Active Directory Domain Join Management Dashboard Centralized Storage Plug and Play Storage and File Services Remote Web … Continue reading Announcing Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials! →

What version of SMB2 am I using on my Windows file server?

Note: This post is now obsolete. Please refer to this newer post which includes coverage of SMB 3.0:http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2012/06/06/windows-server-2012-which-version-of-the-smb-protocol-smb-1-0-smb-2-0-smb-2-1-or-smb-3-0-you-are-using-on-your-file-server.aspx I recently talked to a customer that was surprised to hear that their Windows 7 clients were not using the latest version of SMB2 to talk with their Windows Server 2003 file servers. I explained … Continue reading What version of SMB2 am I using on my Windows file server? →

Using PowerShell and the the iSCSI Target 3.3 WMI classes to create a differencing VHD for OS boot

I recently blogged about the PowerShell cmdlets included with the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3. That included the details on all the 10 cmdlets available, including the one used to create VHD files, which is New-IscsiVirtualDisk. If you’re paying close attention to the list of new features in the iSCSI Target 3.3, you probably noticed … Continue reading Using PowerShell and the the iSCSI Target 3.3 WMI classes to create a differencing VHD for OS boot →

PowerShell cmdlets for the Microsoft iSCSI Target 3.3 (included in Windows Storage Server 2008 R2)

1. Overview One of the new features in the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 (included in Windows Storage Server 2008 R2) is the inclusion of PowerShell cmdlets for management. In this blog post, we will examine the details of the cmdlets available to manage targets and their associated virtual disks. 2. Modules, Cmdlets and Classes … Continue reading PowerShell cmdlets for the Microsoft iSCSI Target 3.3 (included in Windows Storage Server 2008 R2) →

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 and the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 are available on MSDN/TechNet – here’s how to install them

After this post was release, the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2 became available as a public download.For details, check http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2011/04/04/microsoft-iscsi-software-target-3-3-for-windows-server-2008-r2-available-for-public-download.aspx Overview You probably heard that Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 has been Released To Manufacturing (RTM) last week. That means that the OEMs will soon deliver a new generation of … Continue reading Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 and the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 are available on MSDN/TechNet – here’s how to install them →

Mapping Cluster.exe Commands to Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Failover Clusters – Extended Edition

While many of the Windows Server Failover Cluster (WSFC) administrators have moved from the old CLUSTER.EXE command-line to the new PowerShell interface, I know at least a few holdouts out there. It’s probably the fact that they have used the old CLI since the early days of Microsoft Cluster Services (MSCS), combined with the fact … Continue reading Mapping Cluster.exe Commands to Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Failover Clusters – Extended Edition →

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 is now available!

It's a pleasure to let you know that Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 (which includes the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3) has been released to manufacturing (RTM). Scott M. Johnson (Program Manager in the File Server Team) has just shared via a blog post that the product is on its way to the OEMs and … Continue reading Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 is now available! →

Notes from SNIA’s Storage Developers Conference (SDC) 2010 and CIFS/SMB/SMB2 Plugfest

If you’re following me on Twitter, you probably noticed I am attending SNIA’s Software Developer’s Conference 2010 (SDC 2010) and the CIFS/SMB/SMB2 PlugFest this week. The agenda for the event is published at http://www.snia.org/events/storage-developer2010/agenda2010. Here are some random notes from the event, some of them taken from a few earlier tweets (some sessions are just … Continue reading Notes from SNIA’s Storage Developers Conference (SDC) 2010 and CIFS/SMB/SMB2 Plugfest →

Random notes on Storage IO Performance

Here are some random notes I took during a presentation to Storage IO Performance this morning: SSDs: Still not a 'solid state' business - http://bit.ly/cdqA1b - "False expectations" and why they "won't replace hard drives" A PRAM and NAND Flash Hybrid Architecture for High-Performance Embedded Storage Subsystems - http://bit.ly/95ZY83  Resistive RAM Gains Ground - Faith … Continue reading Random notes on Storage IO Performance →