Category: Uncategorized

Configuring the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target

Introduction This post describes how to configure the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target offered with Windows Storage Server, including the steps to configure both the iSCSI Target and the iSCSI Initiator. Note: The iSCSI Target is the server (where the iSCSI virtual disks are actually stored) and the iSCSI Initiator is the client (where the iSCSI … Continue reading Configuring the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target →

Installing the evaluation version of WUDSS 2003 (with the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target) on a VM

This post is OBSOLETE. Please check the updated post at:http://blogs.technet.com/josebda/archive/2008/01/07/installing-the-evaluation-version-of-wudss-2003-refresh-and-the-microsoft-iscsi-software-target-version-3-1-on-a-vm.aspx   ---    Overview These are step-by-step instructions on how to install the 180-day evaluation version of the Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003 (WUDSS 2003) on a virtual machine environment running on Virtual PC 2007. There are a few different target audiences for this post, including: … Continue reading Installing the evaluation version of WUDSS 2003 (with the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target) on a VM →

Windows Server 2008 RC1 available for download

I just saw that the RC1 release of Windows Server 2008 was posted for public download today, as described at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/dec07/12-05WS08RC1PR.mspx. I guess this one should one of the last (if not the very last) public release before release to manufacturing, so if you've been waiting for a feature-complete pre-release version to try, wait no … Continue reading Windows Server 2008 RC1 available for download →

DiskShadow, the new in-box VSS requester in Windows Server 2008

There were many changes in Volume Shadowcopy Services (VSS) in Windows Server 2008. Probably the most visible of them is DiskShadow.exe,  the new command line tool for VSS. This new built-in requester can create and manage hardware and software shadow copies, interactively or in a script. If you read my post about the basics of … Continue reading DiskShadow, the new in-box VSS requester in Windows Server 2008 →

The Legend of the Single, Multi-Terabyte, Replicating SharePoint Database

Documents in Databases The first time I tell anyone that SharePoint Server 2007 stores documents as blobs (binary objects) in the database, people stare at me for a few seconds and usually ask: "Really?" It takes a few moments to explain that this is actually a good thing and that SQL has no problem handling … Continue reading The Legend of the Single, Multi-Terabyte, Replicating SharePoint Database →

The Basics of the Virtual Disk Services (VDS)

Back in Windows 2000 Server days, managing SAN-based storage in Windows was mostly up to your SAN vendor. You would typically need to load a tool to manage your storage device (either graphical or command-line) or sometimes use a web-based application. If you had multiple storage arrays, you would likely need to handle different user … Continue reading The Basics of the Virtual Disk Services (VDS) →

Storing Unstructured Data – From file servers to cloud services

After joining the Storage Solutions Division at Microsoft, I got exposed many challenges that were not so close to me before. One of them is how we store and manage unstructured data, including things like file servers, NAS devices, document management systems and blob storage solutions. Here’s my initial attempt to cover a little of … Continue reading Storing Unstructured Data – From file servers to cloud services →

Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering in RC0 (includes a 17-minute demonstration)

I’m getting ready to work at the Microsoft booth at the Storage Network World next week in Dallas, TX and one of the items we’re showing is the improvements in Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering, this time using the recently released RC0 (Release Candidate 0). I recorded a short (17-minute) demonstration where you can see … Continue reading Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering in RC0 (includes a 17-minute demonstration) →