- Windows Server 8 includes new features for Hyper-V and storage such as the new VHDX virtual disk format which supports large disk sizes up to 16TB and large block sizes for improved performance. - File services in Windows 8 use storage pools and spaces to aggregate physical disks and serve virtual disks in a resilient and scalable manner. - Cluster Shared Volumes version 2 provides highly available shared storage for Hyper-V and other roles with improved performance and reliability. - Windows 8 supports using file servers with storage pools and spaces, cluster shared volumes, and serving iSCSI targets for Hyper-V storage deployments.

1. Windows Server 8
Hyper-V & Storage
Hans Vredevoort

2. Speaker Bio
• Consultant & MVP
• INOVATIV – The System Center Specialists
• System Center, Hyper-V, Cluster, MS Private Cloud
• Cluster MVP (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Active in Hyper-V community: Hyper-V.nu
• Author & Editor
• Mastering Hyper-V Deployment (Technical Editor)
• Microsoft Private Cloud Computing: Building the Foundation (Co-Author)
• Contact
• hans.vredevoort@inovativ.nl | @hvredevoort | @hypervnu

4. Windows 8 Hyper-V & Storage
Showing Live Storage Migration between SMB2 shares
Deploying to Continuously Available SMB2 File Shares
Employing Cluster Shared Volumes 2
Configuring ScaleOut File Server Cluster
Serving Out iSCSI Targets to Windows 8 Cluster
Using Windows 8 File Services with Pools & Spaces
Creating VHDX & Hyper-V guests via PowerShell

5. 63

6. Storage Management

7. The new VHDX virtual disk format
• New VHDX format for Hyper-V & Win8 Storage
• Large virtual disk size (~ 16TB per VHDX)
• Large default block sizes (1MB  32MB  256MB)
• Large 4KB sector size (logical + physical same size)
• Performant
• Mountable
• Resilient
• Convertible
• Scriptable

8. File Services with Pools & Spaces
• Windows 8 Role and Role Services

9. File Services with Pools & Spaces
• Pool is an aggregation of disks
• Create virtual disks
• Virtual disks = Spaces
• Virtual disk behaves like a physical disk
– Supports Thin provisioning
– Resiliency to failures of physical disks

10. Integrated iSCSI Target Server
• ISCSI Target Server
• Optional component of Windows 8 File Server Role
• Easy serving of iSCSI disks
• Hardware independent
• Cluster Support
• CSV Support
• PowerShell Support

11. Deployment Options for Hyper-V

12. Deployment Options for Hyper-V
1. External Storage Array
– New functionality: ODX & Trim
2. File Servers - Pools & Spaces
3. Clustered PCI RAID

13. Offload Data Transfer (ODX)

14. Deployment Options for Hyper-V
• Two separate clusters • Single cluster for VM’s
– Cluster to host VMs and storage
– Cluster to host storage – VMs can run anywhere
– Single CSV namespace

15. Cluster Shared Volumes 2
• Appears as CSVFS
• For Hyper-V + other roles
• Easy to add a disk to CSV
• Higher scalability and reliability
• Better interoperability with FS mini-filter drivers
• Deep integration with Win8 storage & network technologies
• No external authentication
• Direct I/O for more scenarios
• Multi-subnet Support

16. Cluster Shared Volumes 2
• High Speed CSV I/O Redirection
• CSV is integrated with SMB multi-channel
– CSV traffic across multiple networks
– Improved I/O performance when in redirected mode
• CSV takes advantage of SMB2 Direct (SMB2 over RDMA)

17. Ideal Configuration
Hyper-V 1 Hyper-V 2
DC/DNS
Eth NIC IB NIC Eth NIC IB NIC
Eth NIC
Ethernet Switch IB Switch
Eth NIC IB NIC Eth NIC IB NIC
File Server 1 File Server 2
SAS HBA 1 SAS HBA 2 SAS HBA 1 SAS HBA 2
IO Module IO Module
JBOD 1 1 2 3 4 5
… 9 1 2 3 4 5
… 9 JBOD 2

18. Demo Configuration
• Hyper-V
Hyper-V • File Server
• iSCSI Target
Ethernet NIC
Virtual Network
vNIC File Cluster vNIC
vNIC
DC/DNS File Server 1 File Server 2
• File Server • File Server
• Continuously • Continuously
Available Available
Shares
1 2 3 4
…5 9
Shares
…
Clustered Virtual Disks

19. Windows 8 Hyper-V & Storage
Showing Live Storage Migration between SMB2 shares
Deploying to Continuously Available SMB2 File Shares
Employing Cluster Shared Volumes 2
Configuring ScaleOut File Server Cluster
Serving Out iSCSI Targets to Windows 8 Cluster
Using Windows 8 File Services with Pools & Spaces
Creating VHDX & Hyper-V guests via PowerShell

20. Big thanks for attending!!
You can build great
continuously available
platforms that shine with
Hyper-V across a wide range of
storage deployment options

21. Q&A
Hans Vredevoort
@hvredevoort