Manage storage places in Windows 8

Windows 8 offers the opportunity to combine several rigid discs in a virtual storage pool and therefore distribute data through various units. In case of unit failure, several copies of your files can also be saved on the different rigid discs. You can find out how to proceed in this article.

What is the memory pool?

With the functionality storage reserve, different types of rigid discs with different skills can be combined in a pool, both SSDs, magnetic, internal or external rigid discs. This feature was already in a form similar to an extension of the unit on the first Windows Home server, but the new edition of the Whs 2011 was stopped. Now Microsoft has created this function in Windows 8.

The units should be empty because they are formatted. The size extends to several Petabyte and the number of units is not limited. The storage pools support USB, IDE, SCSI, SATA (serial ATA), Esata and Sas (SCSI in the serial attachment). Jbod (only a pile of records) are also supported, but not the Iscii units and the USB sticks. The storage pool should not be considered a fuse for the operating system, but a data pool is created by several rigid discs under a letter of unity. You will be presented as logical plates (not to be confused with a logical unit).

You can imagine space like Explorer libraries. If 2 images folders are archived in a library, all the images in the bookcase are displayed simultaneously, regardless of the partition of these folders. The same goes for the storage pool, only with rigid discs.
Once a hard drive has been added to the pool, it can no longer be used directly by Windows. The disc was «virtualized» and is managed exclusively through the pool. However, the physical memory of the disc is used entirely for data and is available. This means that virtual units can be partitioned, formatted and equipped with data. Reserved memory for a storage space (storage space) can also be increased at any time. However, a reduction in the reserved storage space is not possible. However, if the data are deleted in a storage space, the storage space is also issued, so that they can also be used by other spaces that are found on the same storage pool.

Create a new swimming pool or storage space

In the control panel, select when the «symbols» are activated as a display «Conservation positions«From. If the» Category «display has been set in the control panel, it is necessary first» system and safety «and then»Conservation positions» choose.

So calls «Create a new pool and space». All related units are displayed that are suitable. With «Show Files» you can make sure what are the thrusts. In this example, it would be an internal Samsung hard drive with 3 partitions (D:, and :, F :).

In another example, Windows 8 recognizes a Samsung USB hard drive.

If you now click on «Create Pool», you have to give the storage space a name in the new window. The new letter of unity is already specified. For example, if you have one or two hard disk with different partitions (D:, E:, F :), Windows then emits a disc with a single letter of unity (example: and 🙂 from it.

Type of resilience = raid?

Now there are 4 different variants to choose from, which are called type of resilience. This resilience (reflection) corresponds approximately to the well -known RAID system.

• Simply (no resilience)
• Two -way mirroring
• Three -way mirroring
• equality

Simply (no resilience) or no reflection

At least one unit is required. With this setting you have the largest possible storage space, but do not use any data security. If the hard drive fails in the pool on which the data are stored, it is no longer possible to use. However, you can restore them if you have configured the file version. If the storage space is full, just connect the next hard drive. [nicht zu empfehlen]

Two -way mirroring

At least two rigid disks must be connected here. This option has already been preset. The data are saved on both units. If a hard drive fails, the data is not lost. The 2nd hard drive then jumps inside. [zu empfehlen und ideal für automatische Sicherungskopien aller Daten der Benutzerdateien (wie Filme, Musik, Bilder, Dokumente), ohne dies manuell erledigen zu müssen]

Three -way mirroring

You need at least five units. With this option, three copies of the data are written, which means that the data are even protected by the failure of two units. [zu empfehlen]

equality

You need at least three units in this setting. The data alternates on two plates, the third serves to record sums of tests. This selection guarantees data so that a unit can be lost in the pool. The data is saved with equality information, each of which is on a different unit compared to the actual data. The data can be restored with test sums in the event of data loss. [zu empfehlen, nur für große Daten wie Videos, die oft gelesen werden, sich aber nur selten ändern]

Capacity

In the lower area you can see four GB values. The higher value shows the entire storage capacity of all rigid discs in the memory pool. The following value shows the ability available still free after having deduced the administrative data necessary on the panels. Under (maximum size) it is possible to set the ability with which the new storage space should appear in the explore (or simply leave the value). After all, it is what actually shows the value of the type of resilience you have set. In the case of a two -way mirror, this corresponds to about half of the ability of the available pool, with a three of one third of a third and in the same two thirds. As soon as the place is turned off, a message appears and you can integrate another plate in the swimming pool.

Later it is not possible to change resilience, but the size of a storage space the letter of unity and the name.

Once the selection has been made, have the space around the swimming pool with «Create Speicirplatz».

The new storage space behaves like a conventional hard drive under Windows and cannot be distinguished in the explorer.

Integrate further rigid disks

If you just want to make the size, everything you need to do is add one or more new stiff disks in «Manage space». So you need to click back and under the existing hard drive (example and 🙂 in «Edit» storage places to correct the size of the storage space upwards. Choose the «size (maximum)» so that the value 4. (Including resilience) is as close as possible to the 2nd value (pool capacity), but does not exceed it. In case of doubts, they prefer to leave the value with «including resilience» a little smaller, otherwise the storage space is too large for the existing plates.

Add multiple rigid discs

You can simply add the new hard disks, but this time a letter of unity and a new name. The recording of new units corresponds to the creation of a pool.

Remove the storage space again

In the «physical units» area, the rigid discs integrated in the swimming pool can be displayed. If a hard drive no longer works, the swimming pool shows with a yellow representation. If you click «Edit Settings» in controlling a storage pool, you can configure the pool. You have the possibility to rename the pool, add unity, remove defects or remove the pool. You can remove the individual units from the pool by clicking on «Remove» on «physical drive». You don’t lose any data because the data are then distributed to the remaining panels. Only if a sufficient storage space on the remaining rigid disks is not available, will you receive a message. Reports on the lack of space are emitted through the maintenance center, the small white flag in the information area.

Advantages and disadvantages

– The storage pools are not for notebook owners, but only for desktop PC and computer server. With less than three rigid discs, not all features can be used.

– The slow plates brake the system and the storage pool. USB units are not really suitable (USB 3.0 perhaps excluded). The internal and fast SSD rigid discs are suitable.

– Operating systems in front of Windows 8 cannot manage the storage pool. Only Windows 8 itself (+ Windows PE 4.0) and Windows Server 2012 know this new functionality.

– The start is not yet possible from the storage space.

– The storage space already reports 70%that the rigid discs are full.

– + Windows copys the data only to new panels if the existing panels are 100%full.

+ Just set up, the entire pool can also be restored on another Windows 8 computer.

+ Free – In Windows 8 Core/prof. contain.

+ The individual rigid discs can be replaced by the larger ones during operation, provided that the system (hardware) games.

+ Compared to the conventional management of the hard drive, the memory pools are not evident and only a little slower in the letter of the letter.

Further connections

Msdn blog: Virtualizing the storage for scale, resilience and efficiency von Steven Sinofsky

Technot Blog: Faq storage spaces of calls and with the information of Powershell

Image source: Microsoft

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