Step 1: Plan for Storage in Scale-Out File Server
Applies To: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012
When you plan the storage that will support your Scale-Out File Server, you can leverage the existing storage in your organization.
Note
Before you deploy Scale-Out File Server, you should review the storage requirements for the server applications that will use Scale-Out File Server.
After you complete this step, see Step 2: Plan for Networking in Scale-Out File Server.
This topic includes the sections that are outlined in the following table, and it can help you through the process of identifying requirements for the server applications in your organization and identifying existing storage that you can leverage.
Task |
Description |
|---|---|
Scale-Out File Server uses the features and functionality that are included with Failover Clustering. You should review the requirements for Failover Clustering when planning for a Scale-Out File Server. |
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Microsoft SQL Server and Hyper-V are server applications that are supported with Scale-Out File Server. If you plan to store your database files, database transaction logs, or virtual hard disks on scale-out file shares, the same storage recommendations for their respective server applications apply. |
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You can use the storage that has already been deployed within your organization. |
Review Failover Clustering requirements
Scale-Out File Server is built on top of Failover Clustering, so any requirements for Failover Clustering also apply to Scale-Out File Server. You should have an understanding of Failover Clustering before deploying Scale-Out File Server. For more information about Failover Clustering, see:
Installing the Failover Cluster Feature and Tools in Windows Server 2012
How to Troubleshoot Create Cluster failures in Windows Server 2012
Some important considerations for Failover Clustering and Scale-Out File Server are as follows:
The storage configuration must be supported by Failover Clustering before you deploy Scale-Out File Server. You must successfully run the Cluster Validation Wizard before you add Scale-Out File Server.
Scale-Out File Server requires the use of Clustered Shared Volumes (CSVs).
Scale-Out File Server is not supported for use with Resilient File System.
Accessing a continuously available file share as a loopback share is not supported. For example, if Microsoft SQL Server or Hyper-V store data files on SMB file shares, they must run on computers that are not a member of the file server cluster for the SMB file shares.
Review server application storage requirements
Microsoft SQL Server and Hyper-V are the two server applications that are supported by Scale-Out File Server. If you choose to use Microsoft SQL Server or Hyper-V with Scale-Out File Server, the storage recommendations for the server application on direct-attached storage apply. For more information about storage requirements, see:
Review existing storage in your organization
It is not necessary to deploy new storage in your organization to support Scale-Out File Server. You can use existing storage that may already be deployed within your organization. Some supported storage configurations that can be used as the storage subsystem for Scale-Out File Server include:
Storage Spaces Storage Spaces was introduced in Windows Server 2012.
For more information, see Storage Spaces Overview.
iSCSI Storage Area Network
For more information about iSCSI, see iSCSI Target Server Overview.
Fibre Channel Storage Area Network
For more information about using a Fibre Channel SAN, see Failover Clustering Hardware Requirements and Storage Options.
Clustered RAID controller
For more information, see Enable Support for Clustered Windows Servers using clustered RAID controllers.