Detailed guides for Windows Server 2012 R2 Private Cloud Storage (using SMB3 File Servers, Cluster Shared Volumes and Storage Spaces)

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There is a new set of TechNet pages covering how to design and deploy a Private Cloud Storage solution using Windows Server 2012 R2 technologies.

This includes the detailed description of a complete rack-sized solution using Hyper-V Cluster, SMB3 Scale-Out File Server Clusters, Cluster Shared Volumes and Storage Spaces

 

1) Provide cost-effective storage for Hyper-V workloads by using Windows Server

The first page describes the solution in great details, including a set of diagrams covering a typical implementation with compute, storage and management layers.

It covers the elements used to build the solution: multiple JBOD enclosures, Storage Spaces, storage pools, storage tiering, file servers, failover clustering, cluster shared volumes, Scale-Out file server, continuously available file shares, Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Manager and Operations Manager.

It then outlines the steps to actually build the solution:

  • Design your solution and purchase certified hardware
  • Rack and cable all hardware
  • Update all firmware
  • Deploy Windows Server 2012 R2 on the management cluster
  • Install Hyper-V and create virtual machines for the management cluster
  • Deploy AD DS, DNS, and DHCP
  • Set up the file server cluster
  • Set up the management cluster and management virtual machines
  • Deploy the compute nodes and clusters
  • Set up your tenant networking
  • Deploy your tenant virtual machines

Finally, it points out additional resources related to the solution described.

You can find this first page at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn554251.aspx

 

2) Provide cost-effective storage for Hyper-V workloads by using Windows Server: planning and design guide

The second page is a planning and design guide for the solution described in item 1.

It covers in great detail the requirements for all three layers of the solution: the file server cluster, the management cluster and the compute cluster.

On the hardware front, it specifies the exact type and count of the components required. That includes servers, JBOD enclosures, physical disks (HDDs and SSDs), SAS HBAs and network interface cards.

On the software side, it describes the relevant configuration for the operating system, failover clustering, MPIO, storage pools, Storage spaces, partitions, volumes, cluster shared volumes and file shares.

It provides a surprising high level of detail including the number of cluster nodes for each cluster, the number of drives in each tier, and even suggested storage spaces configuration like resiliency and column count.

You can find this second page at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn554250.aspx

 

These pages were published on TechNet in January 2014 and updated in February 2014, in response to requests for additional details on this type of solution.

I hope it its the spots and provides you the right level of information. Let us know if there is any additional information that you would like covered in this area…