Dell PowerVault MD3820f - Manual (Page 225)

18
System Interfaces
Virtual Disk Service
The Microsoft Virtual Disk Service (VDS) is a component of the Windows operating system. The VDS
component utilizes third-party vendor specific software modules, known as providers, to access and
configure third-party storage resources, such as MD Series storage arrays. The VDS component exposes
a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that provides a single interface for managing disks and
other storage hardware. The MD Series VDS Provider enables Windows tools, including the Disk Manager,
to access and configure storage array virtual disks.
The VDS Provider for the MD Series storage arrays is available on the MD Series resource DVD. For more
information on VDS, see microsoft.com.
Volume Shadow-Copy Service
The Microsoft Volume Shadow-copy Service (VSS) is a component of the Microsoft Windows operating
system. The VSS component utilizes third-party vendor specific software modules, known as providers, to
access and utilize snapshot and disk copy functionality provided by third-party storage resources, such as
MD Series storage arrays. The combination of the VSS component and the VSS Provider, included on the
MD Series Resource media, enables the MD Series storage arrays to be utilized by third-party and
Windows backup and snapshot applications.
NOTE: Virtual disks used as source virtual disks for VSS snapshots must not have names longer than
16 characters.
The VSS hardware provider uses the source virtual disk name as a prefix for the snapshot and repository
virtual disk names. The resulting snapshot and repository names are too long if the source virtual disk
name exceeds 16 characters.
VSS attaches to the service and uses it to coordinate the creation of snapshot virtual disks on the storage
array. VSS-initiated snapshot virtual disks can be triggered through backup tools, known as requestors.
The VSS Provider Configuration Tool makes available the following configuration options:
• Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk Properties — This section contains a drop-down list for the RAID
level and a field for entering source virtual disk capacity percentage for snapshot repositories.
• Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk Location — This section contains a list of preferences for the location
of the snapshot repository virtual disk. These preferences are honored whenever conditions permit.
The Microsoft VSS installer service for storage provisioning is available on the MD Series resource media
in the \windows\VDS_VSS directory.
NOTE: When registering VSS during your Windows setup, the registration graphical user interface
(GUI) prompts you to provide the name of your array because settings in the GUI are array-specific,
not host-specific.
Storage Management VSS Hardware Provider tips:
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