Q: How do I configure a clustered Storage Space?
A: The first step is to ensure you meet the requirements, which means checking that you have a storage enclosure that's certified for Storage Spaces that is connected to the multiple hosts.
In my lab, I have a Dell MD1200, which supports 12 drives and has 9 1TB HDD drives and 3 400GB SSD drives, which allows me to configure Storage Space tiering. In each of my two servers, I have a dual-port 6Gb SAS HBA, which I use to connect to the storage enclosure. Make sure a cluster has been created for the multiple nodes that are connected to the storage enclosure.
If you have redundant paths to the storage enclosure, ensure the MPIO feature is installed and has been executed to remove duplicate views of the same storage.
Download the Microsoft hotfix and apply to all nodes. It's a fix for manageability for storage enclosures, and it adds a Windows PowerShell Get-StorageEnclosure cmdlet.
Run the following PowerShell script on both servers, which should show the same storage visible. Below shows the output from one of my servers.
PS C:\Users\administrator> Get-PhysicalDisk | ? {$_.BusType –eq “SAS”} | ft
FriendlyName CanPool OperationalStatus HealthStatus Usage Size
------------ ------- ----------------- ------------ ----- ----
PhysicalDisk22 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk18 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 372.61 GB
PhysicalDisk21 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk29 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk25 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk24 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk20 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk26 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 372.61 GB
PhysicalDisk23 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk27 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 372.61 GB
PhysicalDisk19 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
PhysicalDisk28 True OK Healthy Auto-Select 931.51 GB
With the 2913766 hotfix applied, run the Get-StorageEnclosure cmdlet to view the storage enclosure, as shown below. Note the output shows the firmware version of the enclosure and you should check if there is a firmware update for the storage enclosure and apply if needed. Also make sure the storage enclosure shows the disks as JBOD and don't configure disk sets within the enclosure as this would stop Storage Spaces being able to manage each disk.
PS C:\> Get-StorageEnclosure | fl
ObjectId : {1}\\savdalhvclus\root/Microsoft/Windows/Storage/Providers_v2\SPACES_StorageEnclosure.ObjectId="{XXXXX}:SE:{XXXXXX}"
PassThroughClass :
PassThroughIds :
PassThroughNamespace :
PassThroughServer :
UniqueId : 500C04F2A2F13500
CurrentSensorOperationalStatus : {OK, OK, OK, OK...}
DeviceId : {XXXXX}
FanOperationalStatus : {OK, OK, OK, OK}
FirmwareVersion : 1.05
FriendlyName : StorageEnclosure0
HealthStatus : Healthy
IOControllerOperationalStatus : {OK, OK}
Manufacturer : DELL
Model : MD1200
NumberOfSlots : 12
PowerSupplyOperationalStatus : {OK, OK}
SerialNumber :
TemperatureSensorOperationalStatus : {OK, OK, OK, OK}
VoltageSensorOperationalStatus : {OK, OK, OK, OK...}
PSComputerName :
Once everything is ready, create the Storage Space using Failover Cluster Manager instead of using Server Manager.
- Launch Failover Cluster Manager.
- Navigate to Storage, Pools.
- From the actions, select New Storage Pool.
-
Complete the Storage Pool configuration per normal options, and add disks in the enclosure, then create a new Storage Space and finally create a new volume.
- After the volume is created, it can be made a CSV if required.
Microsoft has a good article, Deploy Clustered Storage Space, which also shows how to use PowerShell for the Storage Space management. This is the same PowerShell as for normal Storage Space options, as documented in my FAQ "PowerShell Storage Space Creation Tips." Also check with your storage enclosure vendor as they often have great documents.
Once all this is done, you 'll have a clustered storage space that's available to the nodes in the cluster and made a CSV. I walk through the basics of this in my YouTube video as well.
