Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices Best Practices Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices Abstract This document provides best practices for configuring Microsoft® Windows Server® to perform optimally with Dell EMC™ SC Series storage. June 2019 680-042-007 Revisions Revisions Date Description October 2016 Initial release for Windows Server 2016 November 2016 Update to include BitLocker content February 2017 Update MPIO best practices November 2017 Update guidance on support for Nano Server with Windows Server 2016 June 2019 Update for Windows Server 2019 and SCOS 7.4; template update Acknowledgements Author: Marty Glaser The information in this publication is provided “as is.” Dell Inc. makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the information in this publication, and specifically disclaims implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Use, copying, and distribution of any software described in this publication requires an applicable software license. Copyright © 2016–2019 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell, EMC, Dell EMC and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. [5/29/2019] [Best Practices] [680-042-007] 2 Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices | 680-042-007 Table of contents Table of contents Revisions............................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Table of contents ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Executive summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Audience ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 SC Series overview ............................................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Windows Server 2019 overview ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 SC Series support for previous Windows Server versions ................................................................................. 7 1.4 Advantages of using SC Series storage with Windows Server .......................................................................... 8 1.5 Best practices overview ...................................................................................................................................... 8 1.6 General best practices for Windows Server ....................................................................................................... 9 2 Design best practices ................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Right-size the storage array and fabric ............................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Determine optimal transport and front-end configuration ................................................................................. 11 2.3 Transport options .............................................................................................................................................. 11 2.4 Mixed transports ............................................................................................................................................... 11 2.5 Multipath I/O ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.6 Boot-from-SAN ................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.7 Adjust timeout settings for single path and multipath I/O ................................................................................. 14 2.8 Queue depth and timeouts ............................................................................................................................... 14 3 Administration best practices ..................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1 Present SC Series storage to Windows Server ................................................................................................ 16 3.2 SC Series storage profiles ................................................................................................................................ 16 3.3 Data Progression .............................................................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Data reduction (compression and deduplication) ............................................................................................. 17 3.5 Overprovisioning ............................................................................................................................................... 17 3.6 Guest VMs with in-guest iSCSI and virtual Fibre Channel ............................................................................... 18 3.7 SC Series and server clustering ....................................................................................................................... 18 3.8 Optimize format-disk wait time for large volumes ............................................................................................. 19 3.9 Placement of page files .................................................................................................................................... 20 3.10 SC Series snapshots with Windows Server ..................................................................................................... 20 3.11 TRIM/Unmap .................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.12 Volume maintenance ........................................................................................................................................ 24 3 Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices | 680-042-007 Table of contents 3.13 Offloaded data transfer ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3.14 Resilient file system .......................................................................................................................................... 26 4 Best practices for specific roles, features, and integrations ....................................................................................... 28 4.1 Failover Clustering ............................................................................................................................................ 28 4.2 Microsoft Hyper-V ............................................................................................................................................. 30 4.3 Cluster shared volumes .................................................................................................................................... 30 4.4 SMI-S ................................................................................................................................................................ 31 4.5 Disaster recovery with Live Volume ................................................................................................................. 31 4.6 Storage Spaces ................................................................................................................................................ 31 4.7 SC Series Replay Manager .............................................................................................................................. 31 4.8 Using BitLocker with SC Series volumes ......................................................................................................... 32 4.9 SC Series and PowerShell SDK ....................................................................................................................... 34 A Technical support and additional resources ............................................................................................................... 35 A.1 Related resources............................................................................................................................................. 35 4 Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices | 680-042-007 Executive summary Executive summary This document provides best practice guidance for deploying Microsoft® Windows Server® with Dell EMC™ SC Series™ storage systems. The documentation found at Dell.com/support for your specific SC Series array
Recommended publications
  • File Protection – Using Rsync Whitepaper
    File Protection – Using Rsync Whitepaper Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Documentation .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Licensing ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Terminology ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 2. Rsync technology ............................................................................................................................ 3 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Implementation ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 3. Rsync data hosts .............................................................................................................................. 5 Third Party data host ......................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • NTFS • Windows Reinstallation – Bypass ACL • Administrators Privilege – Bypass Ownership
    Windows Encrypting File System Motivation • Laptops are very integrated in enterprises… • Stolen/lost computers loaded with confidential/business data • Data Privacy Issues • Offline Access – Bypass NTFS • Windows reinstallation – Bypass ACL • Administrators privilege – Bypass Ownership www.winitor.com 01 March 2010 Windows Encrypting File System Mechanism • Principle • A random - unique - symmetric key encrypts the data • An asymmetric key encrypts the symmetric key used to encrypt the data • Combination of two algorithms • Use their strengths • Minimize their weaknesses • Results • Increased performance • Increased security Asymetric Symetric Data www.winitor.com 01 March 2010 Windows Encrypting File System Characteristics • Confortable • Applying encryption is just a matter of assigning a file attribute www.winitor.com 01 March 2010 Windows Encrypting File System Characteristics • Transparent • Integrated into the operating system • Transparent to (valid) users/applications Application Win32 Crypto Engine NTFS EFS &.[ßl}d.,*.c§4 $5%2=h#<.. www.winitor.com 01 March 2010 Windows Encrypting File System Characteristics • Flexible • Supported at different scopes • File, Directory, Drive (Vista?) • Files can be shared between any number of users • Files can be stored anywhere • local, remote, WebDav • Files can be offline • Secure • Encryption and Decryption occur in kernel mode • Keys are never paged • Usage of standardized cryptography services www.winitor.com 01 March 2010 Windows Encrypting File System Availibility • At the GUI, the availibility
    [Show full text]
  • Illustrated Tutorial: Creating a Bootable USB Flash Drive for Windows XP
    Illustrated tutorial: Creating a bootable Version 1.0 February 15, 2007 USB flash drive for Windows XP By Greg Shultz The ability to boot Windows XP from a USB Flash Drive (UFD) offers endless possibilities. For example, you might make an easy-to-use troubleshooting tool for booting and analyzing seemingly dead PCs. Or you could transport your favorite applications back and forth from home to work without having to install them on both PCs. However, before you can create a bootable UFD, you must clear a few hurdles. You saw that one coming didn’t you? The first hurdle is having a PC in which the BIOS will allow you to configure the USB port to act as a bootable device. The second hurdle is having a UFD that that will work as a bootable device and that’s large enough and fast enough to boot an operating system such as Windows XP. The third hurdle is finding a way to condense and install Windows XP on a UFD. If you have a PC that was manufactured in the last several years, chances are that its BIOS will allow you to configure the USB port to act as a bootable device. If you have a good qual- ity UFD that’s at least 512 KB and that was manufactured in the last couple of years, you’ve probably cleared the second hurdle. And once you’ve cleared those first two hur- dles, the third one is a piece of cake. All you have to do is download and run some free soft- ware to create the bootable UFD.
    [Show full text]
  • Dynamics NAV2013 Large Scale Hosting on Windows Azure
    Microsoft Dynamics NAV Large scale hosting on 2013 R2 Windows Azure Whitepaper April 2014 Contents Introduction 4 Assumptions 4 Who is the audience of this whitepaper? 4 Windows Azure components that are needed to deploy a scalable Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 with high availability 6 What is Windows Azure? 6 The Windows Azure SLA 6 The Windows Azure Cloud Service 6 Port-forwarding endpoints 6 Load-balancing endpoints 7 Availability sets 8 Scale 8 How to deploy Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 for multitenancy 9 Deployment scripts on the product media 9 Certificates and SSL 9 URLs 10 Load Balancing Microsoft Dynamics NAV 11 Adding/Removing Tenants 15 Adding/Removing Microsoft Dynamics NAV servers 15 ClickOnce deployment of the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Windows client 16 Application code considerations 17 Upgrade 18 Backup 19 Monitoring 19 How to deploy SQL Server with high availability and what is supported by Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 21 SQL Server Always-On Availability Groups 21 SQL Server Always-On Failover Clusters 21 SQL Server Database Mirror 21 SQL Azure 21 NAV Service Sample Scripts 22 Main scripts 22 Helper scripts 22 Helper DLL 22 Definitions 23 The scripts 27 Helper scripts 29 Scripts deployed to Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server 29 Folder structure on the provisioning machine 30 Folder structure on the server 30 How to get started 31 2 Large scale hosting on Windows Azure Whitepaper 3 Large scale hosting on Windows Azure Whitepaper Introduction This whitepaper describes in detail how to deploy Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 on Windows Azure so you can serve a very large number of customers with high availability.
    [Show full text]
  • Minimum Hardware and Operating System
    Hardware and OS Specifications File Stream Document Management Software – System Requirements for v4.5 NB: please read through carefully, as it contains 4 separate specifications for a Workstation PC, a Web PC, a Server and a Web Server. Further notes are at the foot of this document. If you are in any doubt as to which specification is applicable, please contact our Document Management Technical Support team – we will be pleased to help. www.filestreamsystems.co.uk T Support +44 (0) 118 989 3771 E Support [email protected] For an in-depth list of all our features and specifications, please visit: http://www.filestreamsystems.co.uk/document-management-specification.htm Workstation PC Processor (CPU) ⁴ Supported AMD/Intel x86 (32bit) or x64 (64bit) Compatible Minimum Intel Pentium IV single core 1.0 GHz Recommended Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0 GHz or better Operating System ⁴ Supported Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise (32bit, 64bit) Windows 10 (32bit, 64bit) Memory (RAM) ⁵ Minimum 2.0 GB Recommended 4.0 GB Storage Space (Disk) Minimum 50 GB Recommended 100 GB Disk Format NTFS Format Recommended Graphics Card Minimum 128 MB DirectX 9 Compatible Recommended 128 MB DirectX 9 Compatible Display Minimum 1024 x 768 16bit colour Recommended 1280 x 1024 32bit colour Widescreen Format Yes (minimum vertical resolution 800) Dual Monitor Yes Font Settings Only 96 DPI font settings are supported Explorer Internet Minimum Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Network (LAN) Minimum 100 MB Ethernet (not required on standalone PC) Recommended
    [Show full text]
  • Microsoft Windows 10 Update Hello, Microsoft Has Begun
    Subject Line: Microsoft Windows 10 Update Hello, Microsoft has begun pushing a warning message to Windows 10 computers that a critical security update must be performed. Several clients have informed us that they are seeing the warning message. It will appear as a generic blue screen after your computer has been powered up, and it states that after April 10, 2018 Microsoft will no longer support your version of Windows 10 until the critical security update has been performed. Please note if your UAN computer has not been recently connected to the internet, you would not have received this message. UAN has confirmed that the warning message is a genuine message from Microsoft, and UAN strongly encourages all clients to perform this critical security update as soon as possible. Please note: ‐ This update is a Microsoft requirement and UAN cannot stop or delay its roll out. To perform the critical security updated select the ‘Download update’ button located within the warning message. ‐ This update is very large, for those clients that have metered internet usage at their home may want to perform the update at a different location with unmetered high speed internet, perhaps at another family member’s home. ‐ Several UAN staff members have performed the critical security update on their home computers, and the process took more than an hour to complete. To check that your computer has been updated or to force the update at a time that is convenient to you, go to the windows Start button and click on Settings (the icon that looks like a gear above the Start button) > Update and Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates and then follow the instructions on the screen.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyber502x Computer Forensics
    CYBER502x Computer Forensics Unit 5: Windows File Systems CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan Basic concepts in Windows • Clusters • The basic storage unit of a disk • The piece of storage that an operating system can actually place data into • Different disk formats have different cluster sizes • Slack space • If they are not filled up-which, the last one almost never is –this excess capacity in the last cluster Old Data Old New Data Overwrites CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan What does a file system do? • Make a structure for an operating system to stores files • For you to access them by name, location, date, or other characteristic. • File System Format • The process of turning a partition into a recognizable file system CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan Windows File Systems • File Allocation Table (FAT) • FAT 12 • FAT 16 • FAT 32 • exFAT • NTFS, a file system for Windows NT/2K • NTFS4 • NTFS5 • ReFS, a file system for Windows Server 2012 CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan FAT File System Structure • The boot record • The File Allocation Tables • The root directory • The data area CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan Boot record • The first sector of a FAT12 or FAT16 volume • The first 3 sectors of a FAT 32 volume • Defines the volume, the offset of the other three areas • Contains boot program if it is bootable CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan FAT (File Allocation Table ) • A lookup table to see which cluster comes next • File Allocation Table for FAT 16 • One entry is 16 bits representing one cluster • Each entry can be • The cluster contains defective sectors (FFF7) • the address of the next cluster in the same file (A8F7) • a special value for "not allocated" (0000) • a special value for "this is the last cluster in the chain“ (FFFF) CYBER 502x Computer Forensics | Yin Pan Directory entry structure • Starting from the root directory.
    [Show full text]
  • Windows Messenger Live Msn Download
    Windows messenger live msn download Windows Live Messenger latest version: See. Hear. Share. Instantly.. Windows Live Messenger previously known as MSN Messenger, was renamed as part of. MSN Messenger is an instant messaging program that lets you send instant messages to your friends, and much more. Previously known as MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger is Microsoft's answer to instant messaging. While largely the same as its predecessor. Windows Live Messenger free download. on their MSN or Hotmail account, as the integration with the email accounts can be. Mobile and web: Using a public computer without Messenger? No problem! You can chat on the web from Windows Live Hotmail or use. Share photos: Look at photos together, right in the conversation window and Messenger tells you when people you know post new photos on Windows Live. Microsoft Windows live messenger free Download Link: Latest Version. Old Version of MSN (Live) Messenger. Website. Developer. Microsoft Corporation. Latest Version. Windows. Messenger, which offers the user the same functionalities as Windows Live Messenger. Windows Live Messenger Final Deutsch: Der Windows Live Messenger, Nachfolger des MSN Messenger, in der Version​: ​ - vom How to Download and Install Windows Live Messenger. Windows Live Messenger is a great way to talk to people online. You can now have a personal picture. Windows 7 by default is installed without Windows Live Messenger. So to get it, we will need to download and install it. select, like setting Bing as the default search provider and setting MSN as your browser home page. is a free, personal email service from Microsoft.
    [Show full text]
  • Microsoft IIS Agent Installation and Configuration Guide Tables
    IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager for Microsoft Applications: Microsoft Internet Information Services Agent Version 6.3.1 Fix Pack 10 Installation and Configuration Guide IBM SC27-5656-01 IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager for Microsoft Applications: Microsoft Internet Information Services Agent Version 6.3.1 Fix Pack 10 Installation and Configuration Guide IBM SC27-5656-01 Note Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page 21. This edition applies to version 6.3.1.10 of IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager for Microsoft Applications: Microsoft Internet Information Services Agent (product number 5278 - U18) and to all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new editions. © Copyright IBM Corporation 2008, 2016. US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Tables ............... v Running as a non-administrator user ...... 15 Agent-specific installation and configuration ... 15 Chapter 1. Overview of the agent .... 1 Configuration values .......... 16 Remote installation and configuration .... 16 New in this release ............ 4 Components of the IBM Tivoli Monitoring environment .............. 4 Appendix. ITCAM for Microsoft Agent Management Services ......... 6 Applications documentation library .. 19 User interface options ........... 6 Prerequisite publications .......... 19 Data sources .............. 7 Related publications ........... 20 Tivoli Monitoring Community on Service Chapter 2. Agent installation and Management Connect ........... 20 configuration ............ 11 Other sources of documentation ....... 20 Requirements .............. 11 Language pack installation ......... 11 Notices .............. 21 Installing language packs on Windows systems 11 Trademarks .............. 23 Installing language packs on UNIX or Linux Terms and conditions for product documentation.. 23 systems............... 12 IBM Online Privacy Statement .......
    [Show full text]
  • Mobility for the Masses Unleashing a World of Possibilities
    Mobility for the Masses Unleashing a World of Possibilities Uday Marty Director of Product Marketing Mobile Platforms Group Risk Factors Today’s presentations contain forward-looking statements. All statements made that are not historical facts are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Please refer to our most recent Earnings Release and our most recent Form 10-Q or 10-K filing available on our website for more information on the risk factors that could cause actual results to differ. Copyright © 2009 Intel Corporation Agenda • Today’s news • Current environment • The latest on Intel’s mobile platforms • Ultra-thin laptops come to the mainstream • Expanded wireless capability • Summary Copyright © 2009 Intel Corporation This presentation and materials related to it are under embargo until June 1, 2009, 9 p.m. PDT Copyright © 2009 Intel Corporation Today’s News What’s launching today: – Three new Intel® Core®2 Duo processors (T9900, P9700, and P8800) – New ULV Intel® Pentium® processor (SU2700) – New Mobile Intel® GS40 Express Chipset Enabling significant improvements in the four vectors of mobility – Extended performance leadership – Enabling Ultra-thin systems at mainstream price points – Enhancing battery life – Expanded wireless capabilities For more information, go to – http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/events/computex2009 Copyright © 2009 Intel Corporation Worldwide Mobile Growth Continues Mobile Shift Strong Across Mature and Emerging Markets Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC
    [Show full text]
  • Refs: Is It a Game Changer? Presented By: Rick Vanover, Director, Technical Product Marketing & Evangelism, Veeam
    Technical Brief ReFS: Is It a Game Changer? Presented by: Rick Vanover, Director, Technical Product Marketing & Evangelism, Veeam Sponsored by ReFS: Is It a Game Changer? OVERVIEW Backing up data is more important than ever, as data centers store larger volumes of information and organizations face various threats such as ransomware and other digital risks. Microsoft’s Resilient File System or ReFS offers a more robust solution than the old NT File System. In fact, Microsoft has stated that ReFS is the preferred data volume for Windows Server 2016. ReFS is an ideal solution for backup storage. By utilizing the ReFS BlockClone API, Veeam has developed Fast Clone, a fast, efficient storage backup solution. This solution offers organizations peace of mind through a more advanced approach to synthetic full backups. CONTEXT Rick Vanover discussed Microsoft’s Resilient File System (ReFS) and described how Veeam leverages this technology for its Fast Clone backup functionality. KEY TAKEAWAYS Resilient File System is a Microsoft storage technology that can transform the data center. Resilient File System or ReFS is a valuable Microsoft storage technology for data centers. Some of the key differences between ReFS and the NT File System (NTFS) are: ReFS provides many of the same limits as NTFS, but supports a larger maximum volume size. ReFS and NTFS support the same maximum file name length, maximum path name length, and maximum file size. However, ReFS can handle a maximum volume size of 4.7 zettabytes, compared to NTFS which can only support 256 terabytes. The most common functions are available on both ReFS and NTFS.
    [Show full text]
  • ATTACKING RDP How to Eavesdrop on Poorly Secured RDP Connections
    IT SECURITY KNOW-HOW Adrian Vollmer ATTACKING RDP How to Eavesdrop on Poorly Secured RDP Connections March 2017 © SySS GmbH, March 2017 Wohlboldstraße 8, 72072 Tübingen, Germany +49 (0)7071 - 40 78 56-0 [email protected] www.syss.de Vollmer | Attacking RDP 1 Introduction The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is used by system administrators everyday to log onto remote Windows machines. Perhaps most commonly, it is used to perform administrative tasks on critical servers such as the domain controller with highly privileged accounts, whose credentials are transmitted via RDP. It is thus vital to use a secure RDP configuration. We at SySS regularly observe that due to misconfigurations, system administrators in an Active Directory environment are routinely presented with (and ignore) certificate warnings like this: Figure 1: An SSL certificate warning If warnings like these are a common occurrence in your environment, you will not be able to recognize a real man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack. This article was written to raise awareness of how important it is to take certificate warnings seriously and how to securely configure your Windows landscape. The intended audience is system administrators, penetration testers and security enthusiasts. While not necessary, it is recommended that you have a firm understanding of the following subjects: – Public key cryptography as well as symmetric cryptography (RSA and RC4) – SSL – x509 certificates – TCP 2 Vollmer | Attacking RDP – Python – Hexadecimal numbers and binary code We will demonstrate how a MitM can sniff your credentials if you aren’t careful. None of this is particularly new – it even has been done before, for example by Cain [2].
    [Show full text]