Microsoft Iscsi Software Target; Virtual Disk Storage; Snapshots; Wizards - HP DL320s - ProLiant 9TB SATA Storage Server NAS User Manual

NOTE:
Administrative credentials are not required to establish a browser-based connection, but are required to
manage the storage server.
NOTE:
If Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is not installed correctly, the Additional plug-ins are required to
display all the media on this page message may be displayed. For information about installing JRE on a
non-Microsoft system, see Installation Instructions (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=70026).

Microsoft iSCSI Software Target

The Microsoft iSCSI Software Target snap-in is a standard feature of Windows Unified Data Storage
Server 2003. This snap-in makes it possible not only for the storage server to connect to remote iSCSI
targets, but also to serve as an iSCSI target. With Microsoft iSCSI Software Target, you can create and
manage iSCSI targets, create and manage disks for storage, and implement backup and recovery
support using snapshots.

Virtual disk storage

The disks you create using iSCSI Software Target are iSCSI virtual disks, which are files in the virtual
hard disk (VHD) format. These virtual disks offer flexible and effective storage. They are dynamically
extendable to provide extra capacity on demand, enable efficient storage utilization, and minimize the
time required to create new disks and the down time typically required to install new disks.

Snapshots

To facilitate backup and recovery operations, you can schedule and create snapshots of iSCSI virtual
disks. A snapshot is a point-in-time, read-only copy of an iSCSI virtual disk. Snapshots are typically used
as interim copies of data that has been modified since the most recent backup. Snapshots offer the
following advantages:
• Snapshots can be scheduled to be created automatically.
• Snapshots are space-efficient because they are differential copies.
• It is not necessary to close files or stop programs when creating snapshots, so application servers
can continue servicing clients without disruption.
• Each snapshot is typically created in less than one minute—regardless of the amount of data.
• Snapshots are useful for fast system recovery of files and volumes, in case of accidental data
deletion by a user, overwritten data, or data corruption resulting from a malicious program.
• Snapshots can be mounted locally or exported to facilitate backup and recovery operations.

Wizards

To support creation and management of iSCSI targets, virtual disks, and snapshots, the iSCSI Software
Target snap-in provides the following wizards:
• Create iSCSI Target Wizard
• Create Virtual Disk Wizard
• Import Virtual Disk Wizard
• Extend Virtual Disk Wizard
• Schedule Snapshot Wizard
• Export Snapshot Wizard
94 Enterprise storage servers