Administrator Guide
System interfaces
Topics:
• Virtual disk service
• Volume shadow-copy service
Virtual disk service
The Microsoft Virtual Disk Service (VDS) is a component of the Windows operating system. The VDS component uses 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 about VDS, see
Microsoft.com.
NOTE: Dell EMC is discontinuing support of the VSS and VDS hardware providers. For more information about
deprecation, see the
Dell EMC MD Series Storage Arrays Information Update
. For supported software, see the
Supported Management Software
section in the
Dell PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix
at Dell.com/
powervaultmanuals.
Volume shadow-copy service
The Microsoft Volume Shadow-Copy Service (VSS) is a component of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The VSS component
uses third-party vendor-specific software modules, known as providers, to access and uses 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 used 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.
• Dell EMC is discontinuing support of the VSS and VDS hardware providers. For more information about deprecation,
see the
Dell EMC MD Series Storage Arrays Information Update
. For supported software, see the
Supported
Management Software
section in the
Dell PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix
at Dell.com/powervaultmanuals.
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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System interfaces 155