HP Storage Hardware Providers VDS/VSS Installation Guide (5697-1131, August 2011)

1 Overview of HP Storage hardware
providers
This chapter describes the HP Storage hardware providers for Windows, and explains how they
function with Microsoft operating systems and applications.
HP hardware providers are software products that are installed on a Windows server connected to
an HP disk array. They enable Windows operating systems and applications to control disk array
functions and copy disk array data. For supported Windows operating systems, see the hardware
provider release notes.
HP hardware providers support two Microsoft storage services:
• Virtual Disk Service (VDS)
• Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)
Figure 1 and subsequent topics describe the components of the HP hardware provider solution. For
more information about Microsoft and HP components, see each manufacturer's product documentation.
Figure 1 HP hardware provider software relationships
.
Windows Disk Management
Windows Disk Management consists of the Windows software and user interfaces that enable you
to manage disks, volumes, and file systems. The user interface for disk management is a Computer
Management tool in the Administrative Tools of the Windows Control Panel.
Overview of HP Storage hardware providers6