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

Management applications
Management applications operate through the Microsoft VDS and VSS services and HP hardware
providers to manage application data, manage array disks and volumes, perform backups, and
restore data.
Microsoft command-line utilities
Microsoft command-line utilities can manage any storage device with a VDS or VSS hardware provider.
• The DiskPart utility, which comes standard with Windows XP and Windows Server, is used to
manage disks, volumes, and partitions.
• The DiskRaid utility is used to configure hardware RAID storage systems.
• The VShadow utility (for Window 2003) or DiskShadow utility (for Windows Server 2008 and
2008 R2) is used to create and manage volume shadow copies and snapshots.
Microsoft Virtual Disk Service
Microsoft VDS enables administrators to identify, configure, and monitor logical units as if they were
disks on the Windows server.
When you use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Snap-in, Windows Disk Manager, and
the Microsoft DiskPart or DiskRaid utility, your commands are sent to the array through VDS and the
software or hardware providers.
VDS performs the following functions:
• Coordinates providers and clients (local and remote)
• Binds logical units
• Presents hardware logical units to software disks
• Performs common file system functions
• Monitors volume status
• Tracks fault and performance
Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service
Microsoft VSS creates and maintains data shadow copies for backup and recovery, including copies
across multiple volumes. Shadow copies contain static copies of related files, such as database, log,
and checkpoint files. VSS coordinates with HP Business Copy software, third-party business applications,
file system services, backup applications, and the storage device to ensure that all related files are
copied in a consistent state.
A VSS copy is also called a plex or a differential in Microsoft settings. The industry commonly refers
to this type of copy as a split mirror.
Windows software providers
Microsoft software providers (called Basic Disk Provider and Dynamic Disk Provider) interface between
Windows applications and devices such as disks, tape or CD drives, and disk arrays. Through software
providers and VDS, Windows performs actions such as partitioning, mounting, and managing file
systems on hardware devices.
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