Server Disk Management in a Windows Environment

Server Disk Management in a Windows Environment

by Drew Robb
Released September 2003
Publisher(s): Auerbach Publications
ISBN: 9780203498743

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Book description

This overview explains the basic elements of disks and disk architectures, and explores how to successfully manage and maintain functionality within a Windows environment. Critical issues covered include disk quotas, fragmentation, optimization, hard drive reliability, asset management, software deployment, and system forensics. This book is a valuable resource for IT veterans and those who are less tech-savvy. Students and IT newcomers can access multiple definitions and examples of fundamentals such as disk organization, file systems, and basic maintenance actions. Chapters examining hardware and software management and industry trends provide further insight into how you can maintain and monitor disks and have them perform at maximum efficiency.

Table of contents

  1. Front cover
  2. Contents (1/2)
  3. Contents (2/2)
  4. Preface (1/2)
  5. Preface (2/2)
  6. Introduction
  7. Chapter 1
    1. Hard Disks and How They Are Organized
      1. Hardware Components of the Hard Drive
        1. Platters
        2. Spindle/Motor
        3. Head-Actuator Assembly
        4. Logic Board
        5. Cache
        6. Controller
      2. SCSI versus ATA
        1. ATA Drives
        2. Small Computer Systems Interface Drives
      3. What Is on a Disk
        1. Disk Performance Definitions and Metrics
        2. Disk Formatting
      4. Grouping Disks: Stripe Sets and RAID
      5. Evaluating Disks
      6. Mean Time between Failures
  8. Chapter 2
    1. Windows File Systems
      1. Enterprise Windows
      2. Magnetic Disk Systems
        1. File Allocation Table (FAT)
        2. New Technology File System (NTFS)
        3. Additional NTFS Features
        4. FAT versus NTFS
        5. Converting FAT to NTFS
      3. Optical Disk Formats
      4. Partitioning Strategies
      5. Summary
  9. Chapter 3
    1. Hard Drive Reliability
      1. MTBF Explained
      2. Adding Up the Cost of Disk Failure
      3. Do Not Rely on Backup
      4. Do Not Rely on RAID
      5. Predicting Failure
      6. Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART)
        1. How Often Do Disks Fail?
        2. Not So SMART
        3. Products Using SMART
        4. Compaq Insight Manager (CIM)
      7. OEM Disk Monitoring Tools
        1. SpinRite
        2. Hot Swapability
      8. Disks Will Fail
  10. Chapter 4
    1. Disk Management Basics for Windows 2000
      1. The Importance of Disk Management
      2. Basic Tasks
        1. Disk Initialization
        2. Disk Formatting
        3. Volume Creation
        4. Basic Disks
          1. Extended Partitions
          2. Logical Drive
        5. Dynamic Disks
          1. Volumes
          2. Simple Volume
          3. Spanned Volume
          4. Striped Volume
      3. Creation of Fault-Tolerant Disk Systems
        1. Mirrored Volumes
        2. RAID-5 Volumes
      4. Disk Management Console
        1. Converting a Basic Disk to a Dynamic Disk
      5. Basic and Dynamic Disks and Windows XP
      6. Be Dynamic, Choose Dynamic
  11. Chapter 5
    1. Backing Up Windows Networks
      1. No More Simple Backups
      2. Windows Backup: What It Includes
      3. Using the Built-In Windows Backup Utility
        1. Emergency Repair Disk and Restore Functions
        2. Additional XP Backup Features
      4. Beyond Basic Backups
        1. Mirroring
        2. Offsite Replication
      5. Backup Cautions
      6. Backing Up Mixed Windows/Linux Networks
      7. Storage Portal Case Study
  12. Chapter 6
    1. Disaster Recovery and Disk Management
      1. Is Your Data Really Protected?
      2. A Blended Approach to Data Protection
        1. Non-Catastrophic Failure
          1. Contingency Plan
        2. Catastrophic Failure
      3. Make the DRP Comprehensive
      4. The Economics of Disaster
      5. Recognition of Mission-Critical Elements
        1. Drilling
      6. Data Organization
        1. Data Quantity
        2. Data Priority
        3. Data Medium
        4. Hardware Issues
        5. Networking Issues
        6. Software Issues
      7. Test and Refine Some More
  13. Chapter 7
    1. Disk Performance and Fragmentation
      1. History and Origins of Fragmentation
      2. Does NTFS Suffer from Fragmentation?
      3. How Much Fragmentation Occurs in NTFS?
      4. Defining Fragmentation
      5. Free Space Fragmentation
      6. Fragmentation Adversely Affects Systems Stability
        1. Fragmentation and Boot Time
        2. Fragmentation and Slow Back Up Times/Aborted Backups
        3. Fragmentation and File Corruption/Data Loss
        4. Fragmentation and Crashes
        5. Fragmentation and Errors in Programs
        6. Fragmentation and RAM Use/Cache Problems
        7. Fragmentation and Hard Drive Failure
      7. Benefits of Defragmentation
      8. Remedying Fragmentation
      9. How Defragmenters Work
      10. Preventing MFT Fragmentation
        1. Converting FAT to NTFS
        2. MFT and Full or Heavily Fragmented Disks or Partitions
        3. Effect of MFT Fragmentation on Performance
      11. Page File Fragmentation
      12. Defragmentation Safety Issues
      13. Defragmentation Performance Testing
        1. Windows 2000 Tests
        2. XP Performance Tests
        3. Testing the Windows 2000 Disk Defragmenter
          1. Running the Windows 2000 Disk Defragmenter
          2. WDD Cautions
      14. Defragmenting a System
      15. Hardware Upgrades versus Defragmentation
        1. Total Cost of Ownership of Manual versus Network Defragmenters
        2. Uptime Guarantee
  14. Chapter 8
    1. Disk Optimization: Optimum or Not?
      1. Hard Drives Are Slow
      2. Enter Optimization
      3. Optimization Pros and Cons
      4. Optimization Shortcomings
      5. Logical Cluster Numbers
      6. Multiple Partitions
      7. Server Issues
      8. RAID Arrays
      9. Proven Disk Performance Solutions
        1. RAID
        2. Caching
        3. Defragmentation
      10. Conclusions
  15. Chapter 9
    1. Disk Quotas
      1. What Is a Disk Quota?
      2. Quota Terminology
      3. Disk Quota Management
        1. Using APIs
        2. Operating System Integration
        3. I/O Filters
      4. Windows 2000 Built-In Quota Utility
        1. Strengths
        2. Limitations
      5. Third-Party Alternatives
      6. QuotaAdvisor
        1. Case Study: Premier, Inc.
      7. Conclusion: Upgrade to a Third-Party Disk Quota Tool
  16. Chapter 10
    1. Hard Disk Forensics: The Hard Disk As a Source of Evidence
      1. The Rise of Computer Crime
        1. Melissa
        2. I Love You
      2. Definitions of Computer Crime and Computer Forensics
      3. Uses of Computer Forensics
        1. Recovering Evidence
        2. Printed versus Electronic Versions
      4. Microsoft Word Confessions
        1. Preserving Confidentiality in Microsoft Word
      5. Finding Missing Files
      6. Shredder Programs
      7. Forensics Software
  17. Chapter 11
    1. Simplifying Disk Management for Storage Assets
      1. Snapshot Technology
        1. Copy-on-Write
        2. Split Mirror
      2. SQL Server Backups
        1. Breakthrough in Backup and Recovery Performance
      3. Storage Evolution
        1. Microsoft System Restore
      4. Shadow Sets
        1. Advantages of VSS
      5. Storage Virtualization (1/2)
      6. Storage Virtualization (2/2)
        1. Storage and RAID
        2. Server-Attached Storage
        3. Storage Area Networks
        4. SAN Appliances
        5. What Is True Storage Virtualization?
        6. Virtualization Scenarios
        7. Virtualization and Windows-Based Servers
  18. Chapter 12
    1. Server Consolidation and Disk Management Simplification
      1. Harsh Economic Realities
      2. Assessing the Reliability, Availability, and Manageability of the Data Center
      3. Data Center Cost Analysis
      4. Leveraging New Technologies To Streamline Data Center Operations
      5. Scaling Out
      6. Scaling Up
      7. Server Price and Performance
      8. Wintel Servers Challenge Domination of Big Three
        1. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
      9. Mid-Range Hardware for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
        1. Unisys ES7000
        2. Hewlett-Packard ProLiant DL7602G
        3. IBM x440
        4. Dell PowerEdge 8450
        5. Fujitsu Siemens PRIMERGY N850
      10. Fewer Servers
      11. Server Consolidation at La-Z-Boy
      12. Limits to Consolidation
      13. When Consolidation Makes Sense
  19. Chapter 13
    1. Windows Past, Windows Present: Windows NT and Windows 2000
      1. Windows NT
        1. Windows NT in Action
        2. NT’s Days Are Numbered
      2. The Windows 2000 Server Family (1/3)
      3. The Windows 2000 Server Family (2/3)
      4. The Windows 2000 Server Family (3/3)
        1. Windows 2000 Server
        2. Certified for Windows 2000 Logo
        3. Windows 2000 Advanced Server
        4. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
          1. Datacenter Server User Study
        5. The Rigors of Windows 2000 Migration
        6. The Three Active Directory States: Native Mode, Mixed Mode, and Parallel Mode
        7. Windows 2000 Migrations Tools
        8. Making the Transition to Native Mode
        9. Consolidating Directories
        10. Windows 2000 Migration Case Studies
          1. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
          2. CVS Corporation
          3. Pioneer Hi-Bred, Inc.
          4. Mt. Sinai NYU Health: Managing AD in a Hybrid Network
      5. No Universal AD Panacea
  20. Chapter 14
    1. Windows Present: Windows XP
      1. No More DOS
      2. XP Fastboot
        1. Prefetching
        2. Layout Optimization
      3. Boot Optimization versus File Optimization
      4. XP Fast Resume
      5. Tips To Improve the Impact of Fastboot and Fast Resume
      6. Underlying XP Architecture
      7. Beware XP’s Consumer Features
        1. The XP Windows Media Player
        2. The XP CD Burner
        3. The XP Defragger
      8. XP Security Features
      9. XP Task Manager
      10. XP Performance Tool
      11. XP Quotas
      12. XP Backup
      13. Backward Compatibility of XP
      14. Extending Hardware Lifespan
      15. Improved XP Management
      16. Only Room for So Much
  21. Chapter 15
    1. Windows Present and Future: Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Computing, and Beyond
      1. Microsoft’s .NET
      2. What Is .NET?
      3. .NET and Web Services (1/2)
      4. .NET and Web Services (2/2)
        1. The .NET Starting Roster
        2. Case Study: Making the Case for Information Sharing among Police Departments
        3. Nothing but .NET: What Are the Alternatives to .NET?
      5. .NET Slam Dunk
      6. Windows Server 2003
      7. XML Web Services and Windows Server 2003
        1. Members of the Windows Server 2003 Family
          1. Standard Edition
          2. Enterprise Edition
          3. Datacenter Edition
          4. Web Edition
        2. 64-Bit Windows
        3. 64-Bit at a Glance
      8. The Next Few Years of Windows: Longhorn, BlackComb, and XP Second Edition
        1. XP Second Edition
        2. Longhorn and BlackComb
  22. Chapter 16
    1. Asset Management for Server Hardware and Software
      1. The Asset Management Explosion
      2. Hot Spots
      3. Piracy and Asset Management
      4. Asset Management Strata
        1. System/Desktop Management Platforms
        2. Asset Management Suites
        3. Asset Management Utilities
      5. Microsoft Systems Management Server
      6. Simplifying Asset Management
  23. Chapter 17
    1. Software Deployment and Distribution on Windows Platforms
      1. Deployment Complexity
      2. Security Breaches
      3. Securing the Walls
        1. XP Patches
      4. Automated Software Deployment
        1. Frameworks and Software Deployment
        2. Microsoft Tools and Software Deployment
        3. Site Licensing/Tracking Software
        4. Software Deployment Case Study
      5. Do You Feel Lucky?
  24. Chapter 18
    1. The Future of Disks and Disk Management
      1. The Storage Industry Is Healthy
      2. Faster Data Transfer
      3. Bigger and Better Drives
        1. Recent Developments
        2. Fujitsu Drives
          1. 2.3-GB MO Drive
          2. 2.5-Inch MHS Mobile Disk Drive
          3. 15-K MAS Series 3.5-Inch Disk Drive
        3. Upcoming Fujitsu Read Head and Media Technologies
      4. What the Future Holds
      5. Conclusion
  25. Appendix A: Glossary of Terms (1/2)
  26. Appendix A: Glossary of Terms (2/2)
  27. Appendix B: Bibliography
    1. Books
    2. White Papers and Reports
  28. About the Author
  29. INDEX (1/3)
  30. INDEX (2/3)
  31. INDEX (3/3)

Product information

  • Title: Server Disk Management in a Windows Environment
  • Author(s): Drew Robb
  • Release date: September 2003
  • Publisher(s): Auerbach Publications
  • ISBN: 9780203498743