1. Microsoft Core Storage Update
March 2006
Suzanne Morgan, Program Manager
Core Windows, Storage

2. iSCSI 2.0 Key Features
Integrated Microsoft MPIO multipathing solution supports logo’d block storage devices
Includes Microsoft iSCSI DSM designed to work with SPC-3 compliant or active/active targets
Multiple connections per session
IPv6 support
Error Recovery Levels 1 & 2
Persistent Reservations
Multiple load balance policies and failover policies

3. iSNS Server 3.0
Microsoft preferred mechanism for iSCSI target discovery
Scalable
iSNS support required for all iSCSI targets through designed for Windows Logo Program
Centralized management using Discovery Domains
DHCP support for auto configuration
Dynamically updated
Cluster resource DLL enables failover support
WMI provider

4. Microsoft Multipath I/O DDK
High Availability Storage Solution
Microsoft foundation binaries included
HBA and path agnostic
Provides up to 32 paths
Enables full path control by DSM
Failover, Failback and Load Balancing
Device Specific Modules
Vendor DSM tunes MPIO to storage device
Multiple DSM coexistence  
WMI interface provides consistent management capability
Can send storage unique commands

5. Microsoft MPIO Roadmap
Longhorn Server: Integrated Multipathing
Microsoft DSM - Industry standard multipath solution
iSCSI, FC, SAS
Support for Active/Active arrays
Supports Asymmetric A/A (SPC-3 compliant)
Load balancing with MSCS clusters
Persistent Reservation Requirement for
DDK still available! – MS DSM Source Included
Proprietary or “classic” Mulitpathing will no longer be logo’d for FC
True today for iSCSI and SAS

6. iSCSI Software Enabled SAN Boot
Diskless boot enabled using standard NICs + Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator
Requires firmware based change in System Option ROM or NIC ROM/firmware
Key scenarios
Diskless blade servers to address power/heat consumption
Disaster recovery
Manageability
Release mechanism
Solution Provider/OEM/IHV provided
Includes Microsoft QFEs redistributed by OEMs
Includes IHV provided firmware implementation
Targeting release IH06 – Windows Server 2003
LH Server will support CD install to diskless server

7. Microsoft iSCSI Software Target
Software target, based on acquisition
Delivery for WSS R2 via “iSCSI feature pack”
Includes support for:
MS MPIO
VSS
VDS 1.1
VHD format
64-bit Windows (amd64)
IPsec
IPv6
Windows Core Technology - Microsoft Confidential 7
Windows Core Product Team, Storage - Microsoft Confidential 7

8. Appendix

9. Planned Features for Windows Vista and Windows Longhorn Server

10. Microsoft iSCSI Software Target (Futures)
ERL 1 & 2
Multiple connections per session (MC/S)
Mirroring (2-node replication)
“Flash copy” (COW snapshots and clones)
Snapshot agents for SQL, Exchange, VSS
Replication of snapshots
Radius Support
Windows Core Technology - Microsoft Confidential 10
Windows Core Product Team, Storage - Microsoft Confidential 10

11. iSCSI Software Initiator Updates
Initiator included inbox both client and server
Support for WinSock Kernel (vs. TDI)
Support for CD-based Install to diskless servers
iSCSI Initiator modified to support WinSock Kernel (vs. TDI) to take advantage of performance enhancements in Longhorn Server

12. End to End Multipathing: Microsoft MPIO Universal DSM
Supports Fibre Channel and SAS as well as iSCSI
Provides user community with low-cost, high-quality multipathing solution
Meets enterprise requirement for highly available storage
Compatible storage arrays must comply with relevant SCSI Standards
Additional value add available using vendor provided plug-in (DSM)

13. Management & Security Storage Explorer
iSNS Server included inbox in Longhorn Server
Manageable through Storage Explorer
IAS radius plug-in for Microsoft IAS Server enabling iSCSI centralized security management with Radius Server

14. Storage Explorer: A SAN Visualization Application
Storage Explorer Design
Utilizes industry standard APIs to gather information about storage devices in FC and iSCSI SANs
Implemented as an MMC snap-in
Access to iSCSI/iSNS Device Configuration
Storage Explorer GUI
Provides a tree-structured view of all the components within the SAN (Fabrics, Platforms, Storage Devices, LUNs)
Storage Explorer Management
Provides access to the TCP/IP management interfaces of individual devices from a single GUI
Administrator Challenges
Administrators want SAN benefits, but
They want SAN management functionality to be integrated into the OS

15. Storage Explorer: User Interface SAN Visualization
Provides detailed SAN configuration information

16. Storage Explorer : User Interface Device Management
Provides access to the management interfaces for individual devices

17. iSCSI Resources Microsoft iSCSI website:
Download Microsoft iSCSI Initiator:
iSCSI DFW Logo Document
Microsoft support for iSCSI Clusters FAQ:
iSCSI deployment guide white paper:
For information about iSCSI support:
To participate get more info on the iSCSI Software enabled SAN boot beta: