Category: Windows Server

Videos on WS2012 Failover Clustering and Storage Improvements

I was asked to produce a couple of short (10-15 minutes) videos on the improvements to Failover Clustering and Storage in Windows Server 2012.  At first I thought “Cool, I can do some demos in there too!”.  But then, as I assembled the information I realised that I barely had time for the briefing, let alone any demos.  The focus was on sharing Level 100 information, so that’s what I did.

Windows Server 2012 Storage Improvements

Windows Server 2012 Failover Clustering Improvements

 

Reminder of Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 Licensing For VL Purchases

You can now buy Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 via volume license channels.  Here’s a quick reminder of the changes in licensing:

  • The Windows 8 editions: Remember that the RT edition is sold only on ARM tablets and is not in VL.  The Enterprise edition is a benefit for when you add Software Assurance (SA) to Windows 8 Pro.
  • Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera: The authors of Windows 8 Secrets did a much more complete job of comparing the editions of Windows 8 than the original Microsoft table did.
  • Windows Server 2012 Licensing In Detail: Windows Server Standard and Datacenter are GA.  Essentials is still in RC.  I’ve no idea about Foundation, but it’ll only be available via OEM channels and is not a VL SKU.
  • Windows Server 2012 Virtualisation Licensing Scenarios: If you are doing virtualisation of Windows Serer on any kind of hypervisor (including VMware) then you need to read this. These rules are not constrained to Hyper-V.

Don’t forget that the virtual launch for Windows Server 2012 is tomorrow afternoon, at 16:00 GMT.  We should expect TechNet and MSDN to be populated sometime around/after that.

The Importance Of KMS Product Keys & Activation To Deployment, VDI, & Cloud Computing

There are two types of product key for Windows & Office:

  • MAK: The one that you’re used to typing into a machine
  • KMS: A special enter-it-once-for-the-network product key

MAK is nice and simple, if you’re only deploying a handful of machines.  But if you need to deploy dozens, hundreds or thousands, of machines, are you going to (a) trust the end user to activate (God help you if you think that’ll work!) or (b) run around and activate stuff by hand (why put in a deployment system because you’re obviously training for a marathon).

Some examples:

  • Deploying Windows or Office using ConfigMgr: Automated remote deployment where you can’t be everywhere and you need activation to just happen
  • VDI: VMs are being fired up and destroyed like crazy
  • Cloud: Hosts are deployed with zero touch from VMM, and VMs are deployed without any knowledge of IT.  You don’t want customers calling helpdesk about activation alerts.

MAK just isn’t going to work. With a KMS server on your network then you can automate the activation process of Windows and Office on the network.  The products reach out to KMS and activate without human effort.

Two posts will be useful:

  1. Some background and setup information in an old post that I wrote.
  2. A post this morning by fellow MVP Didier Van Hoye where he has described out to update a KMS to use the new KMS keys for WS2012.

Windows Server 2012 & Windows 8 Available to Volume License with SA Customers

If you have Software Assurance on your WS2012 volume licenses then you can start downloading from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC).  Those customers can start planning their Hyper-V (see the new features) host upgrades … but hold off if you are using System Center because you will need SP1 for System Center 2012 to continue to manage the upgraded hosts and migrated clusters.

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It is not on MSDN/TechNet and is not expected there until after the launch on September 4th. @TechNetUK saw me tweeting on the subject and thankfully cleared up the issue:

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I know, it’s very disappointing but that’s how the cookie is crumbling on this one. I’d love to have had it sooner so I could get current screenshots for the new WS2012 Hyper-V book.

Windows 8 is also available to VL w/ SA customers on the VLSC site.

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SPLA folks, check your pricelists to ensure you are legit to move up first.

The Microsoft Partner Network download content has not been updated.

EDIT:

I got a tweet from @softwareweaver to say that WS2012 is now available on Azure VM.

KB2710487 – Error 1359 & Cluster Service Stops In W2008 or W2008 R2 Failover Cluster

Microsoft released a hotfix for failover clustering on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. 

Assume that you set up a failover cluster in a Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 environment. However, after the Cluster service runs for a long time (for example, 100 days), the service stops. Additionally, the following error is logged in the Cluster event log:

Workitem callback threw exception: InternalError(1359)’ because of ‘internal error'(Reply to can only be invoked for messages sent by Mrr component).

This issue occurs because the value of the Multicast-Request-Reply (MRR) ID changes to -1. This value cannot be processed.

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft.

What’s New In MPIO In Windows Server 2012?

This is taken from Microsoft Multipath I/O (MPIO) Users Guide for Windows Server 2012.

The following changes to MPIO are available in Windows Server 2012:

  • PowerShell management and configuration: Utilizing the MPIO module in PowerShell, MPIO can be configured using PowerShell as an alternative to MPCLAIM.exe. See the section Installing and Managing MPIO using PowerShell: section of this document.
  • Heterogeneous HBA usage with MPIO: Heterogeneous, (That is different) HBA types can now be used together with non-boot Virtual Disks only. In prior releases of Windows Server, it was mandatory to use HBA’s of the same model.
  • Support for MPIO with multiport-SAS enclosures: The use of MPIO with Data volumes on a multiport-SAS enclosure is now supported.

Heterogeneous support for HBAs for data drives is cool. Now your network path fault tolerance can include different hardware models, chipsets, and drivers.

What The Hell Is WS2012 ReFS?

You’ve probably heard of Windows Server 2012 ReFS on podcasts, read about it in articles, and wondered: what the hell is ReFS!?!?

NTFS is ancient by IT terms, dating back to the days when NT was originally written in the early 1990s.  You might remember back in the build up to “Longhorn” (Vista/Server 2008) the talk of a new file system based on SQL Server.  I shat myself every time I thought of it; what a dreadful idea … a file system that would require maybe 16 GB of RAM!

Windows Server 2012 does contain a next generation file system called Resilient File System.  ReFS (pronounced re – fuss) is next generation … at least to me … because CSV doesn’t support it … yet.  I guess that’ll come in vNext (here we are in RTM Week and I’m talking vNext!).

Microsoft posted a document called Application Compatibility and API Support for SMB 3.0, CSVFS, and ReFS.  The following are extracts from this document:

Introduction

Resilient File System (ReFS) is a new local file system introduced in Windows Server “8”, immediately addressing critical server customer needs, and providing the foundation for future platform evolution, for all Windows customers.

Capabilities

  • Integrity: ReFS stores data in a way that it is protected from many of the common errors that can cause data loss. File system metadata is always protected. Optionally, user data can be protected on a per-volume, per-directory, or per-file basis. If corruption occurs, ReFS can detect and, when configured with Storage Spaces, automatically correct the corruption.
  • Availability: ReFS is designed to prioritize the availability of data. With ReFS, if corruption occurs, and it cannot be repaired automatically, the online salvage process is localized to the area of corruption, requiring no volume down-time.
  • Scalability: ReFS is designed for data sets sizes of today and the data set sizes of tomorrow, optimized for high scalability.
  • Application Compatibility: ReFS supports a subset of NTFS features and Win32 APIs that are widely adopted.
  • Proactive Error Identification: A data integrity scanner (commonly known as a “scrubber”) periodically scans the volume, attempting to identify latent corruption and then proactively triggers a repair of that corrupt data.
  • Architectural Evolution: A new architecture allows ReFS to evolve in conjunction with new storage devices, new data types, and new access patterns, providing a file system platform for the future.

Some Other Notes I Made

  • The document is intended for developers so it goes on to talk lots about APIs and stuff. 
  • ReFS is only in Windows Server 2012 and not in Windows 8.
  • ReFS can be configured only as a data volume; you cannot install an operating system on a ReFS volume or use it as a boot volume.
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Windows 8 & Windows Server 2012 RTM

I think I just pulled a Joe Namath! 

Microsoft has announced the RTM of Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.

Windows Server 2012 will be GA on September 4th.  Microsoft will be having a virtual launch event, as you might have figured out already by some tweeted studio pictures Smile

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Here are two recent blog posts on Windows Server 2012:

Windows 8 will be GA on October 26th.  The Windows Store is open for business … but I figured that out too Smile Here’s the release dates for the Windows 8 bits:

  • MSDN: August 15th
  • TechNet: August 15th
  • VLSC with Software Assurance: August 16th 
  • The Partner Network: August 16th … when my work PC will be upgraded
  • Volume License Resellers: September 1st … when we’ll be selling it to businesses

Windows Server 2012 will be “available to our volume licensing customers in the next couple of weeks”.  I guess it’s the same time frame as Windows 8.

And yes, this means that Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V and Windows 8 Client Hyper-V which are included in those operating systems, has RTMd.  Hyper-V Server 2012 has not RTMd.  It usually follows a while afterwards. My guess it will RTW on or just after September 4th.

On the Windows 8 public testing:

Over 16 million PCs actively participated in these programs, including approximately 7 million on the Release Preview that started 8 weeks ago. The depth and breadth of testing validate the readiness of Windows 8 for the market.

Congratulations to the groups and teams of program managers, designers, developers, testers, and so on.  This is a huge release.  I’m lucky because as an MVP I get direct interaction with some of the PMs.  I saw how rightly proud they were of the work that they’d done in such a short time frame.  Enjoy the celebrations and the time off, folks!

OK, so that’s done.  When is Windows 9 out?  Will it have a Start Menu Smile with tongue out