Management: System Interfaces 227
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Management: System Interfaces
Microsoft Services
Virtual Disk Service
The Microsoft Virtual Disk Service (VDS) is a component of the Windows
operating system. The VDS component utilizes third-party vendor specific
software modules, known as providers, to access and configure third-party
storage resources, such as MD3200i storage arrays. The VDS component
exposes a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that provides a
single interface for managing disks and other storage hardware. The MD3200i
Series VDS Provider enables Windows tools, including the Disk Manager, to
access and configure storage array virtual disks.
The VDS Provider for the MD3200i Series arrays is available on the MD3200i
Series resource media. For more information on VDS, see microsoft.com.
Volume Shadow-Copy Service
The Microsoft Volume Shadow-copy Service (VSS) is a component of the
Microsoft Windows operating system. The VSS component utilizes third-part
vendor specific software modules, known as providers, to access and utilize
snapshot and disk copy functionality provided by third-party storage
resources, such as MD3200 Series storage arrays. The combination of the VSS
component and the VSS Provider, included on the MD3200 Resource media,
enable the MD3200 Series arrays to be utilized by third-party and Windows
backup and snapshot applications.
NOTE: Virtual disks that is used as source virtual disks for VSS snapshots must
have names no longer than 16 characters.
The VSS hardware provider uses the source virtual disk name as a prefix for
the snapshot and repository virtual disk names. The resulting snapshot and
repository names are too long if the source virtual disk name exceeds 16
characters.
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