With Windows Server 2019, Server manager includes simple and easy to use, user interface that enables management of Windows
Storage Spaces and other Storage Subsystems such as EMC Clariion VNX and Dell EqualLogic (but not limited to these) storage arrays with supporting SMI-S and SMP based Storage provider respectively.
By using Server Manager’s File and Storage Services Role user interfaces, you can create and manage storage objects such as storage pools and virtual disks.
In the following post, we will cover common storage spaces administrative tasks by using the “File and Storage Services” pages on Server Manager
In Server Manager, select File and Storage Services > Volumes > Storage Pools. Under PHYSICAL DISKS, select New Storage Pool.
Now read the needed information about the storage pool then click Next.
Specify a storage pool name with description and click Next.
Now select the disks you want to create storage pool also you can select a disk as a hot spare which is for failover clustering/ if a disk fails then the Hot spare disk will work and save the files from being deleted.
Confirm all the settings have been done correctly then click Create.
The new storage pool has successfully completed, now click create a virtual disk when this wizard closes to create a virtual disk after this wizard and click Close.
Create a Virtual Disk for Storage Pool
After creating the storage pool now start creating a virtual disk for the pool you had created.
When the storage pool wizard finishes, just mark the create a virtual disk option to create a virtual disk after this wizard.
When the virtual disk wizard opened, read the details about it then click Next.
Specify the virtual disk name and click Next.
At this step, you don’t do anything just click Next.
Select the storage pool to create a virtual disk, if it’s selected automatically just click Next.
Select a storage layout/style you need then click Next. If you don’t know the definition, select the one and read the explanation beside it.
Select a provisioning type then click Next. The thin option uses space from the storage pool as needed, up to volume size and the fixed option uses from the storage pool equal to the volume size.
Specify the size of the virtual disk or select maximum size then click Next. If you specify the size the remaining size will be offline and not used and if you select the maximum size it will select all the size of the storage pool.
At this point, check all the configuration you’ve done and click Create to start the process.
Now the wizard has accomplished successfully and the new virtual disk has created, mark the create a volume when this wizard closes and click Close.
Create a Volume for the Virtual Disk
After creating the virtual disk, mark the Create a volume when this wizard closes then click Close.
When the new volume wizard opened, read the required information about it then click Next.
Select the server and disk you want to create volume for, if it’s selected automatically just click Next.
Specify the size of the disk, or let it by default then click Next. If the volume size will be specified, the remaining size will be offline and unused, it can be configured separately from it.
Select a drive letter or folder to assign then click Next.
Select the file system like NTFS then type a volume name or you can let it by default then click Next.
Notice that all the settings have done correctly and click Create.
The volume has created successfully click Close and start using the storage pool.
The storage pool and the disks have now been successfully created and ready to use, like the screenshot.
