How To Create Disk Partition In Windows Server 2016

Working with Volumes on a Windows Server Host

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The first three workflow tasks should be completed before beginning the other items that this section is focused on configuring. There are two methods that will be shown, (1) Using Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) for the FlashArray and Windows Server Disk Management and (2) Using Windows PowerShell and Pure Storage PowerShell SDK.

Steps to Create, Connect, and Configure

Installing Multipath-IO
Configuring Multipath-IO
Setting the MPIO Policy
Create FlashArray Volume(s)
Connect FlashArray Volume(s) to Host (or Host Group)
Manage FlashArray Volume(s) from Windows Server Host
Create Mounts Point(s) (Optional)

This section assumes that there is a Pure Storage FlashArray setup and configured with hosts and all SAN/Network fabric connectivity in place.

FlashArray Management GUI

Create FlashArray Volume(s)

The FlashArray Management interface is very simple to use. Follow the below steps to create a volume. Repeat the same actions to create a volume named ReFS (optional).

1. Create a new volume named NTFS.

Viewing the created NTFS volume.

Connect FlashArray Volume(s) to Host (or Host Group)

1. Connect the NTFS volume to SERVER08.

Selecting the NTFS volume to connect to SERVER08.

Viewing the NTFS volume that is now connected to SERVER08.

Windows Server Disk Management

Manage FlashArray Volume(s) from Windows Server Host

1. Start Disk Management usingStart > Run > diskmgmt.msc.

2. PerformRescan Disks.

3. Initialize disks by right-clicking on the Disk # and selectingInitialize Disk.

4. The Initialize Disk dialog will open and indicate all of the disks that need to be initialized. For this example, there are Disk 1 (NTFS) and Disk 2 (ReFS) that will be initialized using GPT (Guid Partition Table). GPT is used to support disks larger than 2 TB.

5. Create a volume by right-clicking on the disk partition and selectingNew Simple Volume.

6. TheNew Simple Volume Wizard will open, clickNext >.

7.Specify Volume Size, the default is used for use maximum size.

8.Assign Drive Letter or Path, the default is used for selecting the next available drive letter.

9.Format Partition, chooseNTFS as the File system,64KAllocation unit size (cluster size), and set theVolume label.

(Optional) To create an ReFS volume choose ReFS as the File system.

10. Accept the settings from the wizard and clickFinish.

The new volume(s) are now ready for use.

Create Mounts Point(s) (Optional)

1. Right-click on the disk partition and selectChange Drive Letter and Paths...

2. The Change Drive Letter and Paths for the selected disk will be opened. ClickAdd...

3.Add Drive Letter or Path is opened. Since there is already a drive letter assigned theMount in the following empty NTFS folderis selected. ClickBrowse...

4. Navigate using theBrowse for Drive Pathdialog and either select an existing folder or create aNew Folder... In the below example a new folder and sub-folder have been created named\FlashArrayMounts\NTFS. ClickOK.

5. ClickOK.

6. Now the newly assigned mount point can be seen in the Change Drive Letter and Paths for the selected disk.

The volume(s) now have an assigned mount point.

Windows PowerShell

Create FlashArray Volume(s)

The volumes that will be used in the examples are based on the NTFS and ReFS file systems. The host that will be used is named SERVER01 and is running Windows Server 2016 with Windows PowerShell 5.0.

Following the Windows PowerShell examples assumes that the Pure Storage PowerShell SDK has been installed. If the PowerShell SDK has not been installed please see the Pure1 Support > Programming Interfaces > Windows PowerShell to get started.

1. Start a new Windows PowerShell session or open the PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE).

2. Create a connection to the FlashArray.

$FlashArray = New-PfaArray -EndPoint 10.1.1.1 -Credentials (Get-Credential) -IgnoreCertificateError  PS C:\> $FlashArray  Disposed   : False EndPoint   : 10.1.1.1 UserName   : pureuser ApiVersion : 1.7 Role       : ArrayAdmin ApiToken   : 58db6abf-1933-553f-1628-0c6e207aba1e

3. Create two new volumes named ReFS and NTFS.

New-PfaVolume -Array $FlashArray -VolumeName 'ReFS' -Unit T -Size 1 New-PfaVolume -Array $FlashArray -VolumeName 'NTFS' -Unit T -Size 1  source  :  serial  : 45084F3508BF461400011ACB created : 2017-05-23T21:46:04Z name    : ReFS size    : 1099511627776  source  :  serial  : 45084F3508BF461400011ACC created : 2017-05-23T21:46:04Z name    : NTFS size    : 1099511627776

Connect FlashArray Volume to Host (or Host Group)

1. Connect ReFS and NTFS volumes to SERVER01.

PS C:\> New-PfaHostVolumeConnection -Array $FlashArray -VolumeName 'ReFS' -HostName 'SERVER08' PS C:\>New-PfaHostVolumeConnection -Array $FlashArray -VolumeName 'NTFS' -HostName 'SERVER08'  vol  name     lun ---  ----     --- ReFS Server08   1 NTFS Server08   2

If the volumes need to be visible to a cluster of Windows Server hosts then they need to be connected to a Host Group. The following steps show how to create a Host Group, add a Host, and then connect the volume to the Host Group.

PS C:\> New-PfaHostGroup -Array $f -Hosts 'SERVER08' -Name 'HOSTGROUP1' PS C:\> New-PfaHostGroupVolumeConnection -Array $f -VolumeName 'ReFS1' -HostGroupName 'HOSTGROUP1' PS C:\> New-PfaHostGroupVolumeConnection -Array $f -VolumeName 'NTFS1' -HostGroupName 'HOSTGROUP1'  hosts      name       -----      ----       {SERVER08} HOSTGROUP1            HOSTGROUP1            HOSTGROUP1              PS C:\>Get-PfaHostGroupVolumeConnections -Array $f -HostGroupName 'HOSTGROUP1' | Format-Table -AutoSize  vol   name       lun ---   ----       --- ReFS1 HOSTGROUP1 254 NTFS1 HOSTGROUP1 253

Manage FlashArray Volume(s) from Windows Server Host

1. Rescan/update the Windows Server host, SERVER01 to see the new volumes.

PS C:\> Update-HostStorageCache

2. View the currently connected volumes to the Windows Server host.

PS C:\> Get-Disk  Number Friendly Name         Serial Number                    HealthStatus         OperationalStatus      Total Size Partition Style ------ -------------         -------------                    ------------         -----------------      ---------- ---------- 1      PURE FlashArray       45084F3508BF461400011ACB         Healthy              Online                       1 TB RAW 2      PURE FlashArray       45084F3508BF461400011ACC         Healthy              Online                       1 TB RAW 0      PURE FlashArray       73E940225A2A52BB0003AE86         Healthy              Online                     150 GB MBR

If the SAN Policy of the Windows Server host is kept at the default of OfflineShared when the volumes are connected to the host they will not come online automatically. Performing a Get-Disk will indicate that they have an OperationalStatus of Offline.

PS C:\> Get-Disk  Number Friendly Name     Serial Number                    HealthStatus         OperationalStatus      Total Size Partition Style      ------ -------------     -------------                    ------------         -----------------      ---------- ---------- 1      PURE FlashArray   45084F3508BF461400011ACB         Healthy              Offline                      1 TB GPT        2      PURE FlashArray   45084F3508BF461400011ACC         Healthy              Offline                      1 TB GPT        0      PURE FlashArray   73E940225A2A52BB0003AE86         Healthy              Online                     150 GB MBR   PS C:\> Get-Disk | Where-Object { $_.OperationalStatus -eq 'Offline' } | Set-Disk -IsOffline $False PS C:\> Get-Disk  Number Friendly Name     Serial Number                    HealthStatus         OperationalStatus      Total Size Partition Style      ------ -------------     -------------                    ------------         -----------------      ---------- ---------- 1      PURE FlashArray   45084F3508BF461400011ACB         Healthy              Online                       1 TB GPT        2      PURE FlashArray   45084F3508BF461400011ACC         Healthy              Online                       1 TB GPT        0      PURE FlashArray   73E940225A2A52BB0003AE86         Healthy              Online                     150 GB MBR

3. Initialize the new volumes.

Set the -Number parameter from the output ofGet-Disk. The Partition Style has been updated from RAW to GPT.

PS C:\> Initialize-Disk -Number 1 -PartitionStyle GPT PS C:\> Initialize-Disk -Number 2 -PartitionStyle GPT PS C:\> Get-Disk  Number Friendly Name       Serial Number                    HealthStatus         OperationalStatus      Total Size Partition Style ------ -------------       -------------                    ------------         -----------------      ---------- ---------- 1      PURE FlashArray     45084F3508BF461400011ACB         Healthy              Online                       1 TB GPT 2      PURE FlashArray     45084F3508BF461400011ACC         Healthy              Online                       1 TB GPT 0      PURE FlashArray     73E940225A2A52BB0003AE86         Healthy              Online                     150 GB MBR

4. Create a new partition.

PS C:\> New-Partition -DiskNumber 1 -UseMaximumSize -AssignDriveLetter     DiskPath: \\?\mpio#disk&ven_pure&prod_flasharray&rev_8888#1&7f6ac24&0&3632344139333730343530383446333530384246343631343030303131414342#{53f 56307-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b}  PartitionNumber  DriveLetter Offset                                                    Size Type ---------------  ----------- ------                                                    ---- ---- 2                D           135266304                                           1023.87 GB Basic  PS C:\> New-Partition -DiskNumber 2 -UseMaximumSize -AssignDriveLetter     DiskPath: \\?\mpio#disk&ven_pure&prod_flasharray&rev_8888#1&7f6ac24&0&3632344139333730343530383446333530384246343631343030303131414343#{53f 56307-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b}  PartitionNumber  DriveLetter Offset                                                    Size Type ---------------  ----------- ------                                                    ---- ---- 2                E           135266304                                           1023.87 GB Basic  PS C:\> Get-Volume  DriveLetter FileSystemLabel FileSystem DriveType HealthStatus OperationalStatus SizeRemaining      Size ----------- --------------- ---------- --------- ------------ ----------------- -------------      ---- D                                      Fixed     Healthy      Unknown                     0 B       0 B             System Reserved NTFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                       169 MB    500 MB C                           NTFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                    117.59 GB 149.51 GB E                                      Fixed     Healthy      Unknown                     0 B       0 B

5. Format volumes as NTFS and ReFS.

The below examples set the AllocationUnitSize (cluster size) to 64KB.

PS C:\> Format-Volume -DriveLetter D -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel 'NTFS' -AllocationUnitSize 64KB  DriveLetter FileSystemLabel FileSystem DriveType HealthStatus OperationalStatus SizeRemaining       Size ----------- --------------- ---------- --------- ------------ ----------------- -------------       ---- D           NTFS            NTFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                    1023.7 GB 1023.87 GB  PS C:\> Format-Volume -DriveLetter E -FileSystem ReFS -NewFileSystemLabel 'ReFS' -AllocationUnitSize 64KB  DriveLetter FileSystemLabel FileSystem DriveType HealthStatus OperationalStatus SizeRemaining       Size ----------- --------------- ---------- --------- ------------ ----------------- -------------       ---- E           ReFS            ReFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                   1018.03 GB 1023.81 GB  PS C:\> Get-Volume  DriveLetter FileSystemLabel FileSystem DriveType HealthStatus OperationalStatus SizeRemaining       Size ----------- --------------- ---------- --------- ------------ ----------------- -------------       ---- D           NTFS            NTFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                    1023.7 GB 1023.87 GB             System Reserved NTFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                       169 MB     500 MB C                           NTFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                    117.59 GB  149.51 GB E           ReFS            ReFS       Fixed     Healthy      OK                   1018.03 GB 1023.81 GB

Create Mounts Point(s) (Optional)

This is an optional step and shows how to create Partition Access Paths (mount points) for volumes.

1. Retrieve the partition details in order to see the PartitionNumber which is required for creating a PartitionAccessPath.

PS C:\> Get-Partition     DiskPath: \\?\mpio#disk&ven_pure&prod_flasharray&rev_8888#1&7f6ac24&0&3632344139333730343530383446333530384246343631343030303131414342#{53f 56307-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b}  PartitionNumber  DriveLetter Offset                                                    Size Type ---------------  ----------- ------                                                    ---- ---- 1                            17408                                                   128 MB Reserved 2                D           135266304                                           1023.87 GB Basic     DiskPath: \\?\mpio#disk&ven_pure&prod_flasharray&rev_8888#1&7f6ac24&0&3632344139333730343530383446333530384246343631343030303131414343#{53f 56307-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b}  PartitionNumber  DriveLetter Offset                                                    Size Type ---------------  ----------- ------                                                    ---- ---- 1                            17408                                                   128 MB Reserved 2                E           135266304                                           1023.87 GB Basic     DiskPath: \\?\mpio#disk&ven_pure&prod_flasharray&rev_8888#1&7f6ac24&0&3632344139333730373345393430323235413241353242423030303341453836#{53f 56307-b6bf-11d0-94f2-00a0c91efb8b}  PartitionNumber  DriveLetter Offset                                                    Size Type ---------------  ----------- ------                                                    ---- ---- 1                            1048576                                                 500 MB IFS 2                C           525336576                                            149.51 GB IFS

2. Create directory that will be assigned to the new volume.

PS C:\> New-Item -Path 'C:\FlashArrayMounts\NTFS' -ItemType Directory      Directory: C:\FlashArrayMounts Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name ----                -------------         ------ ---- d-----        5/23/2017   3:50 PM                NTFS  PS C:\> New-Item -Path 'C:\FlashArrayMounts\ReFS' -ItemType Directory      Directory: C:\FlashArrayMounts Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name ----                -------------         ------ ---- d-----        5/23/2017   3:50 PM                ReFS

3. Add the mount points for the individual volumes. Use the PartitionNumber retrieved from Step 1 for the new drives (D and E).

PS C:\> Add-PartitionAccessPath -DiskNumber 1 -AccessPath 'C:\FlashArrayMounts\NTFS' -PartitionNumber 2 PS C:\> Add-PartitionAccessPath -DiskNumber 2 -AccessPath 'C:\FlashArrayMounts\ReFS' -PartitionNumber 2

4. View the new mount points.

PS C:\> cd C:\FlashArrayMounts\ PS C:\FlashArrayMounts> ls     Directory: C:\FlashArrayMounts      Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name ----                -------------         ------ ---- d----l        5/23/2017   3:50 PM                NTFS d----l        5/23/2017   3:50 PM                ReFS

Below is the view of the mount points from Windows Explorer.