In a Windows 2012 Hyper-V environment, it is possible, maybe desirable, to have a local file or data server of sorts for multiple shares. Even if an organization is in the cloud, there may be very good reasons to have some data stored locally [i.e. in an office], or maybe replicated partially etc.<\/p>\n
One idea is to have a host Hyper-V machine allocate a large enough data RAID chunk for data usage; because Hyper-V servers themselves cannot actually be used for work [they HOST virtual machines for that purpose after all] this space will then need to be overseen by or connected to one of the virtual machines.<\/p>\n
Here are the steps to create a Virtual Machine<\/span> [VM] share:<\/p>\n Create a file server disk partition in Windows Server 2012 – a Virtual Machine will handle file server services; storage will be a VHDX drive passed through to a VM via the Host.<\/p>\n On the Host:<\/p>\n Go to Hyper-V Manager – right-click the host machine, create a new hard disk: go to the Virtual Hard Disk Wizard, select VHDX, a more robust option.<\/p>\n For better performance, choose “Fixed size”.<\/p>\n Give the disk a name, then a location = browse, out to the Partition [Drive D for me]: I used all the space of a drive; then created a Hard Disk Image file, named it, then saw the drive turn red within Windows Explorer. A little space remains for OS usage\/overhead. The red is good – because all that space is now reserved for the VHDX.<\/p>\n Now connect the new disk to the Virtual Machine File or Data Server:<\/p>\n What if the Disk is not showing in Explorer? This means it needs to be configured.<\/p>\n If this VM server is in use, this needs to be scheduled. Shut down the VM, then once the VM server is off, go back in the Hyper-V Host, locating the server being hosted.<\/p>\n Right-click the file server virtual machine, go to “SCSI controller” under the Hardware section: browse out to the correct path to locate the Physical hard disk and add it as needed!<\/p>\n In the VM now, go to File and Storage Services in Server Manager:\u00a0 should see the disk, right- click it, do the New Volume Wizard, referencing the aforementioned disk [chose NTFS, because I will use Data Deduplication]<\/p>\n You now see it is online within Volume Disks , with allotted space. In fact, it should show in Explorer now, ready for use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a Windows 2012 Hyper-V environment, it is possible, maybe desirable, to have a local file or data server of sorts for multiple shares. Even if an organization is in the cloud, there may be very good reasons to have some data stored locally [i.e. in an office], or maybe replicated partially etc. One idea … <\/p>\n