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Maintaining Windows Server 2008 File Services. Lesson 11. Skills Matrix. Shadow Copies of Shared Folders. A Windows Server 2008 mechanism that automatically retains copies of files on a server volume in multiple versions from specific points in time.
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Shadow Copies of Shared Folders • A Windows Server 2008 mechanism that automatically retains copies of files on a server volume in multiple versions from specific points in time. • When users accidentally overwrite or delete files, they can access the shadow copies to restore earlier versions. • This feature is designed to prevent administrators from having to load backup media to restore individual files for users. • Shadow Copies is a file-based fault tolerance mechanism that does not provide protection against disk failures, but it does protect against accidental file deletions that inconvenience users and administrators on a regular basis.
Volume Shadow Copies Service (VSS) • Shadow Copies of Shared Folders uses the Volume Shadow Copies Service (VSS). • Shadow Copies of Shared Folders functionality is enabled at the volume level, which means that it will be enabled or disabled for all shared folders on the C:\ drive, the D:\ drive, etc. • Shadow Copies of Shared Folders works by periodically taking a snapshot of the contents of all shared folders on a particular volume, and storing those snapshots to allow users and administrators to refer back to them later for any of the purposes described above. • Shadow copies are read-only; you cannot modify the contents of a shadow copy.
Client Software • The client software required to use Shadow Copies of Shared Folders is built into Windows XP Service Pack 2 and later, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008; the necessary software for previous operating systems can be downloaded from the Microsoft Web site.
Disk Quotas • In Windows Server 2008, a disk quota is simply a limit that is placed on the disk space a user is permitted to consume in a particular volume or folder. • Quotas are based on the notion of file ownership. Windows automatically makes a user the owner of all files that he or she creates on a server volume. • The quota system tracks all of the files owned by each user and adds their sizes. When the total size of a given user’s files reaches the quota specified by the server administrator, the system takes action, also specified by the administrator.
File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) Role • Provides tools that enable file server administrators to monitor and regulate their server storage, by performing the following tasks: • Establish quotas that limit the amount of storage space allotted to each user. • Create screens that prevent users from storing specific types of files on server drives. • Create templates that simplify the process of applying quotas and screens. • Automatically send e-mail messages to users and/or administrators when quotas are exceeded or nearly exceeded. • Generate reports providing details of users’ storage activities.
Hard and Soft Quota • Using FSRM, the actions the system takes when a user approaches or reaches a quota are highly configurable. • A hard quota prohibits users from consuming any disk space beyond the allotted amount. • A soft quota allows the user storage space beyond the allotted amount and just sends an e-mail notification to the user and/or administrator. • Administrators can also specify the thresholds, which dictate the percentage of available disk space at which the system should send notifications, and configure the quota server to generate event log entries and reports in response to quota thresholds.
Quota Templates • For enterprise networks, creating quota templates is the recommended method for managing quota assignments on a large scale. • A quota template is a collection of settings that defines a number of configuration items for disk quotas; because it is a template, this collection of settings can be used to create numerous quota assignments, all containing consistent configuration settings.
Generating Storage Reports • Reporting is one of the keys to efficient storage management. • File Server Resource Manager is capable of generating a variety of reports that enable administrators to examine the state of their file server volumes and identify transgressors or company storage policies.
Backing Up Active Directory • One of the most essential duties of an administrator is ensuring that data and operating system information is backed up in case of a failure. • Procedures that include the frequency of backups in addition to the type of information that needs to be backed up should be planned and implemented in every organization.
Windows Server Backup • Windows Server 2008 introduces a new technology for performing backups, called Windows Server Backup. • Similar to Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, Windows Server Backup uses the Volume Shadow Copies Service (VSS) to perform snapshots of the items being protected by backup.
Windows Server Backups • Unlike previous versions of Windows, the new Windows Server Backup tool does not allow you to back up individual files or directories. • You must back up the entire volume that hosts the files that you want to protect. • This means that you must configure a backup destination that is at least as large as the volume or volumes that you wish to back up.
Windows Server Backups • Windows Server 2008 supports two types of backup: • Manual backup - This backup can be initiated by using Server Backup or the Wbadmin.exe command-line tool when a backup is needed. • You must be a member of the Administrators group or the Backup Operators group to launch a manual backup. • Scheduled backup - Members of the local Administrators group can schedule backups using the Windows Server Backup utility or the Wbadmin.exe command-line tool. • Scheduled backups will reformat the target drive that hosts the backup files, and thus can be performed only on a local physical drive that does not host any critical volumes.
Restoring from Backups • Whether you need to restore an individual file or folder that a user has inadvertently deleted, or if you need to restore all of the data stored on an entire volume due to a hardware failure on a server, restores of Windows Server 2008 can be performed using the Windows Server Backup MMC snap-in, as well as the wbadmin command-line utility.
Restoring from Backups • You can also perform a bare-metal restore of a server that has experienced a catastrophic hardware failure by using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), a special boot mode that provides a centralized platform for operating system recovery. • Unlike traditional restores in which data files are restored onto an existing operating system, a bare-metal restore allows you to restore operating system and data files onto a server that does not have a pre-existing operating system.
Summary • Shadow Copies of Shared Folders is based on the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and allows users to access previous versions of files in the event that they are accidentally deleted or overwritten. • Shadow Copies of Shared Folders is enabled at a volume level and affects all shared folders on a particular volume.
Summary • The Restore Previous Versions functionality allows users to access and restore their own Shared Copies of Shared Folders snapshots without requiring administrative intervention. • A disk quota is a limit on the disk space a user is permitted to consume in a particular volume or folder.
Summary • Disk Quotas are based on file ownership. The quota system tracks all of the files owned by each user and adds their sizes. • When the total size of a given user’s files reaches the quota specified by the server administrator, the system takes action. • Windows Server 2008 introduces the Windows Server Backup feature, which uses VSS to back up servers at the volume level.
