If you’re running Windows Server 2012 R2 or later, there’s a way to create virtual storage drives on your machine. Microsoft Storage Spaces is a software-defined storage solution that lets you create these drives once you’ve combined two or more physical drives into a single storage pool. You’ll be able to expand your storage easily and even protect your data from drive failure.
How Does It Work?
You can configure your virtual drives using RAID array configurations. For example, Mirror Spaces use two drives to mirror data to protect against drive failure. Simple Spaces, on the other hand, use two drives for better performance (RAID 0). If you want both protection and speed, Parity Spaces are available that use three drives (RAID 3) for both speed and redundancy.
Why Choose Microsoft Storage Spaces?
Instead of purchasing a new device just to get more storage, Microsoft Storage Spaces lets you get more mileage out of the hardware you already have. It’s an efficient way to manage your data, providing scalability and flexibility. Also, if a drive in your storage pool fails, you won’t lose your data because of the redundancy offered by the different RAID configurations.
How to Get Started?
To use Microsoft Storage Spaces, you’ll need to have Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer installed on your machine. Once you have two or more physical drives installed, select them and create a storage pool. You can then create one or more virtual drives. The software is straightforward to set up, and you’ll find more detailed instructions on Microsoft’s official website.
FAQs
Can I use Microsoft Storage Spaces on Windows 10?
Yes, you can use Microsoft Storage Spaces on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise.
What happens if one drive in my storage pool fails?
If you have Mirror Spaces or Parity Spaces configurations, your data will still be available even if one drive fails. For Simple Spaces, however, you’ll lose your data if one drive fails.
Is Microsoft Storage Spaces a good alternative to RAID?
Yes, Microsoft Storage Spaces is a reliable alternative to hardware RAID. It’s less expensive and can be set up quickly using the hardware you already have.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, efficient, and scalable way to upgrade your storage solution, Microsoft Storage Spaces is a great option. It’s easy to set up and use, and you’ll have more control over how your data is stored than if you were to purchase an off-the-shelf storage device.
