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Is it possible to convert thick provisioned to thin provisioned in windows server 2012 R2 Storage Spaces without data loss.

Question

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 4:18 AM

Sir,

I am shifting File server data from FS1 server (Server 2012R2 Std) to FS4 (Server 2016 Std).

In FS1 Server Storage Configuration are as below:

Hard Disk Used: 4TB- 2 Nos. HDD + 1TB-2 Nos. SSD

Provisioning-Fixed

Layout-Mirror

Capacity-4.57 TB

Allocated-4.57 TB

Storage Tiers-Enabled

In FS4 Server Storage Configuration are as below:

Hard Disk Used: 1 TB-6 Nos. SSD

Provisioning-Thin

Layout-Mirror

Capacity-3.5 TB

Allocated-2.71 TB

Storage Tiers-Disable

In FS1, i have created **D:\Shares\UsersProfile **which saved all thin client users Profile using Folder redirection Policy. but within few months our Storage spaces D drive speed is become very slow which hits its performance. Now Storage Spaces speed is only 50-60 MBps. It may be that i am using the Storage Tiers and HDD.

But in FS4 i am using only SSD and storage space D drive speed is more than 395 MBps.

Now i want to Use only SSD in FS1 Server and remove HDD. 

But in FS1 Server, I am using the Thick Provisioning and Storage Tiers. 

So, i am searching the way to convert the Thick Provisioning to Thin and disable storage Tiers to retires the HDD and finally remove it.

All replies (6)

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 6:55 AM ✅Answered | 1 vote

Hi,

Maybe you could refer the article below:

Remove-StorageTier
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn454977.aspx

Please backup you data before you do the operation.

Best Regards,

Mary

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Thursday, February 2, 2017 11:39 AM ✅Answered

After a lot of search on internet & Microsoft sites,  finally i understand that :

1-Storage Tier can be removed.

2-Thick to thin Provisioning Conversion is not possible. 

But Can same thing is possible to test (Storage Tier remove) on Microsoft virtual LAB? otherwise we need to create a Physical Lab for it. 


Tuesday, January 17, 2017 6:22 AM

Hi,

Based on my knowledge, going from thick to thin may be different with thin to thick. And I'm afraid we couldn't achieve with build-in feature, because reducing a disk’s size tends to be a more complex operation than simply adding more disk space.

And in addition, we cannot remove storage tiers that are used by virtual disks.

Best Regards,

Mary

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If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].


Tuesday, January 17, 2017 6:43 AM

Hi,

Based on my knowledge, going from thick to thin may be different with thin to thick. And I'm afraid we couldn't achieve with build-in feature, because reducing a disk’s size tends to be a more complex operation than simply adding more disk space.

And in addition, we cannot remove storage tiers that are used by virtual disks.

Best Regards,

Mary

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Sir, On FS1 Now i have reduced my data (apart from UserProfile) which is now 700 GB. So, anyway i want to remove HDD from Storage Pool otherwise we need to go to rebuilt New Storage Pool and change Folder redirection Shared Folder Path.


Wednesday, January 18, 2017 2:16 PM

Hi,

Maybe you could refer the article below:

Remove-StorageTier
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn454977.aspx

Please backup you data before you do the operation.

Best Regards,

Mary

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Thanks sir, reg to Remove-StorageTier i will test it on Lab and then check on server after backup.


Friday, February 3, 2017 6:17 AM

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback.

You may consider to build a server 2016 VM to do the test.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/clustering/2015/05/27/testing-storage-spaces-direct-using-windows-server-2016-virtual-machines/

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn454977.aspx
Best Regards,

Mary

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].