http://systemcenterusergroup.net

Feature/functionality Virtual disks enhancements Manageability enhancements Improved optimization to allow disk-level caching Scalability limits Local mount functionality New/updated New Updated Updated Updated Updated Summary Includes a redesigned data persistence layer that is based on a new version of the VHD format called VHDX (VHD 2.0). VHDX has a much larger storage capacity than the older VHD format. iSCSI Target Server also provides data corruption protection during power failures and optimizes structural alignments of dynamic and differencing disks to prevent performance degradation on new, large-sector physical disks. You can still import VHD 1.0 disks by using Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview.

Uses the SMI-S provider in Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview with System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) to manage iSCSI Target Server in a hosted, and/or private cloud. Additionally, new Windows PowerShell cmdlets for iSCSI Target Server enable you to export and import configuration files, and they provide the ability to disable remote management when iSCSI Target Server is deployed in a dedicated Windows-based appliance scenario (for example, Windows Storage Server).

iSCSI Target Server now sets the disk cache bypass flag on a hosting disk I/O, through Force Unit Access (FUA), only when the issuing initiator explicitly requests it. This change can potentially improve performance. Previously, iSCSI Target Server would always set the disk cache bypass flag on all I/O’s. System cache bypass functionality remains unchanged in iSCSI Target Server; for instance, the file system cache on the target server is always bypassed.

Increases the maximum number of sessions per target server to 544, and increases the maximum number of logical units per target server to 256.

Deprecates local mount functionality for snapshots. As a workaround, you can use the local iSCSI initiator on the target server computer (this is also called the loopback initiator) to access the exported snapshots.

What's New for SMB in Windows Server 2012 R2

Feature/functionality New or updated Summary Automatic rebalancing of Scale-Out File Server clients New This functionality improves scalability and manageability for Scale-Out File Servers. SMB client connections are tracked per file share (instead of per server), and clients are then redirected to the cluster node with the best access to the volume used by the file share. This improves efficiency by reducing redirection traffic between file server nodes. Clients are redirected following an initial connection and when cluster storage is reconfigured.

Improved performance of SMB Direct (SMB over RDMA) Updated Improves performance for small I/O workloads by increasing efficiency when hosting workloads with small I/Os (such as an online transaction processing (OLTP) database in a virtual machine). These improvements are evident when using higher speed network interfaces, such as 40 Gbps Ethernet and 56 Gbps InfiniBand.

Improved SMB event messages Updated SMB events now contain more detailed and helpful information. This makes troubleshooting easier and reduces the need to capture network traces or enable more detailed diagnostic event logging. By default, the most relevant event channels are turned on, so you instantly capture all of the essential information. In addition, some events now include details on configuration and troubleshooting solutions.

VHDX files as shared storage for guest clustering New Simplifies the creation of guest clusters by using shared VHDX files for shared storage inside the virtual machines. You can use this feature with VHDX files that are stored in Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) or SMB Scale-Out file shares.

What's New for SMB in Windows Server 2012 R2

Feature/functionality New or updated Summary Hyper-V Live Migration over SMB New Enables you to perform a live migration of virtual machines by using SMB 3.0 as a transport. This allows you to take advantage of key SMB features, such as SMB Direct and SMB Multichannel, by providing high speed migration with low CPU utilization.

Improved SMB bandwidth management New Enables you to configure SMB bandwidth limits to control different SMB traffic types. There are three SMB traffic types: default, live migration, and virtual machine.

Support for multiple SMB instances on a Scale-Out File Server New Provides an additional instance on each cluster node in Scale-Out File Servers specifically for CSV traffic. A default instance can handle incoming traffic from SMB clients that are accessing regular file shares, while another instance only handles inter-node CSV traffic. This feature improves scalability and reliability of traffic between CSV nodes.

SMB 1.0 is now an optional feature Updated The SMB 1.0 features, including the legacy computer browser service and Remote Administration Protocol (RAP), are now separate and can be eliminated. These features are still enabled by default, but if you have no older SMB clients, such as Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, you can remove the SMB 1.0 features to increase security and potentially reduce patching.

What's New in Active Directory in Windows Server 2012 R2 In Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview, Active Directory has been enhanced with the following value propositions to allow IT risk management while also enabling IT to empower their users to be productive from a variety of devices:

• IT administrators can allow devices to be associated with the company’s Active Directory and use this association as a seamless second factor authentication.

• • Single sign-on (SSO) from devices that are associated with the company’s Active Directory Enable users to connect to applications and services from anywhere with Web Application Proxy • Manage the risk of users working from anywhere, accessing protected data from their devices, with Multi factor Access Control and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

What's New in DFS Replication in Windows Server 2012 R2

Feature/functionality New or updated? Description Windows PowerShell module for DFS Replication New Provides Windows PowerShell cmdlets for performing the majority of administration tasks for DFS Replication, as well as new functionality.

DFS Replication Windows Management Infrastructure provider Database cloning for initial sync Database corruption recovery Cross-file RDC disable File staging tuning Preserved file restoration Unexpected shutdown database recovery improvements Membership disabling improvements New New New New New New Updated Updated Provides the latest Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI)-based methods to manage DFS Replication.

Provides support for bypassing initial replication when creating new replicated folders, replacing servers, or recovering from a disaster.

Provides support for rebuilding corrupt databases without unexpected data loss caused by non-authoritative initial sync.

Provides the option to disable cross-file remote differential compression (RDC) between servers.

Provides the option to configure variable file staging sizes on individual servers.

Provides the capability to restore files from the ConflictAndDeleted and PreExisting folders.

Enables automatic recovery after a loss of power or an unexpected stopping of the DFS Replication service.

Stops DFS Replication private folder cleanup when disabling a server’s membership in a replicated folder.

SkyDrive SkyDrive Pro Work Folders Folder Redirection / Client-Side Caching Data location

       

Public cloud SharePoint / Office 365 File server File server

Device management policy File encryption / selective wipe Require password / device lock Limit access to registered devices ) ADFS ( https://workfolders.contoso.com

Authentication Kerberos (Windows Auth) Digest (Windows Auth) ADFS (OAuth) Data management Quotas File screens Reporting Classification RMS protection

Feature or functionality

Shared virtual hard disk Resize virtual hard disk Storage Quality of Service Live migrations Virtual machine generation Integration services Export Failover Clustering and Hyper-V Enhanced session mode Hyper-V Replica Linux support Management Automatic Virtual Machine Activation New Updated New Updated New Updated Updated Updated New Updated Updated Updated New

New or updated

Feature or functionality

Shared virtual hard disk Resize virtual hard disk Storage Quality of Service Live migrations Virtual machine generation

New or updated

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview enables clustering virtual machines by using shared virtual hard disk (VHDX) files.

Hyper-V storage has been updated to support resizing virtual hard disks while the virtual machine is running.

Storage QoS enables you to manage storage throughput for virtual hard disks that are accessed by your virtual machines Hyper-V live migration has been updated to allow the administrator to select the optimal performance options when moving virtual machines to a different server.

Virtual machine generation determines the virtual hardware and functionality that is presented to the virtual machine: • Secure Boot (enabled by default) • Boot from a SCSI virtual hard disk • • • Boot from a SCSI virtual DVD PXE boot by using a standard network adapter UEFI firmware support

Can “

Hard Disk Drives Cold data

Microsoft ebook on Windows Server 2012 R2 http://aka.ms/IntroWinServ2012R2Preview/PDFebook Microsoft white paper on Windows Server 2012 http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/2/1/021BE527-A882-41E6-A83B 8072BF58721E/Windows_Server_2012_R2_Overview_White_Paper.pdf Windows Server 2012 R2 resources http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/windows-server-2012-r2.aspx

Windows Server 2012 R2 on TechNet http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh801901.aspx

Download and evaluate Windows Server 2012 R2 http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/evaluate/trial-software.aspx Blogs http://blogs.technet.com/server-cloud - Channel9 – 8 Part Video Series with Rick Claus and Corey Hynes http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/NewInWS2012R2