Dynamic Disk in Windows Server 2003

Guy's Litmus Test: Do you understand Dynamic Disk?

 

Guy recommends:
Free Solarwinds
VM Console

 A free desktop tool that monitors, or restarts, your VMware virtual machines.  Download your free VM Console

---

 

Best Practice (Litmus Test)

Professionals evaluate the pros and cons before upgrading to Dynamic Disk

Amateurs in their ignorance, retain basic disk

Dynamic Disks

Professionals take the trouble to investigate the features of 'Dynamic Disk'.  One advantage of Dynamic Disk is that you can extend data partitions.  How is this useful?  Take a case where you need 3 partitions on a disk, but it is not clear which partition will grow the fastest.  Assign 1/4 of the space to each partition leaving 1/4 available to extend which ever partition gets full first.

Dynamic disk has the advantages of supporting an unlimited number of volumes; this overcomes the limitation of only 4 primary partitions and 1 logical drive.  You may also import dynamic disks from other computers, this is because the file information is held on the disk itself not in the registry.  This also explains why you need 1 MB of unallocated space to convert from basic to dynamic disk; the space is needed to create the disk information database.

To convert to Dynamic Disk, go to Disk Management, right click the Disk and select : Upgrade to Dynamic Disk. (Call for the built in Help if you cannot find Disk Management)

Reasons not to upgrade to Dynamic Disk

• Dynamic disk may not work with Cluster Service.
• Take care when converting disks that have Shadow copy enabled.
• You cannot revert to basic disk once you have converted to dynamic disk.
• You cannot boot into other operating systems on dual boot machines.
• You cannot install or Upgrade to Windows Server 2003.
• For some reason dynamic disk is not supported on laptop.
• Dynamic disk is not compatible with 'Ghosting' client disks.

This last point means that you may leave XP professional with the default basic disk.  I have not found a convenient switch to automatically upgrade to dynamic disk, moreover the advantages of dynamic disk are not so important on a workstation.

More Disk Configuration Utilities

Defrag: Professionals regularly defragment their disks for faster file access.

Diskpart: Professionals employ Diskpart for command line configuration.

Guy's Challenge - Download this free device backup utility

(CatTools)

CatTools is a free program for backing up configuration settings on hardware devices.  Here is Guy's challenge.  If you download CatTools, then it will not only take care of backups, but also it will show you something new about the hardware on you network. I could give you a money back guarantee - but CatTools is already free!  Thus, I just make a techie to techie challenge, you will learn more about your network if you:

Download your free configuration backup tools

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Admin

Train Signal have an excellent Windows Server 2008 course.  You get over 70 hrs instruction with Ed Liberman and Ben "Coach" Culbertson.  Try their step-by-step videos and master Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Admin.

The package includes the Transcender exams, which are the key to gaining the coverted Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification.  However, the course also builds practical experience so that you can manage your network effectively once you complete the course.

Watch a Demo of Train Signal's MCITP course

 *

Custom Search	Guy Recommends: SolarWinds Free IP SLA Monitor SolarWinds IP SLA Monitor offers so much more than just uncovering network bottlenecks, the real joy is learning about router traffic. To find out what's happening on the network between your computers and their routers, download your free copy of the of IP SLA Monitor.
Home Copyright © 1999-2012 Computer Performance LTD All rights reserved Please report a broken link, or an error.