In this article, I will explain the different types of storage role services available in Windows Server 2016 and the purpose of them. Let me first show you all the available storage role services in server manager. To see storage role services on your Windows server 2016 please follow the below steps.
Step 1
Open Server Manager —> Click on Add Roles and Services.
![Server]()
Image: Server Manager
Step 2
Select the Installation Type —> Click Next
![Server]()
Image: Installation Type
Step 3
Select the Server from Server Pool —> Click Next
![Server]()
Image: Server Selection
Step 4
If you expand File and Storage Services —> then expand , File and iSCSI Services, you’ll see different storage role services.
![Server]()
Image: File and Storage Services
As you can see in the above screenshot, after you expand File and iSCSI Services , you’ll find various storage role series. There are a total of 11 storage role services, and File Server is one of them which was already installed by default on all of the windows server editions. It allows you to create simple file shares any time you want, without having to add any additional services.
- BranchCache for Network Files
BrachCache for Network Files is a WAN (Wide Area Network ) bandwidth optimization technology that allows us to cache content by users in remotely connected offices, that way they can have faster access to these files without needing to go across a VPN to get the files off of the server in the home office anytime they want to use them.
- Data Deduplication
Data Reduplication saves disk space by storing a single copy of identical data on the volume.
- DFS Namespaces
DFS Namespace enables you to group shared folders located on the different servers into one or more logically structured namespaces. Each namespace appears to users as a single shared folder with a series of subfolders. However, the underlying structure of the namespace can consist of numerous shared folders located on different servers and in multiple sites.
- DFS Replication
DFS Replication is a multicaster replication engine that enables you to synchronize folders on multiple servers across local or wide area network (WAN) network connections. It uses the Remote Differential Compression (RDC) protocol to update only the portions of files that have changes since the last replication, DFS Replication can be used in conjunction with DFS Namespaces or by itself.
- File Server Resource Manager
File Server Resource Manager helps you manage and understand the files and folders on a file server by scheduling file management tasks and storage reports, classifying files and folders , configuring folder quotas , and defining file screening policies.
- File Server VSS Agent Service
File Server VSS Agent Service enables you to perform volume shadow copies of application that store data files on the file server.
- iSCSI Target Server
iSCSI Target Server provides service management tools for iSCSI targets. The iSCSI Target Server allows us to use the storage from one server as the storage that’s available to another server.
- iSCSI Target Storage Provider ( VDS and VSS )
iSCSI Target Storage Provider enables applications on a server that are connected to an iSCSI target to perform volume shadow copies of data on iSCSI virtual disks. It also enables you to manage iSCSI virtual disk by using older applications that require a Virtual Disk Service (VDS) hardware provider, such as the Diskraid command.
- Server for NFS
Server for NFS enables your computer to share files with UNIX-based computers and other computers that use the network file system (NFS) protocol.
- Work Folders
Work Folders provides a way to use work files from a variety of computers including work and personal decides. You can use Work Folders to host user files and keep them synchronized - whether users access their files from inside the network or from across the internet.
I will show you how to install many of these storage services in my future articles.