Windows Server Storage Spaces Direct (S2D)
Storage Spaces Direct turns local NVMe and SSD in Windows Server nodes into a shared, resilient pool for Hyper-V. It removes the SAN from small clusters and is the foundation of Azure Stack HCI (now Azure Local).
It is unforgiving about hardware. Validated nodes, RDMA-capable NICs and matched drives are the difference between a fast cluster and one that eats weekends.
At a glance
| Platforms | Windows Server 2019/2022/2025 Datacenter, Azure Local |
|---|---|
| Validated nodes | Dell AX-650/AX-750/AX-760, Lenovo ThinkAgile MX, Supermicro certified |
| Networking | 25 GbE or faster with RDMA (RoCE or iWARP) for storage traffic |
| Resiliency | Two-way and three-way mirror, mirror-accelerated parity |
What RackLedge does
- Cluster design and hardware validation
- Network configuration: SET switches, RDMA, DCB/PFC
- Cluster-Aware Updating and health monitoring
- Repair of degraded pools and node replacement
How we work
Storage projects begin with an honest capacity and performance baseline: how much data, how fast it grows, what IOPS and latency the applications actually need. That baseline decides between an entry SAN, a unified array, a NAS or a hyper-converged design, and it keeps vendors from selling you the biggest box.
We build the network under the storage as carefully as the storage itself: isolated iSCSI paths or dual FC fabrics, multipathing on every host and a failover test before anything goes live. Backups get an immutable copy and a restore test on a schedule.
Migrations are run as projects with a written cutover plan, a rollback path and a validation checklist. Old arrays are decommissioned with certified data destruction and the documentation is handed over.
Related services
More on san and nas storage
Frequently asked questions
Two-node or three-node?
Two nodes with a cloud or file share witness works for small sites. Three nodes give you three-way mirror and tolerate a node failure during maintenance.
Need a hand with this?
Tell us what you are running and what is slowing you down. You get a straight assessment and a plan, with no obligation. Support desk is staffed 24/7.