Phased approach- Flexible use of storage devices

Last published : Aug 05, 2026
In this example configuration, the steps are organized in phases:
  • Preparing to consolidate
  • Migrating the data to the large server
  • Migrating data from the direct-attached storage to the storage array
  • Adding the storage array
  • Completing the consolidation process by migrating the storage from remaining servers
After the second phase in this example, all the direct-attached storage units have been detached from the small servers and are a storage pool on a SAN that is under the control of the new, large Windows Server system that is running SFW. You could stop at this point and still have many benefits from the storage that is now under SFW's management. If circumstances do not permit the purchase of a large storage array, you can simply use the existing direct-attached storage. Another alternative is to use both a storage array and some of the direct-attached storage. In this configuration and in Server Consolidation Configuration 2, using both a storage array and some of the direct-attached storage is shown.
The table below outlines the high-level objectives for implementing the configuration and the tasks for each objective:
Related information

Table: Tasks for server consolidation for many to one configuration

Objectives Tasks
See Preparing to consolidate . - Make sure the data is backed up from the smaller servers before proceeding.
- Set up the new large server and install the operating system and the InfoScale product. Connect it to the switch.
- Prepare the data from each smaller server for consolidation by upgrading the server's disks to dynamic disk groups, using either Disk Management or a version of Volume Manager for Windows.
- Power down all the smaller servers and detach the storage.
See Migrating the data to the large server . - Reattach the direct-attached storage to the switch.
- From the large server, import the disk groups from the direct-attached storage. The direct-attached storage is now attached to the SAN and is under the management of the large server that is running SFW. You could stop at this point if a large storage array is not available.
See Adding the storage array . - If you want to use a large storage array, set up the hardware array and connect it to the switch.
- Migrate the data to the large storage array.
See Completing the consolidation process . - Migrate the data from the remaining servers.