Connecting Virtual Disks with Windows Storage

To connect a virtual disk using the Windows Storage subsystem, which involves interacting with underlying storage services, you primarily use the Connect-VirtualDisk cmdlet.

Virtual disks, such as those managed by Storage Spaces or accessed via iSCSI, need to be in a connected state to be available for use on a computer. Windows provides tools within its Storage subsystem to manage these connections.

The Connect-VirtualDisk Cmdlet

Based on the provided reference, the core method for bringing a disconnected virtual disk online is through PowerShell:

The Connect-VirtualDisk cmdlet connects a disconnected virtual disk to the specified computer when using the Windows Storage subsystem.

This cmdlet is designed to change the state of a virtual disk from disconnected to connected, making it accessible to the operating system and applications.

Connecting Locally vs. Remotely

The Connect-VirtualDisk cmdlet can be used to connect a virtual disk on the local computer or a remote computer:

• Local Connection: If the virtual disk is local to the computer you are running PowerShell on, you simply identify the disk and run the cmdlet.
• Remote Connection: To connect a virtual disk to a remote computer, from a management node in a subsystem that is registered on the management node, specify the StorageNodeName parameter. This allows you to manage virtual disks on other machines within your network environment, provided the necessary configuration and permissions are in place.

How to Use Connect-VirtualDisk

You will typically use PowerShell to execute this command. Here are the basic steps:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator: This ensures you have the necessary permissions to manage storage devices.
2. Identify the Virtual Disk: You need to know which virtual disk you want to connect. You can often find this information using cmdlets like Get-VirtualDisk. You might identify it by its FriendlyName or other properties.
3. Execute the Connect-VirtualDisk Cmdlet: Pipe the identified virtual disk object to the Connect-VirtualDisk cmdlet.

Examples

Here are some basic examples of how you might use the cmdlet:

• Connecting a local virtual disk by name:

  Get-VirtualDisk -FriendlyName "MyDataVolume" | Connect-VirtualDisk

• Connecting a virtual disk on a remote computer:

  Get-VirtualDisk -FriendlyName "ArchiveDisk" -StorageNodeName "RemoteServer01" | Connect-VirtualDisk

  In the remote example, "RemoteServer01" is the name of the computer where the virtual disk resides.

Key Considerations

• Disk State: The Connect-VirtualDisk cmdlet is specifically for disks that are in a disconnected state. If the disk is already connected, the cmdlet may not be necessary or might report that the disk is already online.
• Storage Subsystem: This cmdlet operates within the context of the Windows Storage subsystem. The virtual disk must be recognized and managed by this subsystem (e.g., part of a Storage Pool, or a recognized iSCSI target disk).
• Permissions: You must have administrative privileges on the target computer (local or remote) to connect a virtual disk.

Parameter	Description
StorageNodeName	Specifies the name of the storage node (computer) where the virtual disk is located, for remote connections.

By using the Connect-VirtualDisk cmdlet in PowerShell, you can effectively change the status of a disconnected virtual disk, making it available for use via the relevant Windows storage services.