Storage Redirection

Storage Redirection” in the context of remote systems installations refers to the process of redirecting the storage of a device to a different location, typically for the purpose of installation or maintenance. This can be particularly useful in environments where direct access to the storage media is not possible or practical.

Practical Use Cases:

  1. Remote Installation of Operating Systems: Administrators can redirect a server’s boot process to a remote image file for the installation of an operating system without the need for physical media.
  2. Data Migration: During server upgrades or migrations, storage redirection can facilitate the transfer of data to new hardware by temporarily redirecting storage paths.
  3. Backup and Recovery: In disaster recovery scenarios, storage redirection can be used to redirect data streams to backup servers or storage devices.
  4. Maintenance Operations: For maintenance tasks that require the server to be booted from an alternate source, such as firmware updates or diagnostics, storage redirection allows these operations without physical intervention.

How It’s Done on Different Servers:

  • VMware Horizon: Utilizes Storage Drive Redirection (SDR) to improve I/O performance by redirecting local storage drives to be available within a virtual machine.
  • Oracle Servers: Offers commands and options for storage redirection, such as starting and stopping the redirection service, and specifying the type of storage media being redirected.
  • Linux Systems: Uses standard I/O streams and file descriptors for redirection, allowing administrators to redirect inputs and outputs to and from files, devices, and network locations.

The implementation details can vary based on the server’s operating system and the tools available. Typically, it involves configuring the server’s firmware or operating system settings to redirect the storage to a network location or a remote file.

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