Create NWS Storage Space (CRTNWSSTG)

The Create Network Server Storage Space (CRTNWSSTG) command creates a storage space used by a network server. The network storage space must be linked to a network server description before it can be used. For more information see the Add Network Server Storage Link (ADDNWSSTGL) command.

Parameters

Network server storage space (NWSSTG)

Specify the name of the network server storage space to be created.

Size (NWSSIZE)

Specifies the size in megabytes of the network server storage space to be created.

*CALC

If the FROMNWSSTG parameter is *NONE, then the size calculated is based on the FORMAT type specified:

• *NTFS or *REFS will set the storage space size to 2 MB.
• *FAT or *OPEN will set the storage space size to 1 MB.
• *FAT32 will set the storage space size to 512 MB.

If a valid network server storage space name has been specified in the FROMNWSSTG parameter, the new storage space will be created with the same size as the storage space specified in the FROMNWSSTG parameter.

1-1024000

Specify the size for the network server storage space, in megabytes.

• The range for FORMAT types *NTFS and *REFS is from 2 to 1024000 megabytes.
• The range for FORMAT types *FAT, *FAT32, and *OPEN is from 1 to 1024000 megabytes.
• The range for FORMAT(*NTFSQR) is from 500 to 1024000 megabytes.

When a FROMNWSSTG network server storage space is specified, the NWSSIZE parameter must be set equal to or greater than the size of the network server storage space specified in the FROMNWSSTG parameter.

From storage space (FROMNWSSTG)

Specifies the name of an existing network server storage space that will be copied to the new network server storage space.

*NONE

A copy operation from an existing network server storage space will not be performed.

'name'

An existing network server storage space name used to copy to the new network server storage space being created.

Format (FORMAT)

When a storage space is initially created, it is not formatted by the system. The storage space will need to be linked to a network server description and formatted by the hosted operating system.

*NTFS

This storage space format offers the greatest benefit for use by integrated servers using the Master Boot Record (MBR) partitioning scheme used by network server descriptions with a connection type of *WINDOWSNT, *IXSVR or *ISCSI.

The storage space should be formatted using Windows NT File System when linked to Windows network server descriptions.

*OPEN

The storage space should be formatted with an open source file system.

This storage space format offers the greatest benefit for use by integrated servers used by network server descriptions with a connection type of *GUEST. Refer to specific product documentation for additional guidelines.

*REFS

The storage space should be formatted using the Resilient File System.

*FAT32

The storage space should be formatted using the 32-bit File Allocation Table file system.

*FAT

The storage space should be formatted using the File Allocation Table file system.

Auxiliary storage pool ID (ASP)

Specifies the auxiliary storage pool (ASP) that will contain the new network server storage space.

Note: You cannot specify a value for both the ASP and ASPDEV parameters.

1

The network server storage space is created in the system auxiliary pool ASP 1.

ASP-number

The network server storage space is created in user auxiliary storage pool 2-32 or in independent auxiliary storage pools 33-255.

ASP device (ASPDEV)

Specifies the name of the auxiliary storage pool (ASP) device where storage is allocated for the network server storage space.

Note: The ASP must have been activated (by varying on the ASP device) and have a status of 'Available'.

Note: You cannot specify a value for both the ASP and ASPDEV parameters.

ASP-device-name

The device name of the ASP to use for the network server storage space.

Text 'description' (TEXT)

Specifies text describing the storage space.

*BLANK

Text is not specified.

'description'

Specify no more than 50 characters of text, enclosed in apostrophes.

Data offset (OFFSET)

Specifies the data offset sector alignment to use by the system to align the underlying network server storage space with the hosting system pages.

Note: This is an advanced configuration function. Incorrectly setting this parameter may adversely affect actual virtual disk performance.

Network server storage space virtual disk access may realize a performance improvement by specifying a data offset value other than the default value. Many factors influence the actual performance impact. Some factors affecting network server storage space performance include the following:

• Network server operating system version and distribution.
• Disk partitioning method
• File system used
• Application and OS data access patterns

*FORMAT

The data offset sector alignment used will be determined by the network server storage space format type and sector size selected.

When a format type of *OPEN is specified, the first sector of the disk image is aligned with the hosting system page by default. This is equivalent to specifying OFFSET(*ALIGNLGLDSK). Refer to the documentation for the specific network server type to determine if this is the appropriate data offset type to be used.

When a sector size (SCTSIZ parameter) of 4096 bytes per sector is specified, the data offset will be equivalent to specifying OFFSET(*ALIGNLGLDSK) regardless of which format was specified on the FORMAT parameter.

For all other format types, the default is to page align the first logical partition.

When a format type of *NTFS, *FAT, *FAT32 or *REFS is specified, the first sector of the logical partition is aligned with the hosting system page by default. This is equivalent to specifying OFFSET(*ALIGNLGLPTN). Secondary partitions may also be aligned when partition sizes are a multiple listed below based on the total size of the network server storage space.

• For storage spaces that are 1024 MB or less, the partition should be a multiple of 1 MB.
• For storage spaces that are 1025 MB to 511000 MB, the partition should be a multiple of 63 MB.
• For storage spaces that are 511000 MB or greater, the partition should be a multiple of 252 MB.

*NONE

No data offset sector alignment will be used.

*ALIGNLGLPTN

The data offset sector alignment used will align the first logical partition sector. This is the value used by default for when the format type is *NTFS, *FAT, *FAT32 or *REFS. This is appropriate for most PC Server network server description types (*WINDOWSNT, *IXSVR, *ISCSI) which utilize a PC BIOS master boot record to partition disks.

*ALIGNLGLDSK

The data offset sector alignment used will align the first logical disk sector. This is the value used by default for when the format type is *OPEN. This is appropriate for most *GUEST and some network server types that need to access raw disk images. This is also the value used by default when 4096 bytes per sector is specified on the SCTSIZ parameter.

Sector size in bytes (SCTSIZ)

Specifies the number of bytes per sector to be configured for this disk.

512

Configure this storage for 512 bytes in each sector.

4096

Configure this storage for 4096 bytes in each sector.

Note: A sector size of 4096 cannot be specified when FORMAT(*FAT) or FORMAT(*FAT32) is specified.

Preferred storage unit (UNIT)

Specifies the preferred storage media for this network server storage space.

*ANY

No storage media is preferred. Storage will be allocated from any available storage media.

*SSD

Solid-state drive storage media is preferred. Storage should be allocated from solid-state drive storage media if available.

Resource allocation priority (RSCALCPTY)

Specifies the relative resource allocation priority to be used by the hosting system to initialize the disk to zeros when the client operating system formats this storage space.

9

The highest resource allocation priority is used.

1-9

Specifies a relative resource allocation priority to be used. 1 is the lowest resource allocation priority, 9 is the highest resource allocation priority.

Examples

Example 1: Create NTFS-format Storage Space

CRTNWSSTG   NWSSTG(STGSPACE3)  NWSSIZE(200)  FORMAT(*NTFS)

This command creates a network server storage space called STGSPACE3 with a size of 200 megabytes.

Example 2: Copy Existing Storage Space

CRTNWSSTG   NWSSTG(STGSPACE4)  NWSSIZE(*CALC)
            FROMNWSSTG(FROMSTG)  ASP(3)

This command creates a network server storage space called STGSPACE4 with a size and format the same as FROMSTG and copies the contents into STGSPACE4. It will be created in user auxiliary storage pool (ASP) 3.

Example 3: Copy and Extend Existing Storage Space

CRTNWSSTG NWSSTG(OPENWEB3) NWSSIZE(10000)
          FROMNWSSTG(WEBDATA) OFFSET(*ALIGNFST)

This command creates a network server storage space called OPENWEB3 with a new size of 10000 MB and copies the contents from WEBDATA. The new storage space OPENWEB3 has its data offset alignment sector set to optimize for sector zero page alignment.

Example 4: Create Storage on Solid-state Drives with 4K Sectors

CRTNWSSTG NWSSTG(SSDDISK1) NWSSIZE(10000)
          UNIT(*SSD) SCTSIZ(4096)

This command creates a network server storage space called SSDDISK1 with a size of 10000 MB, a sector size of 4096 bytes per sector, and a preference to have this storage reside on solid-state drive units if available.

Error messages

*ESCAPE Messages

CPFA42D

Storage space &1 not created.