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Windows Server single-path and MPIO configuration recommendations for SC Series storage
26 Dell EMC SC Series Storage and Microsoft Multipath I/O | CML1004
A Windows Server single-path and MPIO configuration
recommendations for SC Series storage
Observe the following guidelines before using this section.
• The recommended updates and hotfixes in this section list the names (msdsm.sys, mpio.sys,
storport.sys, and msiscsi.sys) and modified dates of storage-specific files that are loaded when the
associated update or hotfix is applied. If a newer version of the file listed is already loaded on the
server, the recommended update or hotfix does not need to be loaded.
• In some cases, prerequisite updates must be installed on the server before the following hotfixes can
be installed. Read the prerequisite information for each applicable hotfix before proceeding. Updates
and hotfixes are listed in the order in which they should be installed.
• The following registry settings should be made on all Windows Server hosts that use the Microsoft
DSM to access LUNs on SC Series arrays in order to ensure proper behavior and performance. This
includes hosts configured to use single-path and MPIO.
• Using mixed transports concurrently on the same Windows server volume is not supported with
Windows Server 2012 R2 and newer. With Windows Server 2012 R2 and newer, when a LUN is
presented to the host that is using both Fibre Channel and iSCSI, the host will default to one transport
(typically Fibre Channel is chosen as the preferred transport by the host) and ignore the other
transport. If all paths for the preferred transport go down, the host may not send data using the
alternate transport without a disk re-scan, and this may cause a service interruption. This is default
Windows Server behavior. For servers configured to use both FC and iSCSI, mapping one data
volume with FC ports only, and another data volume with iSCSI ports only, is supported, as long as
each volume is configured to use only a single transport.
A.1 Recommended updates and hotfixes for Windows Server 2008
R2 SP1
See the Microsoft Update Catalog at https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx to locate specific
KB downloads.
Recommended updates and hotfixes for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
KB number
Title
Link
KB3125574
Convenience rollup update for Windows 7 SP1 and
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (May 2016)
msdsm.sys version 6.1.7601.23403 (3/25/16)
mpio.sys version 6.1.7601.23403 (3/25/16)
msiscsi.sys version 6.1.7601.23403 (3/25/16)
storport.sys version 6.1.7601.23403 (3/25/16)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3125574