Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3 just recently released, and one of the big hot features which has me really excited is Storage Spaces Direct (S2D). With S2D you will be able to create a hyper-converged private cloud. A hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) consolidates compute and storage into a common set of servers. Leveraging internal storage which is replicated, you can create a true Software-defined Storage (SDS) solution.
This is available in the Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview today! I encourage you to go try it out and give us some feedback. Here's where you can learn more:
Presentation from Ignite 2015:
Storage Spaces Direct in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt126109.aspx
Deployment guide:
Enabling Private Cloud Storage Using Servers with Local Disks
https://channel9.msdn.com/events/Ignite/2015/BRK3474
Claus Joergensen's blog:
Storage Spaces Direct
http://blogs.technet.com/b/clausjor/archive/2015/05/14/storage-spaces-direct.aspx
Thanks!
Elden Christensen
Principal PM Manager
High-Availability & Storage
Microsoft