Hi,
WHS doesn't use the same method with drives that you may be used to; that is, each drive doesn't get an individual drive letter. The system only has drive C: and D:, the C: space is where your operating system is installed and then all other space, no matter how many actual drives that might be, comes all together under D: as one large storage space. Adding another physical drive just adds extra space to the existing D: drive. The actual underlaying method, is that any other physical drives other than the original, are attached under 'mount points' at C:fs/(x). However, this isn't displayed to the 'end-user'.
If your interested, the technical documents are available
here.
The system is designed to store files, if at all possible, together. For example, if you rip a CD to the server, it is intelligent enough to think that a collection of MP3's uploaded together in one folder should be kept together if at all possible. Also, to save excessive 'disk thrash', it tries if at all possible, to use the drive with the
least amount of space to store the file consistent with retaining about 10GB of free space on each physical drive irrespective of it's actual size.
It doesn't try to balance files across drives, as this would result in files being transferred between drives on a regular basis.
After saying all this, the system doesn't fill the D: space which is on the first physical drive, this is kept clear so as to create a space where files are landed from a Client. These files will then be moved by the system to their final storage space. (This is a very inaccurate and simplified virtual explanation, the correct technical description can be found
here if you want to go further.)
Colin
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