Minimum SnapDrive host requirements

Each Windows host in a SnapDrive for Windows configuration must meet minimum hardware, software, and OS requirements.

Hardware requirements

Component	Requirement
CPU	32-bit OS 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 or compatible 64-bit OS x64: Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron IA64: Intel Itanium (for Windows Server 2008)
Memory	1 GB
NIC	The NIC you use to facilitate data transfer for the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator can come from any vendor, but it must be approved by Microsoft for use with Windows Server.

Operating system requirements

The host must be running either Windows Server 2008 Core Server or non-Core Server (x86, x64, or IA64), Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V (x64 only), Windows Server 2008 R2 Core or non-Core Server, or Windows Server 2003 Standard or Enterprise Edition with Service Pack 2 (x86 or x64), with the following hotfixes.

Note: For a list of the latest Service Packs and hotfixes required by SnapDrive, see the product description page in the software download section of the NOW site at now.netapp.com/.

Operating system and Service Pack level	Required hotfixes
Windows Server 2003 SP2 (x86 or x64)	919117 931300 932755 937382
Windows Server 2008, Server Core and non-Server Core installations (x86, x64, or IA64)	950927 955656
Windows Server 2008 (x64 only)	956697
Windows Server 2008 R2

Software requirements

The exact number and type of HBAs and NICs required by each host depend on your specific SnapDrive configuration.

To ensure high network bandwidth and ease of configuration, make sure you have the latest firmware and drivers for all HBAs and NICs you are using.

Component	Requirement
.NET Framework	.NET 3.5 SP1 or later Note: When you use .NET 3.5, SnapDrive requires the Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service to use the Local Service account, which is the default account, to enable the SnapDrive service to start properly. Note: .NET is not supported on Windows Server 2008 Server Core; it is, however, supported on Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core.
NetApp Host Agent	If you are using NetApp Host Agent, you must upgrade to NetApp Host Agent 2.6 or later before upgrading to SnapDrive 6.3 on 32-bit systems.
MPIO	Data ONTAP DSM for Windows MPIO 3.3.1
FC driver and firmware	The latest FC driver and firmware is available on the NOW site at now.netapp.com/. From this gateway, navigate to the SAN Host Attach Kit for Fibre Channel Protocol on Windows download page.
HBAs and software initiators
FC	See the FC Host Utilities (Attach Kits) for Windows in the software download section at now.netapp.com/.
iSCSI HBA	See the iSCSI Host Utilities (Support Kits) for Windows in the software download section at now.netapp.com/.
Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator	The Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator must be downloaded from the Microsoft site at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/.