Formatting LDEVs in a Windows environment

In a Windows environment, both Normal Format or Quick Format are commonly used. In this environment, Quick Format consumes less thin provisioning pool capacities than Normal Format.

On Windows Server 2008, using Normal Format issues Write commands to the overall volume (for example, overall "D" drive). When Write commands are issued, pages corresponding to the overall volume are allocated, therefore, pool capacities corresponding to the ones of the overall volume are consumed. In this case, the thin provisioning advantage of reducing capacities is lost.

Quick Format issues Write commands only to management information (for example, index information). Therefore, pages corresponding to the management information areas are allocated, but the capacities are smaller than the ones consumed by Normal Format.