A: Windows Server 2012 (formerly code-named Windows Server 8) provides a new capability called Storage Spaces, which allows inexpensive storage to be pooled together to create a Storage Pool. Then volumes, or Spaces, can be requested from that pool, such as a striped disk, a mirrored disk, or a stripe with parity.
As a user, you don't need to know which disks are being used from the pool-- it's all performed automatically. If a disk fails the Storage Space technology automatically uses another disk in the pool, if available, to repair any volumes affected.
The good news with Storage Spaces is the types of storage have been increased from Windows Server 2008 R2 dynamic disks, and now include USB-connected storage, in addition to SATA and Serial Attached SCSI.
A Storage Pool can contain a mix of connectivity, mixed types of storage, and even different sizes. So the short answer to the question is, Yes!
Check out John's latest video demo of Storage Spaces and see for yourself what it's all about: "Video: Windows Server 2012 Storage Spaces."
See more FAQs on virtualization, System Center, and all things IT pro at John Savill's FAQs.