As we are seeing more and more Windows 2012 based Clouds and services.. I wanted to alert you to the following technology which is becoming more and more available in backend storage systems (and Windows 2012): ODX

If you are implementing Hyper-V, File services or any other Windows Server 2012 with a backend SAN (iscsi, fiber, smb3.0) check out:

ODX.. what is it:

http://www.hyper-v.nu/archives/hvredevoort/2012/04/windows-8-storage-hyper-v-part-4-offload-data-transfer-odx/

Does my Windows Server 2012 host (hyper-v/fileserver/etc) support it? Is it enabled? Can I disable for test?

http://mssecbyben.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/testing-odx-and-need-to-switch-it-on-and-off-all-the-time/

What does it need?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200627.aspx

The MS document

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh833784.aspx

 NOTE: Always check with storage vendor for ODX compatibility.. the storage array might require a firmware update..