How Single Instance Storage Identifies Which Volumes to Manage (226545)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q226545

SUMMARY

The Single Instance Storage service (SIS) is installed on a volume that will contain the operating system (OS) images on a Windows 2000-based server running the Remote Installation Service (RIS). This service is installed when you run the Risetup.exe program to complete the installation or the configuration of RIS. SIS reduces the amount of disk space used by these images by storing duplicate files in the SIS Common Store folder. When one or more duplicate files are found, the data for the file is copied to the common store location and the files converted into reparse points that refer to the common store for any file reads. This may be useful where multiple OS or RIprep images are stored on the same volume and many of these files may be duplicates.

MORE INFORMATION

When the SIS service starts, it determines the volumes to attach to by looking for the following:

  • When you start the service, the groveler (part of the SIS service) scans all NTFS volumes for a folder named SIS Common Store.
  • It then searches for a file named MaxIndex.
  • If these items are not found on any NTFS formatted volume, the SIS service shuts down.

This service is fully configured by the Risetup.exe program and should not normally require any manual configuration. This article is for informational purposes only.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/13/2003
Keywords:kbinfo kbnetwork KB226545
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