File Services

Article
02/01/2011

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

File Services provides technologies that help manage storage, perform backup and recovery tasks, enable file replication, manage shared folders, ensure fast file searching, and enable access for UNIX client computers.

Hierarchy of Managed Entities

Managed Entities

Name	Description
File Server Resource Manager	File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) is a suite of tools that enables administrators to understand, control, and manage the quantity and type of data stored on their servers. By using File Server Resource Manager, administrators can place quotas on folders and volumes, actively screen files, and generate comprehensive storage reports.
Quota Minifilter Driver	The quota minifilter driver intercepts file system calls and keeps track of storage usage for folders and volumes under quota management. It also enforces quotas by rejecting I/O requests that would cause a storage quota limit to be exceeded.
Folder and Volume Quotas	With File Server Resource Manager you can create folder and volume quotas to limit the amount of disk storage space that is allowed for a volume or folder—and can generate notifications when the quota limits are approached or exceeded.
File Screening Minifilter Driver	The file screening minifilter driver intercepts file system calls and enforces file screening policies by rejecting I/O requests that would cause an unauthorized file to be saved on a folder or volume that is being screened.
File Screens	With File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) you can create file screens that prevent users from saving unauthorized files on volumes or folders.
FSRM Notification Service	The File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) service (SrmSvc) uses a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server on your network to send e-mail notifications to users who exceed quota limits or attempt to save unauthorized files, or to system administrators, to alert them of quota or file screening violations. It can also send storage reports to system administrators and others who are interested.
Services for NFS	Services for Network File System (NFS) enables Windows®-based computers to share files and folders with UNIX-based computers.
Server for NFS	A computer running Windows and Server for NFS can act as a file server for both Windows-based and UNIX-based computers.
RPC Port Mapper	The Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Port Mapper service enables UNIX-based computers to discover the UNIX-compatible services available on Windows-based computers.
Shadow Copies of Shared Folders	Shadow Copies of Shared Folders provides point-in-time copies of files that are located on shared resources, such as a file server. With Shadow Copies of Shared Folders, you can view shared files and folders as they existed at points in time in the past. This can help you to quickly recover deleted or changed files, or to compare versions of a file you are working on.
Shared Folders (SMB) Server	The Shared Folders functionality in Windows Server 2008 allows you to centrally manage file shares on a computer. The Server Message Block (SMB) protocol is what Windows uses to share files, printers, serial ports, and communicate this information between computers by using named pipes and mail slots. In a networked environment, servers make file systems and resources available to clients. Clients make SMB requests for resources and servers make SMB responses. This protocol generates information that helps users troubleshoot Shared Folders problems.
Shared Resource	A shared resource is a volume, folder, file, printer, or serial port shared over a network using the SMB protocol.
Volume Shadow Copy Service	The Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is the infrastructure within Windows to create a point in time image (shadow copy) of one or more volumes. Shadow copies provide both file system consistency and application consistency and can be used for a range of applications ranging from backup and restore programs to data mining.
Windows Search Service	The Windows Search service enables you to perform fast file searches. Windows Search also collects detailed information about the files on your computer and stores this information in an index for use during searches. Using Windows Search, you can perform efficient, accurate searches to help you find specific information contained in your files.
Windows Server Backup	Windows Server Backup is a feature in Windows Server 2008 that provides a set of wizards and other tools for you to perform basic backup and recovery tasks for the server it is installed on. To access the Windows Server Backup snap-in and command-line tool you must install these tools from the Add Features Wizard in Server Manager. (For instructions and more information about Windows Server Backup, see the Help file for Windows Server Backup by clicking Start, clicking Run, and then typing: hh backup.chm.)
Backup and Recovery Operations	The Windows Server Backup feature consists of a snap-in (Wbadmin.msc) and a command-line tool (Wbadmin.exe) that provide a complete solution for your day-to-day backup and recovery needs.The snap-in has four wizards that guide you through running backups and recoveries. For syntax and examples for the wbadmin command, see the Command Reference (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93131). You can use Windows Server Backup to back up a full server (all volumes), selected volumes, or the system state. You can recover volumes, folders, files, certain applications, and the system state. And, in case of disasters like hard disk failures, you can perform a system recovery, which will restore your complete system onto the new hard disk by using a full server backup and the Windows Recovery Environment.
Backup Sets	With Windows Server Backup, you can create backups, which are also called backup sets. You can use these backups for recovering files and folders, the operating system, or applications.