Key Features of the Cache Manager

The cache manager has several key features:

• Supports all file system types (both local and network), thus removing the need for each file system to implement its own cache management code.

• Uses the memory manager to control which parts of which files are in physical memory (trading off demands for physical memory between user processes and the operating system)

• Caches data on a virtual block basis (offsets within a file)—in contrast to many caching systems, which cache on a logical block basis (offsets within a disk volume)—allowing for intelligent read-ahead and high-speed access to the cache without involving file system drivers.

• Supports “hints” passed by applications at file open time (such as random versus sequential access, temporary file creation, and so on)

• Supports recoverable file systems (for example, those that use transaction logging) to recover data after a system failure

Source of Information : Windows 7 Resource Kit 2009 Microsoft Press