ORLANDO, Fla. -
Microsoft Corp. this week demonstrated and
discussed new operating system utilities and
features designed to make its two next-generation
client systems easier to manage. Features
include the ability to cache network files on a
client and redirect file writes to a server.
Products include new and updated utilities for
scanning and repairing system files and
pinpointing problems.
All the technology will be available in
Version 5 of NT Workstation. Some of it will be
packaged with Memphis, the follow-on to Windows
95, and some will be released in a separate
add-on pack for Memphis designed for systems
administrators, according to a presentation at
Microsoft's Tech Ed conference here.
The client-side caching lets users cache
network files locally and work with them even
when the client is disconnected. The files are
automatically synchronized with the server when
the client is reconnected.
Windows product manager Bernard Wong pointed
out that the caching could be useful for
maintaining the cohesiveness of compound
documents whose pieces are stored on various
systems.
Microsoft is also developing technology called
Copy on Write, which redirects local file writes
to the server in order to maintain the client
state on the server. Instead of writing a file on
the client, users would instead work with a
cached copy.
The Copy on Write technology will probably be
included in the Memphis Zero Administration kit,
along with other technology for better central
control of systems.
A widespread beta version of Memphis is due
out by the end of June, but Microsoft officials
would not say when the Memphis Zero
Administration kit would be made available. In
fact, Microsoft has only just begun to release
Zero Administration technology for existing
operating systems. A kit for NT 4 was sent out to
a small number of beta testers this week.
While the Zero Administration technology is
aimed at lessening the hassles of administration
of several PCs, Microsoft is also building
utilities to address the problems of individual
PCs.
Memphis and NT Workstation 5.0, for example,
will contain a utility to automatically scan
every system file for defects, and will let users
automatically extract files from installation
disks to replace defective files.
Microsoft is also upgrading the SysEdit
utility to give users more control over the
reboot process. Instead of stepping manually
through each phase of the boot process, the new
System Configuration Editor will let users check
off which system files and drivers they want to
load.
Improvements to the Dr. Watson utility will
let users identify the application that caused a
system to crash, and will log information on the
system, the registry and currently running tasks.
One disappointment for the Tech Ed audience,
however, was the product's inability to easily
compare log files. Comparing the log files,
audience members said, would make it easier to
pinpoint differences that could have caused
problems.
For online problem reporting, Microsoft will
introduce Eyedog, a product that lets users
submit detailed debugging and troubleshooting
information via the Web.
Microsoft can be contacted at www.microsoft.com.
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