NT File Systems

by Eunice Swinson

Southeastern University

Professor: Mort Anvari

June 3, 2000

Introduction

- Overview of NT History

- Defining a file system

NT History

Developed by Microsoft in early 1980s It was developed to run on top of MS-

DOS operating system Microsoft joined forces with IBM to

create a more powerful DOS NT resemble the UNIX operating system

NT History con’t

Microsoft split from IBM to work on more advanced 3.x version

Sales for Win 3.1 skyrocketed, but sales for NT 3.1 failed

In 1994, cost of PC dropped

Defining a File System

OS using to manage the data on a drive Before installing Windows NT decide

what system to use FAT - File Allocation table NTFS - New Technology File System

Choosing a file System

FAT has four components- boot record, FAT, directories, and data files

NTFS has 64-bit entries and core master file table

FAT is backward compatible with DOS and Windows 95

NTFS is more fail-safe; more secure; and more efficient for large hard drives

FAT

Supported by DOS, OS/2, Windows 95 and Win NT

Can be converted to NTFS at any time Less overhead than NTFS, works best

with hard drives <500 MB Maximum partition size of 4GB

FAT con’t

Does not support file compression No local security available Does not support Macintosh files Does not support NetWare

file/permission during migration

NTFS

Local security is available Supports Macintosh files Supports NetWare file/permission

during migration It supports large-volume drives

NTFS

Only supported under the NT Operating System

Can’t be converted to FAT

NT Security and Permission

Way to control resources user and group accounts

Required logon based on given permission

Two types of of security - local and network

Local governs user to log on where resources are located

NT Security and Permission con’t Permission can be applied to file or

folder Users can access resources over the

network

Other File Systems

Virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT) Network File System (NFS) Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) High Performance File System (HPFS)

Using Workgroups and Domains Workgroup are a logical group of computer

and users that share resources Domain is a group of networked computers

that share a centralized directory database of user account information and security

PDC stores and controls database called directory database or SAM

Each computer with a backup directory database is called BDC

References

Andrews, Jean, A+: Certified Computer Technician, Certification Insider Press: Albany, NY, 1998.

Donald, L. and Chellis, James. NT Server 4 in the Enterprise Study Guide, 2nd SYBEX, Inc.: San Francisco, CA, 1998

www.ewweb.com/articles/0399ew01.html and www.Microsoft.com