Specification

Previously, there were two major papers for studies on file access patterns using the Unix operating system. As of yet, there does not appear to be any papers for studies on file access patterns using the Windows NT operating system.

The planned objective for CS 297 this quarter is to further my understanding of Windows NT auditing features and determine the suitability of using the auditing features for a file access study. In addition, I would like to determine whether it would be possible to look at various disk optimization methods. In particular, Symantec Corporation used one disk optimization method in MS-DOS/Windows 3.1 versions and the original Windows 95 version of Speed Disk (a program that's part of the Norton Utilities software suite) but switched to a different optimization method in the version of Speed Disk included with version 3.0 of the Windows 95 version of Norton Utilities.

I believe that this can be done by keeping the following sub-objectives in mind:

1.

Study the NT source that is available to determine if any of the NT auditing features are handled or partially handled within the NT kernel.

2.

Study available books to obtain information on the NT auditing features.

3.

Determine the need for any simulators and write those simulators.

4.

Determine suitability for a study of disk optimization methods and determine how to do the study.