Windows NT File System Internals : A Developer's Guide [Paperback]

Rajeev Nagar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 1997

Windows NT File System Internals presents the details of the NT I/O Manager, the Cache Manager, and the Memory Manager from the perspective of a software developer writing a file system driver or implementing a kernel-mode filter driver. The book provides numerous code examples included on diskette, as well as the source for a complete, usable filter driver.

This book appeals to a wide audience: system programmers implementing kernel-mode code such as file systems, device drivers, network redirectors, or filter drivers; system administrators who simply want to learn more about the systems they manage; software engineers interested in NT internals; and computer science students examining the intricacies of file system technology.

Topics covered in the book include:

• An introduction to NT system components
• The NT I/O Manager
• The NT Virtual Memory Manager
• The NT Cache Manager
• Structured driver development under Windows NT
• Writing a file system driver
Writing a filter driver

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Writing kernel-mode Windows NT programs--such as file-system drivers (FSDs), filter drivers, and antivirus programs--poses a challenge to even experienced Windows programmers. It's hard enough to get these programs to work, but getting them to live peacefully with other kernel programs and NT itself is an art. Nagar sorts through the mechanics of writing such programs in this book, which is no mean feat considering that Microsoft provides no documentation for its development kit. The author begins by orienting the reader to NT's kernel mode, detailing what runs there, how the various programs interact, and what you need to keep in mind when developing software for the kernel mode.

The book then explores NT's key managers--I/O, virtual memory, and cache--covering the operation and exposed services for each. Nagar then takes the explanatory information he's provided and works it into a how-to guide to developing FSDs. In walking you through developing an actual FSD, the author covers I/O requests, cache operations, and buffers. Exercise files appear on the companion diskette.

Short of having a live instructor, you could not ask for a better guide to this complicated subject.

From the Publisher

Windows NT File System Internals presents the details of the NT I/O Manager, the Cache Manager, and the Memory Manager from the perspective of a software developer writing a file system driver or implementing a kernel-mode filter driver. The book provides numerous code examples included on diskette, as well as the source for a complete, usable filter driver. In addition to system programmers implementing kernel-mode code such as file systems, device drivers, network redirectors, or filter drivers, Windows NT File System Internals will appeal to system administrators who simply want to learn more about the systems they manage, software engineers interested in NT internals, and computer science students examining the intricacies of file system technology. Topics covered in the book include: An introduction to NT system components The NT I/O Manager The NT Virtual Memory Manager The NT Cache Manager Structured driver development under Windows NT Writing a file system driver Writing a filter driver

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Pap/Dis edition (September 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565922492
• ISBN-13: 978-1565922495
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very unique but has to be read with other recent materials., October 27, 2003

By 

Ahmed Sallam (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows NT File System Internals : A Developer's Guide (Paperback)

This book is by far, one of my most favorite books. It has been the only complete text book that explains the details of the Windows NT File Systems Framework. If you are to buy the book these days you would not feel the value of the book as I felt it when I started reading it six years ago. Nowadays, there are some other literatures that provides deeper coverage for certain topics like the OSR materials and the first IFS conference (both are available as part of the IFS kit). But still, the book remains the only complete reference. To get most of the benefits of this book, it is better that you look at the FASTFAT source code that comes with the IFS kit. The main drawback of the book is the lack of deep coverage for network based file system drivers. OSR materials provided with the IFS kit are essential to have better knowledge about File System FILTER drivers. Read the book while watching the videos of the first IFS kit conference, this will help a lot. Finally, if you are new to file system drivers then, be more patient while reading the book. You would not get everything from the first reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Available to order from OSR Press, February 9, 2006

By 

Dmitry Vostokov (Monkstown, Co. Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows NT File System Internals : A Developer's Guide (Paperback)

NOW AVAILABLE: Reprint of Windows NT File Systems Internals
Check OSR Online web site (osronline)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book - It deserves 5 stars., January 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows NT File System Internals : A Developer's Guide (Paperback)

Though this book was meant to teach about File system, it teaches more than what it promises. I had many questions in mind about NT. After reading this book, most of my questions are cleared. I strongly recommend this book to know more about NT. I really don't agree to rate this book with less than 5 stars. To believe me just try this book.