WinFS

Overview of WinFS • WinFS stands for

Windows Future storage.

• WinFS is the code name of a Windows storage subsystem, being developed by Microsoft for use on its future Windows (c) Operating System.

Overview of WinFS (contd..)• WinFS is a relational

database located on NTFS and representing itself to the operating system as a file storage subsystem.

• The underlying system is based on Microsoft SQL Server (c) database engine.

• SQL engine is used to search and catalog files.

Why WinFS?• Current file system doesn’t

know how to collect and find information within theses new types of data.

• FAT or NTFS, has its contents organized in a hierarchal directory structure and is relatively slow in searching the content by particular attributes.

Why WinFS? (contd…)• WinFS enables searching

for items by their attributes (like date the photograph was taken, who or what is in the picture, what camera was used to take the picture, etc).

• WinFS understands any arbitrary type of data such

as photo, email or calendar.

WinFS Architecture• Stores data in virtual

locations called stores.• WinFS store is a relational

store where applications can store their structured as well as unstructured data.

• WinFS aggregates related data.

• WinFS stores are simply SQL Server database file (.mdf files).

WinFS Technology• Core WinFS

- Include operations and file system services.

- Examples: Security, manageability, import/export and so on…

• Data Model

- Provides basic item structure and relationships.

- Ability to extend both items and relationships.

WinFS Technology(contd…)• Schemas

- Provides a more structured way to handle your data’s metadata.

 • Services

- Synchronization enables you to synchronize WinFS systems across a network.

- Rules allow you to tell system how to work with, sort, and deliver data.

• API’S

- Program the different building blocks of the WinFS system including data operations, rules, synchronization and the data model.

- TSQL gives access to items properties.

Schema Example

Walter

Name

Smith 123 Main Seattle 98144

1 MS Way

Redmond 98052

123 Spring

Friday Harbor

98250

Addresses

Person Item

ImageItem

Source

PersonalPicture

Target My face

Music Example

TitleAlbumTitle

ArtistsGenreLength

Here Comes the SunAbbey RoadThe BeatlesRock185

Track ItemTitle

AlbumTitleArtistsGenreLength

Golden SlumbersAbbey RoadThe BeatlesRock91

Track Item

NameFolder Item

Golden Slumbers

WinFS Synchronization• Includes support for

synchronization with external data.

• Provides API’s that allow synchronizing with other WinFS stores(other comps)

• Example: connected device like mobile phones.

Limitations of traditional File System

• Strict hierarchical organization

• Fixed, limited metadata.

- Attribute (filename).

• Fast enumeration, slow search.

WinFS Benefits• Flexible organization based

on real world schemas.• Better search and

browsing.• Application data sharing.• Improved speed and

accuracy of finding information.

• Multi-machine synchronization.

WinFS UsesIntegrated storage

- Helps to reuse data. E.g.- for businesses, by allowing it to automatically aggregate data from different departments.

Full text search

- Works with items fields.

Advanced search

- Custom made such queries such as to find “all persons whom I called last weekend”.

Data mining

- WinFS can give more information about data, by using data mining techniques.

WinFS Application Support• Microsoft Rave

- Application shipped with WinFS Beta1.

- Allows synchronization of two or more WinFS stores.

• Store Spy

- Allows one to browse WinFS stores by presenting a hierarchical view of WinFS items.

• Project “Orange”

- To build a data visualization application for WinFS.

WinFS Availability

• WinFS Beta 1 was made available to MSDN Subscribers on August 29, 2005.

• Beta 2 was made available at May 1, 2006.

- Includes integration with Windows Desktop Search, so search results will include results from both regular NTFS files and WinFS-backed files.

• The third beta was made available at November 2006.

• Final release most likely will be available with Windows Longhorn Server 2008.

WinFS Resources• WinFS 101 - an official introductory article

on the concept. • WinFS Team Blog • Channel 9 Videos - Interviews with WinFS

developers at Microsoft • Windows Storage Foundation (WinFS)

Preview • A Developer's Perspective on WinFS: Part

1 • A Developer's Perspective on WinFS: Part

2 • microsoft.public.windows.developer.winfx.

winfs - WinFS Newsgroup

WinFS Video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=knM9zTCGC_A

Questions?

Thank You