Net/Systems Management /

Who needs a network defragmenter?

By Drew Robb
Network World, 09/18/00

Fragmentation means that files are broken into multiple pieces rather than residing in one contiguous block on a disk. When a file is opened, the head must gather up the pieces to access the file. The user, therefore, experiences delays in waiting for files to appear. Also, newly created files may not find large enough blocks of contiguous free space.

If this occurs, they are written to the disk in a fragmented state. As free space and file fragmentation worsen, it takes longer to open files, reboot and back up files.

Anyone familiar with Windows 95 and 98 knows that the operating system comes with a built-in defragmenter. Although Windows NT never had such a tool, Windows 2000 does include its own manual "Disk Defragmenter."

So why do you need to buy a third-party application for your desktop, let alone the entire network?

First, the defragmenting utilities built in to Windows 9X and Win 2000 are fundamental and not equipped to defragment a badly fragmented system.

Essentially, these could be considered "lite" products. For home users, regular use of these tools will sometimes maintain the disk in good shape, provided the master table file, paging file (swap file on Windows 9X) and directories don't become badly fragmented. Once these system files fragment, however, it is virtually impossible for a lite defragmenter to properly defragment the disk.

The bad news is compounded by the fact that installing the operating system or a new application often rips these types of files to shreds.

Furthermore, when a disk fills up, it leads to extensive fragmentation of system files and directories. Once that happens, lite defragmenters can't cope and the system stays badly fragmented from that point forward.

To demonstrate the difference between a lite version and a fully network-capable tool, try the following:

1. Run the defragmenter built into Windows 9X or Win 2000.

2. Once completed, download a free trial defragmenter from Executive Software or Raxco Software. Both function on Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000.

3. Immediately run the defragmentation analysis. Print a copy and see what it tells you about the level of fragmentation. Check out the amount of fragmentation on swap file/paging file, MFT, directories and free space. Note also the amount of fragmentation that exists on regular files.

4. Now defragment the system, followed by taking care of directories and system file consolidation by running the program in boot-time mode.

5. Finally, run the analysis again, print it and see how it compares to original analysis. The system will be in much better shape than before as a result of a more thorough approach to defragmentation. Disk performance will have improved noticeably.

Where the need for enterprise defragmentation comes in is that NT doesn't have a built-in defraggmenter, and Win 2000 comes with a lite manual version that cannot be used across a network.

"Disk Defragmenter [the built-in manual defragmenting utility in Win 2000] is not intended to be a tool for administrators to maintain networked workstations," states Microsoft in Knowledgebase article no. 254564. "This version is not designed to be run remotely and cannot be scheduled to automatically defragment a volume without interaction from a logged-on user."

Networkable defragmenters, however, can be run remotely from a system manager's desk, take care of fragmentation among all file types, and scheduled to run automatically across networks.

Pricing information:

Executive Software's Diskeeper 5.0 for Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000: $49.95 per workstation and $229.95 per server.

Symantec's Norton Speed Disk 5.0 for NT: $49.95 per workstation and $249 per server. A Win 2000 version is in beta test.

Raxco's PerfectDisk 2000: $44 per workstation and $219 per server.

Prices vary depending on number of licenses purchased.

Related links

Robb is a freelance writer in Los Angeles, specializing in technology issues. He can be reached at drewrobb@mediaone.net.

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