Windows 8: Unveiling the secrets

Window 8 the most awaited operating system. Every geek is speculating its feature according to their intellect. But what Microsoft has done is nothing more than a wonder which has built an aura can’t be ignored by anyone. The two important entities for which everyone like to reduce in this world i.e. Time and Power. Microsoft has done a remarkable job in order to achieve these goals. In this article I’ll let you know about the two features of Window 8 which is: Offload data transfer (ODX) technology and Zero power optical disk (ZPOD).

Firstly I’ll explain you about the latest data transfer technology which is the new evolution made by Microsoft expert. This technology has minimizes the time. Now this technology focuses more on Storage arrays services installed with Storage Area Network (SAN) rather than the client server model which is the back bone of previous data transfer technology. In the past data transfer technology involves transmission of data from source file to the preserved space and writes data into a destination file with a copy stored in preserving buffer. Now the data transmission technology uses token system which focuses on token system rather than continuous data transfer which is the key of previous data transfer technology.

Offload Data Transfer (ODX) technology:

ODX the latest data transfer technology which has increased the data transfer pace by using a token based system to reduce the burden on front end client server model. In Windows 8, ODX allows user to move data across virtual hard disks (VHDs), Server Message Block (SMB) shares and physical disks. This technology utilizes the intelligent storage arrays to make continuous migration of data within or between compatible storage devices, bypassing or circumventing the host computer. By offloading the file transfer to the storage array, ODX minimizes latencies, maximizes array throughput .i.e. the frequency of data transfer operations within specified time limit increases and reduces resource usage such as CPU and network consumption on the host computer. The Basic requirements for using ODX technology are:

·         Storage devices compatible with T10 XCOPY Lite specification.

·         Window 8 or Window server 2012 must be installed on host and server computer.

I will give you an overview how a data transmission operation takes place in Windows 8.Instead of using Buffers for read and write operations, ODX starts to offload read, and then storage device sends the data token representing the data to the copy manager. Then it uses an offload write command and the token request to data transfer from the source disk to the destination disk through the copy manager. The copy manager then moves the data according to the token. ODX operates in the backend thus didn’t involve buffered data movement on the client server network. This will result in CPU usage and client-sever network bandwidth consumption drops to near zero levels. The key benefits of ODX are:

·         Low server CPU usage and client-sever network bandwidth during offload read and writ operation.

·         High speed data transmission speed

ZPOD:

ZPOD stands for Zero Power Optical Disk Drive is the latest feature which works on reducing power consumption. In previous versions of Windows, the continuous power is supplied to the optical disk drive (ODD) even when it is not working. Now, if there is no media present in the ODD, the operating system turns off the power to the ODD. This feature is known as Zero Power Optical Disk Drive. The basic hardware requirement for ZPOD is:

·         Optical drive with Slimline SATA (Serial Advanced and Technology Attachment) connector.

If you still want to know about the amazing features of Window 8 or require any Windows 8 support then you can go to Microsoft knowledge base and for computer maintenance you can get free online technical services from reliable companies.