"The files themselves use the reparse point mechanism first introduced in Windows 2000. During that first sync, stub files ("reparse points") are created to mimic the directory structure stored on SkyDrive. Any operation on these
files is intercepted automatically, allowing SkyDrive to download the file on-demand."
Being a long-time luser, I hadn't heard of NTFS reparse points before. Somehow, every time I read something about NTFS features, it strikes me how well thought-out that FS is, especially for its time.
Hmmm yeah, maybe it sounded more exciting than it actually is. I interpreted the description as "symlinks that transparently link to cloud storage", which sounds like quite a feat to pull off - certainly not just a trivial generalisation of unix symlinks?
This article is a mess. It's talking about a whole variety of NTFS redirection features, but only some of them existed in 2000. It also got me confused, I should have said 'those reparse points', not just 'reparse points'.
In 2000 you could make junction points but they only worked on directories. 2000 also supported multiple hard links to a single file. But what the article talks about, individual soft links for files, didn't get added until Vista. Despite it being a standard feature on filesystems going back decades.
Comments
"The files themselves use the reparse point mechanism first introduced in Windows 2000. During that first sync, stub files ("reparse points") are created to mimic the directory structure stored on SkyDrive. Any operation on these files is intercepted automatically, allowing SkyDrive to download the file on-demand."
Being a long-time luser, I hadn't heard of NTFS reparse points before. Somehow, every time I read something about NTFS features, it strikes me how well thought-out that FS is, especially for its time.
Prepare for some disappointment. Reparse points weren't added until Vista, and they require admin privileges to make symlinks.
Hmmm yeah, maybe it sounded more exciting than it actually is. I interpreted the description as "symlinks that transparently link to cloud storage", which sounds like quite a feat to pull off - certainly not just a trivial generalisation of unix symlinks?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_reparse_point
Seems to be from Windows 2000 according to Wikipedia.
This article is a mess. It's talking about a whole variety of NTFS redirection features, but only some of them existed in 2000. It also got me confused, I should have said 'those reparse points', not just 'reparse points'.
In 2000 you could make junction points but they only worked on directories. 2000 also supported multiple hard links to a single file. But what the article talks about, individual soft links for files, didn't get added until Vista. Despite it being a standard feature on filesystems going back decades.