Article ID: 911883
Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2006, when used with:
- Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003 R2
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry
SUMMARY
This article warns against enabling the Single Instance Store (SIS) feature in Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 on a Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2006 server. Additionally, this article discusses how to disable the SIS components if they are enabled on a DPM 2006 server.
INTRODUCTION
The Single Instance Store (SIS) feature in Windows Storage Server R2 2003 reduces the amount of space that is used to store data on a volume. SIS does this by removing duplicate files and by putting these duplicates in the Sis Common Store folder.
Note Sis Common Store is a hidden folder that is located in the volume's root directory.
However, SIS is not supported in Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2006.
MORE INFORMATION
SIS consists of two primary components: the Single Instance Storage Filter and the Groveler service. Together, these components maintain a database of file signatures. The Single Instance Storage Filter runs in kernel mode, and the Groveler service runs as a user-level service.
- ==== Single Instance Storage Filter ====
The Single Instance Storage Filter is a file system filter that manages duplicate copies of files on hard-disk volumes. This component copies one instance of a duplicate file into a central folder. The duplicate is then replaced by a link to the central copy.
- ==== Groveler service ====
The Groveler service scans the hard-disk volumes on a server for duplicate copies of files. If the service locates duplicates, the information about the duplicates is sent to the Single Instance Storage Filter.
Do not enable SIS on the DPM server
Do not enable SIS on a Windows Storage Server R2 2003 server on which you plan to install DPM 2006. This configuration is not supported.
In Windows Storage Server R2 2003, SIS is an installed component. By default, SIS is not enabled. You can enable SIS on the volumes in question after Windows Storage Server R2 2003 is installed. Additionally, when you install the Remote Installation Services (RIS) optional component, you have the option to enable SIS.
When you install DPM 2006, you must disable the Single Instance Storage Filter and the Groveler service if one of the following conditions is true:
- You have already enabled SIS.
- SIS was enabled as part of an RIS component installation.
To disable the SIS components, use one of the following methods.
Warning If you already have SIS-linked files, use Method 2 to preserve the original files. If you use Method 1, you will no longer have access to any part of the linked content on the SIS volume. Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
Method 1: Disable SIS on a server without retaining the linked files
- Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type sisadmin.exe /d. You receive the following output:
Stopping and disabling the groveler service.
- Close the command prompt.
- Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
- Locate the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\SIS - In the Details pane, right-click Start, and then click Modify.
- In the Value data box, type 4, and then click OK.
- Restart the server.
- Repeat steps 1 thru 6 on all SIS-enabled volumes
Method 2: Disable SIS on a server, and retain the linked files
- Move the SIS-linked content from all volumes on the server that you want to retain to new volumes on another server that does not have SIS enabled. This action moves the original file content.
- Disable the Groveler service. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type sisadmin.exe /d. You receive the following output:
Stopping and disabling the groveler service.
- Close the command prompt.
- Disable the Single Instance Storage Filter. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
- Locate the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\SIS - In the Details pane, right-click Start, and then click Modify.
- In the Value data box, type 4, and then click OK.
- Format the SIS-enabled volume.
- Restart the server.
- Move the files that you transferred in step 1 back to the original volume.
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