Diskeeper Server also provides a feature it calls Frag Guard, which minimizes fragmentation of the MFT and pagefile. In the case of the MFT, Diskeeper Server adds placeholder entries. If the OS writes files to the MFT Zone as the partition's free space nears depletion, the file entries replace the placeholder entries to let the MFT expand without fragmenting. Frag Guard also reserves disk space adjacent to the pagefile, allowing it to expand without fragmenting.
PerfectDisk 2000 ($10,900 for a 100-server license) provides similar protection against pagefile fragmentation. When PerfectDisk 2000 initially defragments the pagefile, the software places the pagefile at the partition's logical center and reserves free space on either side to accommodate future expansion. PerfectDisk 2000 also segregates infrequently accessed files. If these files remain untouched, subsequent defragmentation runs will have fewer files to defragment and runtimes might be shorter.
Like the other products I discuss, Diskeeper Server lets you use its scheduling mechanism to manage defragmentation on desktops equipped with the vendor's workstation defragmentation product. But if you were planning to use Diskeeper Server to remotely schedule Win2K Professional's defragmentation utility rather than buying the Diskeeper Server workstation product, you'll need to make other plans. Even though the Win2K utility uses Executive Software's technology, you can't use Diskeeper Server to schedule Win2K Pro's built-in defragmentation tool.
All the products I discuss can defragment a lightly fragmented partition that has plenty of free space, but as free space drops below about 20 percent, defragmentation becomes much more difficult, or even impossible. O&O Software, Raxco, and Winternals all claim that their products can defragment partitions that have as little as 5 percent free space. According to an O&O Software representative, on partitions that have from 5 percent to 15 percent free space, Defrag V4 Server Edition uses a Stealth mode that defragments files but doesn't defragment free space.
Raxco says that its products don't sacrifice functionality on drives that have extremely small amounts of free space. But you're likely to find that the effectiveness of all these products decreases as free space drops below 20 percent to 25 percent, especially on heavily fragmented partitions.
O&O Defrag V4 Server Edition ($11,913 for a 100-server license) provides a feature called ActivityGuard Pro that lets systems administrators define a disk-usage threshold, as Figure 4 shows. When applications drive disk usage above the threshold, defragmentation pauses until disk activity drops below the threshold. According to O&O Software, O&O Defrag V4 Server Edition can also put files in order alphabetically or by date during defragmentation.
So, Which to Choose?
Although useful features and attractive pricing will be important factors in your selection process, performance and effectiveness probably carry just as much weight. When the Lab tested software for "Enterprise Defragmentation Utilities," substantial differences were evident between products. Diskeeper Server and PerfectDisk 2000 are updated versions of products tested for that article, but you shouldn't assume that their present incarnations will perform similarly.
Visit the vendors' Web sites to obtain more information about products that appeal to you. Then, when you're ready to try out those on your short list, download evaluation copies for a test drive—that's the best way to determine which ones will satisfy your particular demands.
End of Article
Prev. page
1
[2]
next page -->
