A Windows-based client is a client that runs a Windows® operating system and has the SAN File System client code installed. In this release,
The SAN File System client code installed on a Windows-based client is an Installable File System (IFS). The IFS is a kernel-mode driver that extends the Windows I/O subsystem to support an additional file system. SAN File System client code directs all metadata operations to a metadata server and all data operations to storage devices attached to your storage area network (SAN). SAN File System client code makes the metadata that is visible to a client's operating system, as well as any applications that run on the client, look identical to metadata read from a native, locally attached file system.
Windows clients mount the global file system on their systems. After the global file system is mounted, users can use it just as they would any other file system to access data and to create, update, and delete files and directories. The following example shows the My Computer view from a Windows 2000 client. The T: drive (labeled SFS) is the attach point of SAN File System.