IFS kit - why should I get it?

I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question but
was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information otherwise
unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
Is this true?
Is the IFS kit “a must”?
After all, this kit costs $1000…
Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.

Many thanks, Alon.

The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.

How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS? That, just for
reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it to essentially
everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the street (that does
raise some eyebrows, though.)

Regards,

Tony Mason
Consulting Partner
OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
http://www.osr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
To: File Systems Developers
Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?

I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question but
was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information otherwise
unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
Is this true?
Is the IFS kit “a must”?
After all, this kit costs $1000…
Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.

Many thanks, Alon.


You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)

OSR offers the following two kits:

  1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
  2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.

I’ve also found the following kit:
KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for Windows (2000/NT).

So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best and gives you
the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that the IFS kit
holds information that none of these have?
Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every one of them
but… :slight_smile:

Thanks for all, Alon.

On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
>
> How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS? That, just for
> reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it to essentially
> everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the street (that does
> raise some eyebrows, though.)
>
> Regards,
>
> Tony Mason
> Consulting Partner
> OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> http://www.osr.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> To: File Systems Developers
> Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
>
>
> I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question but
> was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information otherwise
> unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> Is this true?
> Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> After all, this kit costs $1000…
> Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
>
> Many thanks, Alon.
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)

Alon,

It is easy to be confused in this situation…but don’t make it hard on
yourself. The kits you’ve researched below are used for *very* different
purposes. Define more clearly what your needs are and research only the
kits that are relevant. Then weigh the value in functionality/time to
market/cost to see which fits best for you.

Best of luck,

Dan.

Daniel D. Root
Director, Sales & Marketing
OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
http://www.osr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 3:50 AM
To: File Systems Developers
Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?

OSR offers the following two kits:

  1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
  2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.

I’ve also found the following kit:
KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for
Windows (2000/NT).

So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best
and gives you
the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that
the IFS kit
holds information that none of these have?
Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every
one of them
but… :slight_smile:

Thanks for all, Alon.

On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> > The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
> >
> > How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS?
> That, just for
> > reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it
> to essentially
> > everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the
> street (that does
> > raise some eyebrows, though.)
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Tony Mason
> > Consulting Partner
> > OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> > http://www.osr.com
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il
[mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> To: File Systems Developers
> Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
>
>
> I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question
but
> was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information
otherwise
> unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> Is this true?
> Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> After all, this kit costs $1000…
> Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
>
> Many thanks, Alon.
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)


You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)

As someone who has used the OSR FSDK and IFS kit, I will give you
my impressions:

  1. The OSR FSDK is a wrapper that provides a wonderful environment
    for building NT filesystems. You can build an NT file system with only
    the OSR tools and the DDK. If you are seriously thinking of building
    an NT file system, get this kit. The kit has outstanding doucmentation
    and support.

  2. The IFS kit is a CD of source and include files. There is no
    documentation
    except comments, and essentially no support. You can build file
    systems
    this way, but it is hard and painful. On the otherhand the include
    files
    provide prototypes to a large number of functions not defined by the
    DDK.
    Many of these functions can be very useful to general driver writers
    also.

Bottom line if you are building a file system commercially, get the OSR FSDK
it will save you money and grief. If you want to see how CDFS and FAT work
and are interested in NT kernel support routines get the IFS kit, but expect
a
lot of pain in writing a file system with it.

Don Burn

----- Original Message -----
From:
To: “File Systems Developers”
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 8:49 AM
Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?

> OSR offers the following two kits:
> 1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
> 2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.
>
> I’ve also found the following kit:
> KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for Windows (2000/NT).
>
> So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best and gives
you
> the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that the IFS kit
> holds information that none of these have?
> Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every one of them
> but… :slight_smile:
>
> Thanks for all, Alon.
>
> On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> > The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
> >
> > How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS? That, just
for
> > reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it to
essentially
> > everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the street (that
does
> > raise some eyebrows, though.)
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Tony Mason
> > Consulting Partner
> > OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> > http://www.osr.com
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> > To: File Systems Developers
> > Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
> >
> >
> > I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question
but
> > was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information
otherwise
> > unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> > develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> > Is this true?
> > Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> > After all, this kit costs $1000…
> > Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
> >
> > Many thanks, Alon.
> >
> > —
> > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@acm.org
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>

Dan,

I know that IFS kit is not available for people outside US but are the OSR kits available for someone outside US eg. Singapore.

thanks,
Almas

Alon,

It is easy to be confused in this situation…but don’t make it hard on
yourself. The kits you’ve researched below are used for *very* different
purposes. Define more clearly what your needs are and research only the
kits that are relevant. Then weigh the value in functionality/time to
market/cost to see which fits best for you.

Best of luck,

Dan.

Daniel D. Root
Director, Sales & Marketing
OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
http://www.osr.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 3:50 AM
> To: File Systems Developers
> Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?
>
>
> OSR offers the following two kits:
> 1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
> 2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.
>
> I’ve also found the following kit:
> KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for
> Windows (2000/NT).
>
> So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best
> and gives you
> the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that
> the IFS kit
> holds information that none of these have?
> Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every
> one of them
> but… :slight_smile:
>
> Thanks for all, Alon.
>
> On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> > > The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
> > >
> > > How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS?
> > That, just for
> > > reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it
> > to essentially
> > > everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the
> > street (that does
> > > raise some eyebrows, though.)
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Tony Mason
> > > Consulting Partner
> > > OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> > > http://www.osr.com
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il
> [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> > To: File Systems Developers
> > Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
> >
> >
> > I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question
> but
> > was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information
> otherwise
> > unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> > develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> > Is this true?
> > Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> > After all, this kit costs $1000…
> > Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
> >
> > Many thanks, Alon.
> >
> > —
> > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@krdl.org.sg
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>

Almas,

Sorry but the ifskit has been available outside the US since December 1998.
Check http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/ntifskit/news.htm

Rob Linegar
Software Engineer
Data Encryption Systems Limited

-----Original Message-----
From: Almas Khan [mailto:xxxxx@krdl.org.sg]
Sent: 30 March 2000 11:49
To: File Systems Developers
Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?

Dan,

I know that IFS kit is not available for people outside US but are the OSR
kits available for someone outside US eg. Singapore.

thanks,
Almas

Alon,

It is easy to be confused in this situation…but don’t make it hard on
yourself. The kits you’ve researched below are used for *very* different
purposes. Define more clearly what your needs are and research only the
kits that are relevant. Then weigh the value in functionality/time to
market/cost to see which fits best for you.

Best of luck,

Dan.

Daniel D. Root
Director, Sales & Marketing
OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
http://www.osr.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 3:50 AM
> To: File Systems Developers
> Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?
>
>
> OSR offers the following two kits:
> 1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
> 2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.
>
> I’ve also found the following kit:
> KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for
> Windows (2000/NT).
>
> So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best
> and gives you
> the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that
> the IFS kit
> holds information that none of these have?
> Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every
> one of them
> but… :slight_smile:
>
> Thanks for all, Alon.
>
> On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> > > The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
> > >
> > > How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS?
> > That, just for
> > > reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it
> > to essentially
> > > everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the
> > street (that does
> > > raise some eyebrows, though.)
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Tony Mason
> > > Consulting Partner
> > > OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> > > http://www.osr.com
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il
> [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> > To: File Systems Developers
> > Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
> >
> >
> > I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question
> but
> > was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information
> otherwise
> > unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> > develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> > Is this true?
> > Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> > After all, this kit costs $1000…
> > Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
> >
> > Many thanks, Alon.
> >
> > —
> > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@krdl.org.sg
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>


You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@des.co.uk
To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)

Thanks Rob!!!

Just shows that I am still in the dark ages.

Almas

Almas,

Sorry but the ifskit has been available outside the US since December 1998.
Check http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/ntifskit/news.htm

Rob Linegar
Software Engineer
Data Encryption Systems Limited

-----Original Message-----
From: Almas Khan [mailto:xxxxx@krdl.org.sg]
Sent: 30 March 2000 11:49
To: File Systems Developers
Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?

Dan,

I know that IFS kit is not available for people outside US but are the OSR
kits available for someone outside US eg. Singapore.

thanks,
Almas
>
> Alon,
>
> It is easy to be confused in this situation…but don’t make it hard on
> yourself. The kits you’ve researched below are used for *very* different
> purposes. Define more clearly what your needs are and research only the
> kits that are relevant. Then weigh the value in functionality/time to
> market/cost to see which fits best for you.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Dan.
>
> Daniel D. Root
> Director, Sales & Marketing
> OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> http://www.osr.com
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 3:50 AM
> > To: File Systems Developers
> > Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?
> >
> >
> > OSR offers the following two kits:
> > 1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
> > 2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.
> >
> > I’ve also found the following kit:
> > KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for
> > Windows (2000/NT).
> >
> > So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best
> > and gives you
> > the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that
> > the IFS kit
> > holds information that none of these have?
> > Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every
> > one of them
> > but… :slight_smile:
> >
> > Thanks for all, Alon.
> >
> > On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> > > > The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
> > > >
> > > > How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS?
> > > That, just for
> > > > reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it
> > > to essentially
> > > > everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the
> > > street (that does
> > > > raise some eyebrows, though.)
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > >
> > > > Tony Mason
> > > > Consulting Partner
> > > > OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> > > > http://www.osr.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il
> > [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> > > To: File Systems Developers
> > > Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
> > >
> > >
> > > I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question
> > but
> > > was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information
> > otherwise
> > > unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> > > develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> > > Is this true?
> > > Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> > > After all, this kit costs $1000…
> > > Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
> > >
> > > Many thanks, Alon.
> > >
> > > —
> > > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
> >
> > —
> > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
> >
> > —
> > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@krdl.org.sg
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
> >
>
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@des.co.uk
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@krdl.org.sg
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>

The Windows 2000 IFSKit now contains lots of new documentation as well as
new sample filters.

Neal Christiansen

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Burn [mailto:xxxxx@acm.org]
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 6:10 AM
To: File Systems Developers
Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?

As someone who has used the OSR FSDK and IFS kit, I will give you
my impressions:

  1. The OSR FSDK is a wrapper that provides a wonderful environment
    for building NT filesystems. You can build an NT file system with only
    the OSR tools and the DDK. If you are seriously thinking of building
    an NT file system, get this kit. The kit has outstanding doucmentation
    and support.

  2. The IFS kit is a CD of source and include files. There is no
    documentation
    except comments, and essentially no support. You can build file
    systems
    this way, but it is hard and painful. On the otherhand the include
    files
    provide prototypes to a large number of functions not defined by the
    DDK.
    Many of these functions can be very useful to general driver writers
    also.

Bottom line if you are building a file system commercially, get the OSR FSDK
it will save you money and grief. If you want to see how CDFS and FAT work
and are interested in NT kernel support routines get the IFS kit, but expect
a
lot of pain in writing a file system with it.

Don Burn

----- Original Message -----
From:
To: “File Systems Developers”
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 8:49 AM
Subject: [ntfsd] RE: IFS kit - why should I get it?

> OSR offers the following two kits:
> 1. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Filter Driver Kit and
> 2. Windows NT 4.0 File Systems Development Kit.
>
> I’ve also found the following kit:
> KernelDriver - Kernel mode driver development tool for Windows (2000/NT).
>
> So it seems that it’s really hard to tell which is the best and gives
you
> the most. Given the following kits, do you still think that the IFS kit
> holds information that none of these have?
> Which is “the best”? I’d love to buy them all and try every one of them
> but… :slight_smile:
>
> Thanks for all, Alon.
>
> On 03/29/00, “Tony Mason ” wrote:
> > The IFS Kit has always been, and remains, a bargain.
> >
> > How else can you get the source code for FASTFAT and CDFS? That, just
for
> > reference by itself, is easily worth $1000. I recommend it to
essentially
> > everyone, including random strangers that I pass on the street (that
does
> > raise some eyebrows, though.)
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Tony Mason
> > Consulting Partner
> > OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.
> > http://www.osr.com
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xxxxx@AppStream.co.il [mailto:xxxxx@AppStream.co.il]
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 11:57 PM
> > To: File Systems Developers
> > Subject: [ntfsd] IFS kit - why should I get it?
> >
> >
> > I searched the archive, and found an email that asked the same question
but
> > was left unanswered. As I understand, the IFS kit has information
otherwise
> > unavailable from other sources, meaning that you need the IFS kit to
> > develop a system device driver on Windows NT.
> > Is this true?
> > Is the IFS kit “a must”?
> > After all, this kit costs $1000…
> > Assume that I might need any function available for device drivers.
> >
> > Many thanks, Alon.
> >
> > —
> > You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@osr.com
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@acm.org
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)
>


You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@Exchange.Microsoft.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst(‘Email.Unsub’)