Question : Raw Devices in Windows

Hi,
RDBMS software suggests RAW DEVICES as database devices which may offer direct non-cache access to the physical storage. In UNIX environment we can create raw devices. How can we create raw devices in Windows environment for databases?

Answer : Raw Devices in Windows

Hi,

You cant bypass the OS and read/write to a disk directly in Windows unless the software is written to use BIOS level instructions directly whichwould be down to the capabilities of the RDBMS.

You can disable cacheing on the disks easily enough.

Right click my computer and select manage.
Down the left pick disk management
right click on the volume (left of the display not on the partitioned space) and select properties.
Select the policies tab and select optimize for quick removal.

This will disable write caching on the disk and in windows itself leaving you a raw drive.

NB this will be greyed out on the boot volume as the setting is not allowed on the windows boot volume.

hope this helps.

Ian.