On file access, the file system yields allocated data as actual and deallocated data as zeros. APIs allow application developers to bypass file expansion and directly read the allocated ranges. This enables applications to avoid processing large streams of zeros yielded by the file system and to copy or move potentially huge files with sparse data streams in an efficient manner. Using disk quotas, a new feature in NTFS, provides administrators with more granular control of network-based storage. Quotas allow implementation of both hard and soft storage limits on a per user basis for a given NTFS volume.
Quotas affect the free disk space reported to applications.
Data storage in the computer running Remote Storage in a Windows 2000-based system is designed to lower storage costs by trading off latency against media cost. Based on established criteria, data is automatically migrated from local volumes to tape libraries. Reparse points specifically related to remote storage are used on the primary storage to denote migrated files. Because file recall does involve latency, it is the responsibility of storage applications programmers to refrain from inadvertently or unnecessarily recalling files. Examples of such applications are backup and anti-virus utilities.