Backing Up and Restoring Single Instance Store (SIS) Files

The Single Instance Store (SIS) is a Windows 2000/2003 system service that manages disk space by replacing duplicate files on a system with link files, and copies the original file into the SIS store. The link file contains information such as the original file's current location in the SIS store, size and attributes. This service is used by internal Windows 2000/2003 components such as Remote Installation Service (RIS).

When LiveVault Online Backup Service encounters an SIS link file, it backs up a copy of the original file, not just the link file. For instance, if you have three link files referencing a single original file and LiveVault Online Backup Service is backing up the directories containing those link files, then it will back up three copies of the original file.

When restoring the SIS files, LiveVault Online Backup Service will restore the full file copy that is on the backup server. For example, if you choose to restore directories that contain three copies of an SIS file, then the three copies of the file are restored to your disk. At some point following the restore, the SIS Groveler service will run again on your computer and replace the duplicate files with link files.

Note: Because LiveVault Online Backup Service restores the full file copies (not link files), it is possible for you to run out of disk space during a restore if adequate disk space is not available.

Refer to your Windows 2000/2003 documentation for more information about SIS files.

Related Information

Restoring the Remote Installation Service (RIS) Folder