Network defrags a snap with Winternal
Brien M Posey
Published: 10 Oct 2002 16:06 BST
There's an exclude screen that allows you to specify file names or file types that shouldn't be defragmented. And the next screen allows you to set up the logging options. By default, the logs are written to %installpath%\logfiles\. The system is configured to keep four days' worth of logs and delete old log files. Of course, all of these options can be customised.
The final screen dictates which computers are included in the defragmentation schedule that you created. You can add computers to the list using the Add button. Simply make your selections from the list, click OK, and then click Finish.
It may take a minute to get started
I set up three computers to be defragmented at 9:45 A.M. When 9:45 rolled around, nothing happened, and at first I thought that the process wasn't working. I soon realised though that it takes a couple of minutes for the server to issue all the necessary commands. The actual defragmentation process isn't obvious either. You'll know the client is being defragmented from the increase in hard disk chatter and a small icon in the system tray. If you move your mouse pointer over this icon, you can see the percentage of the defragmentation that has completed.
Network
You can easily add more computers to an existing schedule without having to go through a complex schedule modification process. In Figure B, you'll notice that just below the Schedules section in the column on the left, there's a Network section. Expanding the Network section reveals all of the domains on your network. If you select a domain, then the column on the right will display the systems found within that domain.
| Figure B |
 |
| The Network section lists the computers found in each domain. |
If you need to add machines to a schedule, you can simply drag them from the domain list to the appropriate schedule.
Active Directory
You might have noticed the Active Directory node at the bottom of Figure B. Normally, you won't have to use the Active Directory feature, but it does have its merits. You can use this feature to view machines that don't have NetBIOS enabled or to view machines in their Active Directory hierarchy. This is particularly useful if you'd rather defragment on the basis of an entire OU than adding individual machines to the defragmentation schedule.
Worth the price
Just like every other product that I've ever tested from Winternals, Defrag Manager is a winner. This product was easy to use, and it worked exactly the way it was supposed to. I give it a firm thumbs-up.
The price of Defrag Manager depends on the number of nodes you intend to use it on. For example, a Winternals' sales representative quoted me these prices:
- 10 nodes: $169
- 100 nodes: $1,194
- 1,000 nodes: $7,100
To learn more about the pricing of Defrag Manager or to get an estimate for your organisation, you can contact a Winternals sales representative.
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