Directory Sizer 2 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Directory Sizer cope with other languages?

Yes Directory Sizer is Unicode throughout except for the IIS pages. If your IIS server runs on Windows 2000, you can simply edit include/dszConnection.asp and add a line after <% saying

    session.codepage = 65001

What databases does Directory Sizer support?

Only Microsoft SQL Server 7, SQL Server 2000, and MSDE. MSDE is a light version of SQL Server 7 which is provided free of charge with Directory Sizer if required.

Can I move the database to a new machine?

You need to move the database, and the Directory Sizer Central service from the database machine to the new machine, and you need to reset the SQL logins. For instructions on how to do all this see How to move the database to a new machine

Can Directory Sizer cope with deep directory trees?

Yes, Directory Sizer can size folder trees up to a maximum path from the drive root of around 32000 characters.

My server is really big, how long does it take to size a server?

The Directory Sizer service collects information at times you specify, rather than whenever you want to see the results of your size, so this is not usually a major concern.

Some examples:

• A mid-range server with half a million files took 14 minutes to size
• A desktop server with NT and some utility software installed took 1 minute to size
• A high-end server with 1.5 million files took 36 minutes to size

Does Directory Sizer work on a WAN?

Yes, Directory Sizer 2 works very well on a WAN. The Directory Sizer Central service initiates a scan on a remote machine with an RPC call. The Directory Sizer Scanner service on the remote machine sizes the machine. Later Directory Sizer Central picks up the results in a manner similar to copying a text file across, and then loads the information to the Directory Sizer Database.

Clearly the Directory Sizer Central service and the database server should not be separated by a WAN. In fact they should preferrably run on the same machine.

What registry settings can I play with?

Not many. Most administration is done through the Admin web interface.

Here is a list of Directory Sizer registry settings.

Are there any security issues to consider?

Security conscious sites may wish to read this Discussion on Directory Sizer security.

Can I migrate my 1.3 database to the new version?

Yes. After installing the new version, download and run dirsizeu.exe. There is no problem running both versions concurrently, and the migration lets you set bounds for the data you want to migrate, so running both together won't cause future problems either.

There will however be a noticeable difference between data collected by the old version and that collected by the new version: the new version collects number of files, and reported vs allocated size. Despite collecting more information, the size of the version 2 database will be roughly half that of your current 1.3 database!

I'm a registered 1.3 user. What does it cost to upgrade to version 2.x?

Nothing. Your existing registration key works for version 2.x