Windows indexing service
Encyclopedia
Indexing Service was a Windows service
that maintained an index of most of the files
on a computer to improve searching performance on PCs and corporate computer network
s. It updated indexed without user intervention. In Windows 7, it has been replaced by Windows Search
.
service included with Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack as well as Windows 2000
and later. The first incarnation of the indexing service was shipped in August 1996 as a content search system for Microsoft's web server software, Internet Information Services
. Its origins, however, date further back to Microsoft's Cairo operating system
project, with the component serving as the Content Indexer for the Object File System. Cairo was eventually shelved, but the content indexing capabilities would go on to be included as a standard component of later Windows desktop and server operating systems, starting with Windows 2000
, which includes Indexing Service 3.0.
In Windows Vista
, the content indexer was replaced with the Windows Search
indexer which was enabled by default. Indexing Service is still included with Windows Server 2008 but is not installed or running by default.
Indexing Service has been deprecated in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Once the indexing service has been turned on and has built its index it can be searched in three ways. The search option available from the Start Menu
on the Windows
Taskbar
will use the indexing service if it is enabled and will even accept complex queries. Queries can also be performed using either the Indexing Service Query Form in the Computer Management snap-in of Microsoft Management Console, or, alternatively, using third-party applications such as 'Aim at File' or 'Grokker Desktop'.
Microsoft Index Server 2.0 does not detect changes to a catalog if the data is located on a mounted partition
. It does not support mounted volumes because of technical limitations in file system.
Windows Service
On Microsoft Windows operating systems, a Windows service is a long-running executable that performs specific functions and which is designed not to require user intervention. Windows services can be configured to start when the operating system is booted and run in the background as long as...
that maintained an index of most of the files
Computer file
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...
on a computer to improve searching performance on PCs and corporate computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
s. It updated indexed without user intervention. In Windows 7, it has been replaced by Windows Search
Windows Search
Windows Search is an indexed desktop search platform released by Microsoft for the Windows operating system....
.
History
Indexing Service was a desktop searchDesktop search
Desktop search is the name for the field of search tools which search the contents of a user's own computer files, rather than searching the Internet...
service included with Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack as well as Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
and later. The first incarnation of the indexing service was shipped in August 1996 as a content search system for Microsoft's web server software, Internet Information Services
Internet Information Services
Internet Information Services – formerly called Internet Information Server – is a web server application and set of feature extension modules created by Microsoft for use with Microsoft Windows. It is the most used web server after Apache HTTP Server. IIS 7.5 supports HTTP, HTTPS,...
. Its origins, however, date further back to Microsoft's Cairo operating system
Cairo (operating system)
Cairo was the code name for a project at Microsoft from 1991 to 1996. Its charter was to build technologies for a next generation operating system that would fulfill Bill Gates' vision of "information at your fingertips." Cairo never shipped, although portions of its technologies have since...
project, with the component serving as the Content Indexer for the Object File System. Cairo was eventually shelved, but the content indexing capabilities would go on to be included as a standard component of later Windows desktop and server operating systems, starting with Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
, which includes Indexing Service 3.0.
In Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, the content indexer was replaced with the Windows Search
Windows Search
Windows Search is an indexed desktop search platform released by Microsoft for the Windows operating system....
indexer which was enabled by default. Indexing Service is still included with Windows Server 2008 but is not installed or running by default.
Indexing Service has been deprecated in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Search interfaces
Comprehensive searching is available after initial building of the index, which can take up to hours or days, depending on the size of the specified directories, the speed of the hard drive, user activity, indexer settings and other factors. Searching using Indexing service works also on UNC paths and/or mapped network drives if the sharing server indexes appropriate directory and is aware of its sharing.Once the indexing service has been turned on and has built its index it can be searched in three ways. The search option available from the Start Menu
Start menu
The Start Menu and Start Button are user interface elements used in the later versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems and in some X window managers...
on the Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
Taskbar
Taskbar
In computing, a taskbar is a bar displayed on a full edge of a GUI desktop that is used to launch and monitor running applications. Microsoft incorporated a taskbar in Windows 95 and it has been a defining aspect of Microsoft Windows's graphical user interface ever since. Some desktop environments,...
will use the indexing service if it is enabled and will even accept complex queries. Queries can also be performed using either the Indexing Service Query Form in the Computer Management snap-in of Microsoft Management Console, or, alternatively, using third-party applications such as 'Aim at File' or 'Grokker Desktop'.
Microsoft Index Server 2.0 does not detect changes to a catalog if the data is located on a mounted partition
Volume Mount Point
Volume Mount Points are specialized NTFS filesystem objects which are used to mount and provide an entry point to other volumes. Mount points can be created in a directory on an NTFS file system, which gives a reference to the root directory of the mounted volume. In fact, any empty directory can...
. It does not support mounted volumes because of technical limitations in file system.