Kernel Transaction Manager
Encyclopedia
Kernel Transaction Manager (KTM) is a component of the Windows operating system
kernel in Windows Vista
and Windows Server 2008 that enables applications to use atomic transactions on resources
by making them available as kernel objects. The transaction engine, which operates in kernel mode, allows for transactions
on both kernel mode and user mode resources, as well as among distributed resources. The Kernel Transaction Manager intends to make it easy for application developers to do a lot of error recovery, virtually transparently, with KTM acting as a transaction manager that transaction clients can plug into. Those transaction clients can be third-party clients that want to initiate transactions on resources that are managed by Transaction Resource Manager. The resource managers can also be third-party or built into the system.
KTM is used to implement Transactional NTFS
(TxF) and Transactional Registry (TxR). KTM relies on the Common Log File System
(CLFS) for its operation. CLFS is a general-purpose log-file subsystem designed for creating data
and event logs.
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
kernel 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...
and Windows Server 2008 that enables applications to use atomic transactions on resources
Resource (computer science)
A resource, or system resource, is any physical or virtual component of limited availability within a computer system. Every device connected to a computer system is a resource. Every internal system component is a resource...
by making them available as kernel objects. The transaction engine, which operates in kernel mode, allows for transactions
Database transaction
A transaction comprises a unit of work performed within a database management system against a database, and treated in a coherent and reliable way independent of other transactions...
on both kernel mode and user mode resources, as well as among distributed resources. The Kernel Transaction Manager intends to make it easy for application developers to do a lot of error recovery, virtually transparently, with KTM acting as a transaction manager that transaction clients can plug into. Those transaction clients can be third-party clients that want to initiate transactions on resources that are managed by Transaction Resource Manager. The resource managers can also be third-party or built into the system.
KTM is used to implement Transactional NTFS
Transactional NTFS
Transactional NTFS is a component of Windows Vista and later operating systems. It brings the concept of atomic transactions to the NTFS file system, allowing Windows application developers to write file output routines that are guaranteed either to succeed completely or to fail completely.-...
(TxF) and Transactional Registry (TxR). KTM relies on the Common Log File System
Common Log File System
Common Log File System is a general-purpose logging subsystem that is accessible to both kernel-mode as well as user-mode applications for building high-performance transaction logs. It was introduced with Windows Server 2003 R2 and included in later Windows OSs. CLFS can be used for both data...
(CLFS) for its operation. CLFS is a general-purpose log-file subsystem designed for creating data
Computer data logging
Computer data logging is the process of recording events, with an automated computer program, in a certain scope in order to provide an audit trail that can be used to understand the activity of the system and to diagnose problems....
and event logs.