Share via

Syscache (SYSTEM)

  • Article

This data validation test runs on the system volume. It writes to a file and verifies that the data written is read back correctly. It can detect corruptions caused by anything in the path from firmware, drivers, file system, memory, etc. It uses standard Win32 file system and memory management APIs to read and write data from the file.

Test details

   
Specifications
  • System.Fundamentals.StorageAndBoot.BootPerformance
Platforms
  • Windows 10, client editions (x86)
  • Windows 10, client editions (x64)
Supported Releases
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 10, version 1511
  • Windows 10, version 1607
  • Windows 10, version 1703
  • Windows 10, version 1709
  • Windows 10, version 1803
  • Windows 10, version 1809
  • Windows 10, version 1903
  • Next update to Windows 10
Expected run time (in minutes) 15
Category Scenario
Timeout (in minutes) 900
Requires reboot false
Requires special configuration false
Type automatic

Additional documentation

Tests in this feature area might have additional documentation, including prerequisites, setup, and troubleshooting information, that can be found in the following topic(s):

Running the test

Before you run the test, complete the test setup as described in the test requirements: WDTF System Fundamentals Testing Prerequisites.

Troubleshooting

For generic troubleshooting of HLK test failures, see Troubleshooting Windows HLK Test Failures.

For troubleshooting information, see Troubleshooting System Fundamentals Testing.

When the test fails, the log contains all of the information you need to analyze the failure. Look for the following information to reproduce the error:

  • The "Write Attribute". Look up the table of write attributes to find how the data was written to the file.

  • The "Read Attribute". Look up the table of read attributes to find out how the data was read back from the file.

  • The offset at which the error occurred.

  • The region of the file in which the error occurred. The test typically writes entire region using a single write (with the exception of the FILE_FLAG_SECTOR_CHUNKS option, where it writes one sector at a time).

More information

Syscache opens a file with a certain flag/attribute and writes to the file. Each chosen flag may span several runs on the file.

A run is defined as a set of the following sequence:

  • Create/open a file.

  • Truncate the file size to 0.

  • Write to the file.

  • Close the file.

  • Open the file again.

  • Read the file.

  • Verify the contents of the file.

  • Close the file.

There is a set of zero and non-zero regions in the file. Zero regions are areas in the file where no data was written. Non-zero regions are areas in the file where data was written. The pattern is a DWORD of the format RRPPPPPP, where the top byte is the run number and the next 3 bytes are the one's complement of the offset of this DWORD in the file. Ignore the first DWORD of a sector, as it might contain data for test use.

The following attributes are used for writing a file:

Write attribute Explanation
FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL See CreateFile function.
FILE_FLAG_SEQUENTIAL_SCAN See CreateFile function.
FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING See CreateFile function.
FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH See CreateFile function.
FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TEMPORARY See CreateFile function.
NO_BUFFERING | WRITE_THROUGH See CreateFile function.
FILE_ATTRIBUTE_SPARSE_FILE The file is set to sparse.
NORMAL APPEND_WRITE Same as FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL; closes and reopening the file per write and appending the next region.
FILE_FLAG_SECTOR_CHUNKS Same as FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING, data is written one sector at a time.
FILE_MAP Same as FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, data is written via memory mapping.
FILE_FLAG_OVEREXTEND Same as FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, data is written via memory mapping.

The following attributes are used for reading from the file:

Write attribute Explanation
FILE_MAP FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, data is read via memory mapping
NO_BUFFERING FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING
NORMAL FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL
RANDOM_ACCESS FILE_FLAG_RANDOM_ACCESS
SEQUENTIAL_SCAN FILE_FLAG_SEQUENTIAL_SCAN
TEMPORARY FILE_FLAG_TEMPORARY
WRITE_THROUGH FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH

Command syntax

Command Description
readwrit.exe -n 10 -d /logfile Syscache.log Runs the test.

File list

File Location
readwrit.exe <[testbinroot]>\NTTest\BASETEST\core_file_services\cachemgr\
ntlog.dll <[osbinroot]>\NTTest\CommonTest\NtLog\
ntlogger.ini <[osbinroot]>\NTTest\CommonTest\NtLog\
stresslog.dll <[testbinroot]>\NTTest\basetest\core_file_services\shared_libs

Parameters

Parameter name Parameter description
LLU_NetAccessOnly LLU for net access