SDI Overview
5/10/2007
Windows XP Embedded includes the System Deployment Image (SDI) feature, which enables you to manage your run-time images. With SDI you can create file-backed virtual disk drives that can be used as a staging area for your run-time images. The SDI feature simulates a storage medium by using a disk image (.sdi) file that is located on an existing file system.
The storage medium can be in online or offline mode. In online mode:
- The storage medium appears as if inserted in the drive.
- You can partition and format the emulated storage medium, and save your run-time image to it.
In offline mode:
- The storage medium appears as if ejected from the drive.
- A file holds the disk image and you can copy the file and the image to another location.
Do not change a virtual disk drive to a dynamic disk drive at any time; dynamic disk drives are not supported.
The following table shows the SDI features.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
SDI Driver |
Emulates disk drives. |
SDI Loader |
Enables you to create, add, connect, remove, or disconnect virtual disk drives. |
SDI Manager |
Enables you to manipulate a disk image file in offline mode. You can query its contents and manipulate its BLOBs. |
See Also
Tasks
Manually Installing the SDI Driver
Using the SDI Loader
Uninstalling the SDI Driver
Deploying a Run-Time Image Using the SDI Data Extraction Tool
Concepts
SDI Manager
SDI Data Extraction Tool