Definition

pagefile

In storage, a pagefile is a reserved portion of a hard disk that is used as an extension of random access memory (RAM) for data in RAM that hasn't been used recently. A pagefile can be read from the hard disk as one contiguous chunk of data and thus faster than re-reading data from many different original locations. Windows NT administrators or users can reset the system-provided default size value of the pagefile to meet their particular needs.

In other operating systems, the pagefile is called a swap file or a swap partition.

Related glossary terms: Ohm's Law, reboot (warm boot, cold boot), self-destructing email, shared memory, electron, L1 and L2, permittivity (electric permittivity), cardinality, angular velocity (rotational velocity), SKU (stockkeeping unit)

This was last updated in April 2005

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Email Alerts

Register now to receive SearchCIO-MidMarket.com-related news, tips and more, delivered to your inbox.

By submitting you agree to receive email from TechTarget and its partners. If you reside outside of the United States, you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Privacy

More News and Tutorials

Remote backup can ease network disaster recovery

Backing up to local disk or tape can protect against the accidental destruction of a file but will do nothing to protect you when your facility suffers fire or flooding. Remote backup provides a better solution. This tip looks at two possibilities for remote backup: Choosing an outsourced remote backup service, or using software to do your own backups to an offsite facility.
VoIP now part of phishing attacks

Learn how attackers are using the widespread deployment of low-cost VoIP to leverage phishing attacks.
VoIP privacy on the WAN

Is the government listening to your VoIP traffic? Can other companies spy on your WAN? It may sound like a paranoid conspiracy theory, but it's not that far out, technologically speaking. In this tip, Tom Lancaster looks at just how exposed your WAN traffic may be.

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know.

Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

Research More Tech Terms

Search thousands of tech definitions
Browse tech definitions
Browse Alphabetically:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
- #

Powered by WhatIs.com

File Extensions and File Formats

File Extension and File Formats List:

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
#

Powered by WhatIs.com

More from Related TechTarget Sites

CIO
Compliance
Health IT
Storage
Cloud computing
Mobile Computing
Windows IT

CIO
- Amid school budget cuts, CIO combines cost savings with innovation
  
  Amid budget cuts, a Florida school district CIO earns high marks for innovations that shore up and improve IT while saving money.
- Students-first mentality drives IT innovation at Athabasca University
  
  CIO Brian Stewart put students first in an overhaul of IT systems at Athabasca University. Read more about this IT Leadership Awards finalist.
- Consistent cybersecurity training a must to meet evolving threats
  
  In this week's Searchlight: bold new threats highlight need for cybersecuity training, why big data requires soft skills, cloud confusion and more.
Compliance
- The impact of cloud and social media on risk management strategies
  
  More organizations are incorporating the cloud and social media into business processes, changing enterprises’ risk management strategies.
- Q&A: The future of e-discovery technology as data processes evolve
  
  Information governance expert Jeffrey Ritter discusses how technology for e-discovery evolved, and how it influences data processes and management.
- MetricStream and CipherCloud announce new cloud security platforms
  
  In this Product Spotlight, learn about two new security platforms from vendors CipherCloud and MetricStream.
Health IT
- Challenges, opportunities of HIE development: Insights from MAeHC
  
  The Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative suffered a data breach in 2010. Read this Q&A to find out how that incident changed their encryption policy.
- Omnibus rule and business associate compliance: Q&A part 2
  
  In the second part of a Q&A, Micky Tripathi shares advice on how to monitor business associates and maintain HIPAA omnibus compliance.
- Q&A: Challenges, benefits of implementing single sign-on in hospitals
  
  Seconds add up to hours when Chilton Hospital reduces login times through single sign-on technology. Learn about its implementation in this Q&A.
searchStorage
- Permabit Technology extends primary data deduplication software
  
  Permabit tries to make its primary deduplication software more palatable to OEMs by adding compression and replication plug-ins.
- HP cloud storage service features open source OpenStack object store
  
  HP cloud storage service uses open source OpenStack object store to attract developers, ISVs and enterprises in competition against Amazon S3.
- Can storage hypervisors bring high availability to the cloud?
  
  Learn how the advanced functionality of a storage hypervisor provides a cloud infrastructure with high availability.
Cloud computing
- Sequestration stymies federal government cloud ambitions
  
  The federal government is under mandates to consolidate data centers and deliver IT as a Service, but sequestration makes this easier said than done.
- VMware charges into public cloud IaaS fray as Dell exits
  
  Dell will discontinue its OpenStack and VMware vCloud-based public cloud offerings as VMware delivers its vCloud IaaS.
- Cloud migration obstacles remain for heavily regulated industries
  
  Financial, government and healthcare industries must overcome data security breaches and regulatory issues for a successful cloud migration.
Mobile Computing
- Bringing BYOD to your enterprise
  
  Bring your own device (BYOD) can be a boon for both employees and enterprises, but clear policies and management tools are needed.
- Meeting technical requirements for mobile health care deployments
  
  IT departments deploying mobile health care solutions must ensure that using mobile devices in health care settings doesn't violate federal laws or compromise security.
- Making the call: Distributed antenna systems and in-building wireless
  
  Distributed antenna systems and in-building wireless solutions are two options to improve wireless cellular coverage within an enterprise facility.
Windows IT
- How to advance your cloud skills and get ahead of the gap
  
  There may be a growing shortage of IT pros with cloud skills, but you can take action now and become a valuable asset with the right skills.
- Prepare for a SharePoint 2013 upgrade with five tips
  
  Considering an upgrade to SharePoint 2013? Find out the answers to the most common questions IT pros will ask before making the jump.
- Prioritize your IT tasks and finally conquer your to-do list
  
  It's easy to feel overwhelmed by a growing to-do list of IT tasks, but there are easy ways you can decide what to tackle first and what can wait.

All Rights Reserved,Copyright 2007 - 2013, TechTarget