ISBoxers Software 'virtualization' feature

[Perrigrin]

I'm about to try ISBoxer, today I run keyclone with 1 wow folder and 4 "linked" wowfolders.

With ISBoxers automatic handling, do I still need to manage my own "4 linked folders", or can I just run one WoW install and have ISBoxer deal with the rest? (linking and separate folders are for performance and disk space reasons).

[Svpernova09]

I'm about to try ISBoxer, today I run keyclone with 1 wow folder and 4 "linked" wowfolders.

With ISBoxers automatic handling, do I still need to manage my own "4 linked folders", or can I just run one WoW install and have ISBoxer deal with the rest? (linking and separate folders are for performance and disk space reasons).

If you use the ISBoxer wizard the config.WTF will be vitualized for you. You'll just need 1 WoW install. Each toon's settings are saved in their own config in the WTF folder. So the client settings will always be the same for that toon.

[Perrigrin]

I was under the impression that running multiple wow installs was helpful for system performance though?

[Svpernova09]

I was under the impression that running multiple wow installs was helpful for system performance though?

Nope, not in my experience (and from what I've seen a lot of others say as well).

[Lax]

I was under the impression that running multiple wow installs was helpful for system performance though?

100% incorrect. :) Common misconception. I don't know how many times I've explained it here and elsewhere. The sole reason to use multiple folders is to keep separate configurations. The problem with doing this is that there are many layers of caching on your PC, from your hard drive to the operating system to the game itself. When you use multiple folders, the benefits of caching are lost, so the average time required to grab data from the disk is much, much slower. Like, multiple orders of ten slower. What some people do to mitigate this performance hit is "symlink" the data folders so that they're all using the same patch data files for example, and this allows the caching mechanisms to work properly. But it can still be a pain on patch day.

Using ISBoxer's virtual file feature instead of multiple folders, you don't need to worry about symlinking at all, you don't need to patch multiple folders on patch day, and you get the benefits of different configuration per character without taking performance hits. Then if you want, you can have a fast SSD hold your data folder with a symlink to improve access times. Or if you have enough RAM, it should be possible to use a RAM drive for the data folder too, which should be even faster ;)

[Perrigrin]

Ahh many thanks!!

[Drommon]

If you symlinked your folders then it is a different story. I have used IS both ways. One with virtualization and the other using symlinked folders.

There is no difference in performance. But I keep it that way just in case IS breaks. Then I use keyclone with symlinked folders. I can box without any addons. IS is nice luxury for boxers and I use it almost exclusively.

Since you have multiple wow installs you may look into symlinking your folders for better performance if you continue to use keyclone. If you want to use IS without any sort of backup then having one wow install is enough as IS uses virtual config files and manages multiple wow clients very well.


Clarification needed - Are we talking about multiple installs or linked folders? There is a BIG difference between the two.

[Perrigrin]

linked folders, ie symlinked as you put it - will probably not run it that way with isboxer unless it gives better performance, which i understand it shouldnt

[Drommon]

linked folders, ie symlinked as you put it - will probably not run it that way with isboxer unless it gives better performance, which i understand it shouldnt


In my experience there is no difference in performance bewtween linked folders and IS virtual config files.