>>>It is obvious to me that I am able to write "through the cache" on the server (as MS puts it) from a client machine using FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH (just like SQL Server does).
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>>Well I can't tell for sure. I see FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH as applicable ONLY in the CreateFile, so it seems applicable to all WRITE I/O to the file. I was reading about FlushFileBuffers and it seems more applicable for FLUSH, at least as I understand things.
>
>I'll take one or the other. If I was asking for the "community" in general, I would ask for FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH which imposes less of a responsibility (to "flush") on the application programmer. A compromise could be both, with a "toggle" for opening files with FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH.

Yes, after reading your other regarding SQL Server I'd certainly feel comfortable with CreateFile/FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH. Then FLUSH wouldn't matter.
I was reticent earlier (still am, a teeny bit) because of performance impact, but if its good enough for SQL Server...

cheers