The Offline Files (CscService) service performs maintenance activities in the Offline Files cache, responds to user logon and logoff events, and dispatches events to accounts or logs that are configured to receive events related to Offline Files activities and changes in cache state.
The Offline Files service enables the user to designate particular network folders (and their subfolders) to be available offline. When the user is connected to the network, the Offline Files service automatically synchronizes the folders to the local hard disk drive. When the computer disconnects from the network, the Offline Files service provides access to the content from the locally cached copy. When the computer reconnects to the network, the service automatically synchronizes any changes that have been made in an offline file with the online version, and it updates the offline versions with recent changes to online versions.
We recommend that you use the Encrypting File System (EFS) to encrypt the Offline Files cache so that the files in the cache can only be accessed by the user on whose behalf it is cached.
This service is installed by default and its startup type is Automatic on computers running Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 7 Enterprise operating systems. The Offline Files service is not available on computers running the Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, or Windows 7 Home Premium operating systems.
When the Offline Files service is started in its default configuration, it logs on by using the Local System account.
The Offline Files service is dependent upon the following system components:
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
- DCOM Server Process Launcher
- RPC Endpoint Mapper