[comp.unix.questions] BSD Unix fast file system

ddk@beta.lanl.gov (David D Kaas) (04/13/89)

	I have heard about the Berkeley UNIX fast file system but
	why is it a 'fast' file system?  Different block sizes, file
	allocation?
	Thank You ahead of time.

-- 
Dave Kaas - D.O.E. Richland, Wa.
	e41126%rlvax3.xnet@lanl.gov

klee@daisy.UUCP (Ken Lee) (04/14/89)

Here's part of the abstract to "A Fast File System for UNIX" by
McKusick, Joy, Leffler, and Fabry:

	A reimplementation of the UNIX file system is described.  The
	reimplementation provides substantially higher throughput rates
	by using more flexible allocation policies that allow better
	locality of reference and that can be adapted to a wide range of
	peripheral and processor characteristics.  The new file system
	clusters data that is sequentially accessed and provides two
	block sizes to allow fast access for large files while not
	wasting large amounts of space for small files.  File access
	rates of up to ten times faster than the traditional UNIX file
	system are experienced.

The paper is distributed in the BSD UNIX manuals.  Since the "fast file
system" is being adapted by AT&T System V UNIX, it may also be described
in their manuals.
-- 
Ken Lee
Daisy Systems Corp., Interactive Graphics Tools Dept.
Internet and Smail:  klee@daisy.uucp
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