Real-time apparatus and method for minimizing disk fragmentation

Details Real-time apparatus and method for minimizing disk fragmentation Real-time apparatus and method for minimizing disk fragmentation

1997-03-26

1999-07-27

Swann, Tod R.

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory

Storage accessing and control

Memory configuring

707205, 707103, 707206, 707 1, 711170, 360 48, G06F 1200

Patent

active

059308281

ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for defragmenting a disk drive in a computer system. The defragmentation process, in accordance with the present invention, determines which files have a high degree of fragmentation, where such file extents are to be physically moved on the disk and further determines which portions of such files are to be moved to the selected physical location. More particularly, the defragmentation process selects each file on the disk, checks to see if the file is excluded from processing and, if not, recovers the extent list for the file. If the file is fragmented, the process determines if there is sufficient free space in which to move the file extents to contiguous location on the disk. If such as space exists, the file extents are moved. If the free space is sufficiently fragmented or the disk is substantially full, contiguous files are moved to contiguous locations so as to partially defragment the file. If the file is already contiguous or if there is insufficient free space available to partially defragment the fragmented files, the process of the present invention moves the files or the file extents so as to maximize contiguous free space on the disk. The process then repeats so as to further defragment files that were previously left fragmented. In this manner fragmented files and fragmented free space on the disk are made contiguous. Files are then moved toward the front of the disk where possible. When the fragmentation process is complete, contiguous files tend to be packed toward the front of the disk with defragmented free space tending to be located toward the end of the disk.

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