JPH05197601A - File storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute the read/write operation of file control information and the read/write operation of directory information required for accessing file data at high speed. CONSTITUTION:A file storage device 1 is with a high-speed memory 4 to be accessed at high speed rather than a medium (magnetic disk 3) for recording normal file data 6 and stores file control information 5 for managing respective files or directory information 7 in the high-speed memory 4, and a block size in the case of accessing the information is reduced rather than a block size in the case of accessing the medium recording the normal file data 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file storage device connected to an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic disk device is generally used as a file storage device connected to an information processing device. Recording of information in such a file storage device is performed in units of files, and file control information for managing a position where each file is recorded on the magnetic disk is also recorded on the magnetic disk. It was recorded at a specific position. However, the time required to read the information recorded in this device is 10 times the time required for the processor to read the information recorded in the main memory.
Since it is more than 00 times, if the file control information is read from the magnetic disk device every time a file is accessed, there is a problem that the information processing device cannot sufficiently exhibit its performance.

Further, as a file management method, a method of hierarchical management using a directory is mainly used. This is because the user of the information processing device collectively manages related files for each directory.
This method aims to improve the outlook of file management. Information for managing data files and directories arranged under the directory is recorded in the directory. To access a file in a file storage device managed by such a method, it is necessary to trace the directory up to the directory where the file to be accessed is placed, starting from the current directory or the topmost directory. ..
In order to perform such an operation in a conventional file storage device, it was necessary to read directory information from a low-speed magnetic disk, and such an operation was one of the major performance bottlenecks in an information processing device. ..

[0004]

In the conventional file storage device, the file control information necessary for accessing the file is read from the low-speed magnetic disk device, so this operation is performed in the information processing device. It was one of the major performance bottlenecks.

Further, in the file storage device which hierarchically manages by using the directory, the read operation of the directory information in the operation of tracing the directory is also read from the low-speed magnetic disk device. Therefore, this operation is performed in the information processing device. It was one of the major performance bottlenecks.

[0006]

In the file storage device of the invention (1) of the present application, in addition to a medium for recording normal file data, a high-speed memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than this is provided, and each file is stored. File control information for managing the file is stored in this high-speed memory. Further, in the information processing device of the invention (2) of the present application, the directory information is stored in the high-speed memory in addition to the file control information.

[0007]

In the file storage device according to the invention (1) of the present application (the device according to claim 1), the reading and writing operations of the file control information performed by the information processing device are performed on a high-speed memory which can be accessed at high speed. Be done. Also,
In the file storage device according to the invention (2) of the present application (the device according to claim 3), the reading and writing operations of the directory information performed by the information processing device are performed on the high-speed memory which can be accessed at high speed.

A magnetic disk device is generally used as a file storage device connected to the information processing device. In this magnetic disk device, it takes a lot of time to wait for the movement and rotation of the head to prepare for accessing the information, but once the information access is started, it becomes necessary to input / output the collected data. It has the characteristic that it takes less time. Therefore, the input / output of information between the magnetic disk and the information processing device is performed as a unit of data of a size called a block size, thereby improving the efficiency of the input / output operation. As a result, in the file which is less than one block or in the last block of the file, an unused portion in the block occurs. From the above, in general, in the magnetic disk device, when the block size is increased, the input / output performance is improved, but the unused part in the block is increased,
There is a trade-off that the efficiency of using the disk becomes poor.

Further, in a file storage device that uses a semiconductor memory as a high-speed memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than a magnetic disk, almost no time is required for preparation for accessing information, so most of the time required for input / output processing. Is the time during which data is being transferred to and from the information processing device. Therefore, in the file storage device using the semiconductor memory, even if the block size is increased, the effect of improving the input / output performance of the magnetic disk is small. Further, such a file storage device is more expensive than a magnetic disk and is not suitable for recording a large amount of information, so that it is rarely used in general.

On the other hand, the recording of information in the file storage device is performed in units of files, and the file control information for managing the position where each file is recorded in the file storage device is also a file. It was recorded at a specific location on the enclosure. However, since the time required to read the information recorded in the magnetic disk device is 1000 times or more the time required for the processor to read the information recorded in the main memory, only the magnetic disk device is used. In the file storage device described above, if the file control information is read from the magnetic disk device each time the file is accessed, the information processing device cannot sufficiently exhibit its performance. Therefore, for the file control information, a file storage device using a semiconductor memory was devised as a high-speed memory that can be accessed at high speed.

Even when accessing information to a file storage device in which such a magnetic disk and a semiconductor memory are combined, or when reading file control information on the semiconductor memory if the block size is constant,
There is no choice but to access in units of block size suitable for accessing file data on the magnetic disk. Since this block size is generally larger than the file control information for one file, when the file control information is accessed, the control information for a plurality of files is accessed. That is, the control information regarding unnecessary files is also accessed. This method was less problematic for magnetic disks, which took much time to prepare for accessing information, but in semiconductor memory, there was almost no time to prepare for accessing information, and most of the access time was spent transferring data. Since it is the time to access, the time to access control information about unnecessary files becomes overhead,
The performance of the information processing device is degraded.

Recently, as a file management method,
Hierarchical management using directories is the mainstream. This is a method aimed at improving the prospect of file management by the user of the information processing apparatus collectively managing related files for each directory. Information for managing data files and directories arranged under the directory is recorded in the directory. To access a file in a file storage device managed by such a method, it is necessary to trace the directory starting from the current directory or the top-level directory to the directory where the file to be accessed is placed. .. Since access to this directory information is also one of the major performance bottlenecks in the information processing apparatus, a file storage device for storing directory information in a semiconductor memory was devised. In general, the directory information is smaller than the block size like the file control information, so that the same problem as the file control information occurs if the block size is constant. Further, in a file storage device that manages directory information in the same manner as a normal file, most of the blocks that store the directory information are not used, so the efficiency of use of the file storage device deteriorates.

The file storage device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic disk and the high speed memory are used together to store the file control information necessary for accessing the file in the high speed memory. Since the data is accessed in units of block size suitable for the magnetic disk device, the read operation of the file control information regarding the unnecessary file becomes one of the major performance bottlenecks in the information processing device. In the invention described in claim 2, when accessing the file control information recorded in the high-speed memory, a block size as small as one file of control information is used as a unit to access control information relating to unnecessary files. Without having to do so, you can access only the control information about the files you need.

Further, in the file storage device according to claim 3, which is a file storage device which hierarchically manages by using a directory, and the directory information is also stored in the high speed memory, the magnetic disk is used even when the directory information is accessed. Accessing in units of block size data suitable for the device causes the same problem as in the file control information. Furthermore, in a file storage device that manages directory information in the same manner as a normal file, most of the blocks that store directory information are not used, so the efficiency of use of the file storage device deteriorates. In the invention described in the claims, when accessing the directory information recorded in the high-speed memory,
By using a small block size as a unit, the access time was shortened and the directory information storage memory was used more efficiently.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the file storage device described in claim 2. FIG. 2 shows claim 4.
3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the file storage device described in FIG.

In the file storage device shown in FIG. 1, the file control information 5 is recorded in the high speed memory 4. In general,
Since the amount of file control information 5 is much smaller than the amount of file data 6, even if an expensive high-speed memory is used for this portion, the cost of the file storage device is little affected.

In order for the information processing device 2 shown in FIG. 1 to access the file data 6 recorded in the file storage device 1, first, the file control information 5 recorded in the high speed memory 4 is read out, and the purpose is set. File data 6
, Which position is recorded on the magnetic disk 3, and the file data 6 is read out based on the result. When reading the file control information 5, the block size is set as the amount of the file control information 5 for one file. Generally, the block size at this time is smaller than the block size at the time of accessing the magnetic disk 3. Therefore, by this control, transfer of the file control information 5 relating to an unnecessary file can be eliminated, and the read operation of the file control information 5 required when accessing the file can be performed at high speed.

Further, in order for the information processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 to newly record the file data in the file storage apparatus 1, first, the file control information 5 is read and the target file data is read. Recordable magnetic disk 3
Find out the position above. Based on the result, the file data is written and the file control information 5 is written to reflect the newly written file data 6 in the file control information 5. In the file storage device 1, since the block size for accessing the file control information 5 arranged in the high-speed memory 4 is set as the amount of the file control information 5 for one file, the file control for files not related to writing is performed. It is possible to reduce the write operation of the information 5. Therefore, the write operation of the file control information 5 required when recording file data can be performed at high speed.

In the information processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the file control information 5, directory information 7 for hierarchically managing files is recorded in the high speed memory 4. Since the amount of the directory information 7 is much smaller than the amount of the file data 6, even if an expensive high speed memory is used for this portion, the cost of the file storage device is little affected.

In order for the information processing device 2 shown in FIG. 2 to access the file data 6 recorded in the file storage device 1, first, the access target file is set starting from the current directory or the topmost directory. Up to the directory in which is placed, the directory information sequentially placed in the high-speed memory 4 is read. This directory information 7
Is read, the block size is made smaller than the block size used when accessing the magnetic disk 3. This control makes it possible to eliminate an unnecessary read operation of the directory information 7, so that the read operation of the directory information 7 necessary for accessing the file data 6 recorded in the file storage device 1 can be performed at high speed. Can be done.

Further, in order for the information processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 2 to newly record the file data in the file storage apparatus 1, after performing the above-described operation of tracing the directory, the file data is recorded. Is written, and the directory information 7 is updated in order to reflect the information on the newly written file data 6 in the directory information 7. In the file storage device 1, when writing the directory information 7, the block size is made smaller than the block size when the magnetic disk 3 is accessed. Since this control makes it possible to eliminate unnecessary writing operation of the directory information 7,
The writing operation of the directory information 7 required to newly record the file data in the file storage device 1 can be performed at high speed.

[0022]

According to the invention (1), the reading and writing operations of the file control information necessary for accessing the file data can be performed at high speed. Also,
According to the invention (2), in addition to the effect of the invention (1), the read / write operation of the directory information necessary for accessing the file data can be performed at high speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a file storage device according to the invention (1) of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a file storage device according to the invention (2) of the present application.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 File Storage Device 2 Information Processing Device 3 Magnetic Disk 4 High Speed Memory 5 File Control Information 6 File Data 7 Directory Information

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A file storage device connected to an information processing device, which is provided with a high-speed memory that can be accessed faster than a medium for recording normal file data, and file control information for managing individual files. A file storage device characterized by storing data in a high-speed memory. 2. The file according to claim 1, wherein the block size for reading the file control information is smaller than the block size for accessing a medium for recording normal file data. Storage device. 3. A file storage device, which is connected to an information processing device and manages files hierarchically by directories, is provided with a high-speed memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than a medium for recording normal file data. A file storage device, characterized in that file control information for managing files and information of the directory are stored in a high-speed memory. 4. The file storage according to claim 3, wherein the block size for reading the directory information is smaller than the block size for accessing a medium for recording normal file data. apparatus.