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File Allocation Strategies with Examples 1

The document discusses three primary file allocation strategies in operating systems: Sequential, Indexed, and Linked Allocation. Each method has distinct advantages and drawbacks, such as fragmentation issues in Sequential Allocation, the need for an index block in Indexed Allocation, and slower access in Linked Allocation. Example problems illustrate the challenges and solutions associated with each allocation method.

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Prateek sbl
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17 views

File Allocation Strategies with Examples 1

The document discusses three primary file allocation strategies in operating systems: Sequential, Indexed, and Linked Allocation. Each method has distinct advantages and drawbacks, such as fragmentation issues in Sequential Allocation, the need for an index block in Indexed Allocation, and slower access in Linked Allocation. Example problems illustrate the challenges and solutions associated with each allocation method.

Uploaded by

Prateek sbl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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File Allocation Strategies in Operating

Systems

1 Introduction
File allocation methods determine how files are stored on disk. Three primary
strategies are:
• Sequential Allocation
• Indexed Allocation

• Linked Allocation
Each method has different ways of storing and managing disk space.

2 Sequential Allocation
In this method, a file occupies contiguous disk blocks. It is simple and fast but
suffers from fragmentation.

2.1 Example Problem 1


Problem Statement: Given a disk with 10 blocks (0-9), some blocks are
already allocated: {1, 2, 6, 7}. A file of size 4 needs allocation. Can it be
allocated? If not, what happens?
Solution: No continuous space of 4 blocks is available. This results in ex-
ternal fragmentation. Compaction or a different allocation method is needed.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

2.2 Example Problem 2


Problem Statement: A file of size 3 must be allocated, but only scattered
free blocks are available (0, 3, 5, 8, 9). What issues arise?
Solution: Since sequential allocation requires continuous space, this file
cannot be stored despite enough total space. External fragmentation occurs.

1
3 Indexed Allocation
Each file has an index block storing pointers to its disk blocks.

3.1 Example Problem 1


Problem Statement: A file requires 4 blocks. The index block is stored at
block 1, but only three pointers fit per index block. How is the file stored?
Solution: If more pointers are needed, an indirect index block is required.

0 1
Idx 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3.2 Example Problem 2


Problem Statement: What happens if the index block itself gets corrupted?
Solution: If the index block is lost, all file pointers are lost, making file
recovery difficult unless backups exist.

4 Linked Allocation
Each block contains a pointer to the next, avoiding fragmentation but slowing
access.

4.1 Example Problem 1


Problem Statement: A file is stored at locations 2 → 6 → 4 → 9, but block
6 gets corrupted. What happens?
Solution: Since pointers are stored within blocks, losing one block can break
the entire chain unless redundancy is present.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

4.2 Example Problem 2


Problem Statement: What happens if linked allocation is used for a large
file and the file system does not allow backward traversal?
Solution: Backward traversal is inefficient, making random access slow.

5 Conclusion
Each allocation method has its advantages and drawbacks:
• Sequential is simple but has fragmentation issues.

2
• Indexed provides random access but requires an index block.
• Linked avoids fragmentation but is slow for random access.

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