PRIMECLUSTER Global File Services Configuration and Administration Guide 4.2 (Solaris(TM) Operating Environment)

3.1 Disk Structure of the GFS Local File System

This section explains the disk structure of the GFS Local File System.

As shown in the figure below, the disk structure of the GFS Local File System consists of the following elements:

• Super block
• Partition configuration data
• Update log area
• Meta-data area (area management data, i-node area, V-data area)
• File data area

The GFS Local File System manages the V-data area in units of 1024 bytes and file data area in units of 8192 bytes.

While conventional file systems distribute the meta-data management areas over the disk, the GFS Local File System stores meta-data centrally. This not only improves the access speed for meta-data but also localizes updates and shortens the interval between the versions of update logs when the file system is recovered.