PRIMECLUSTER Global File Services Configuration and Administration Guide 4.1 (Solaris(TM) 10 Operating System)

2.1 Disk Structure of File System

This section describes the disk structure of the GFS Shared File System.

As illustrated below, the disk structure of the GFS Shared File System consists of the following elements:

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

[Figure Disk structure of the GFS Shared File System]

The GFS Shared File System manages the V-data area in units of 1,024 bytes and the file data area in unit of 8,192 bytes.

Conventional file systems have decentralized meta-data areas on their disks. However, the GFS Shared File System centralizes meta-data to improve meta-data access performance. Besides, localizing updated portions upon recovery of the file system allows the update log area to shorten the recovery time.

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2.1.1 Super block

2.1.2 Partition configuration data

2.1.3 Meta-data area

2.1.4 Update log area

2.1.5 File data area

2.1.6 Partition configuration