In computing, file system fragmentation, sometimes called file system aging is the inability of a file system to lay out related data sequentially (contiguously), an inherent phenomena in storage-backed file systems that allow in-place modification of their contents. It is a special case of data fragmentation.
File system fragmentation is projected to become more problematic with time, due to the increasing gap between sequential access speed and seek time of consumer-grade hard disks, which file systems are usually placed on.[1]
File system fragmentation may occur on several levels:
- Fragmentation within individual files.
- The decrease of locality of reference between separate, but related files.
- Free space fragmentation, making it increasingly difficult to lay out new files contiguous
See also
References
- ^ Dr. Mark H. Kryder (2006-04-03). "Future Storage Technologies: A Look Beyond the Horizon" (PDF). Storage Networking World conference. Seagate Technology. Retrieved 2006-12-14.
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