operating-systems file-management
Definition
File System Layout
The file system layout describes the physical organisation of data on a disk partition, enabling the OS to locate the root directory and manage allocated vs. free blocks.
Master Boot Record
MBR
Located in Sector 0 of the disk. Contains:
- Boot Code: Executed by BIOS during startup
- Partition Table: Start/end addresses of all partitions; identifies the active partition
Partition Layout
Boot Block
Loads the OS kernel from this partition.
Super Block
Critical metadata: file system size, block count, magic number, pointers to other structures.
Free Space Management
Tracks unallocated blocks (e.g., bit table).
i-node Table
Array of i-nodes, one per potential file.
Root Directory
Top of the file hierarchy.
Data Blocks
Actual user data.