File Systems Flashcards
1
Q
What is physical or lowlevel formatting?
A
Dividing the disk into sectors that the disk controller can read and write. Normally done at manufacturer.
2
Q
What is partitioning?
A
Data storage device becomes visible to an operating system
Partition the disk into one or more groups of cylinders (with contiguous tracks)
3
Q
What is logical or high level formatting?
A
To use a disk to hold files,
OS needs to record its own data structure on the disk
Or to make a “file system”
To increase efficiency most file systems group sectors into clusters
4
Q
What is the master boot record?
A
Master Boot Record (MBR)
Usually at a first sector of the disk
Contains boot code and boot partition
Boot partition contains Bootstrap loader
