JPH03179539A - Method and device for storage of file - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use a storage space with use of a storage having a high input/output speed by transferring a file to a 1st storage part from a 2nd storage part when the value of the using frequency information registered in the file is less than a transfer standard. CONSTITUTION:An access control means 4 refers to the information on a file control block 2 to read the information out of an information storing part 25 and also to read the count values 21 registered in a count storing part 23 via a count input updating means 6 based on the file read/write requests. A comparison means 7 compares the value 21 with a transfer standard. If the value 21 is larger than the transfer standard, a desired file is read out and written into a 1st storage 1 as usual. Meanwhile a transfer instruction 10 is produced when the value 21 is smaller than the transfer standard. Then the desired file is transferred to the storage 1 from a 2nd storage 9 via a transfer means 8. At the same time, the file is read out and written.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a file system used for data storage in a computer system, and more particularly to a file storage device and a file storage method that allow efficient use of the storage device.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional file systems, files are managed without regard to their frequency of use, and storage space on storage devices is allocated in the same way for frequently used files and rarely used files. ing.

In addition, as a file management method that efficiently uses storage devices, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-67649, files that have not been written or read for a preset number of days by the user are classified as unnecessary files. A file management method has been devised that automatically deletes the file from the storage device based on the data.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In order to enhance the performance of computer systems, it is important to improve the file input/output speed to storage devices, and it is especially important to improve the input/output speed for frequently used files.

In the conventional file system described above, storage space is allocated on the storage device in the same way regardless of the frequency of file use, so even if a device with high speed input/output is used as a storage device, it is rarely used and the input/output is Storage space is wasted on files that are relatively slow but do not have a large effect on the overall system performance, resulting in a situation where it is not possible to secure storage space for frequently used files.

In such cases, in conventional file systems, operators or users search for files that can be saved or deleted, and store them on an evacuation storage device, such as a relatively slow but large-capacity optical disk storage device. It was necessary to transfer files and delete them from the storage device to create free space.

Furthermore, when reusing files that have been evacuated to a backup storage device, the user must first transfer the desired files from the backup storage device to the storage device. I tend to leave files on the storage device as much as possible,
This resulted in an increasingly inefficient use of the storage device.

In addition, the method of automatically deleting files that are older than a specified number of days is effective for unnecessary files, but files that are used infrequently but need to be read and written continue to occupy storage space on the storage device. . Furthermore, if the retention period is incorrectly specified, there is a risk that necessary files may be deleted without the user's knowledge, so it is preferable that the user delete files each time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a file system that can automatically transfer files that are infrequently used to a backup storage device and efficiently use the storage space of a storage device with high input/output speed. .

Another object of the present invention is to automatically restore a file from the backup storage device to the storage device when there is a file write/read request even if the file has been transferred to the backup storage device, so that the user can To provide a file system that can be used without being aware of whether a file has been transferred to a storage device.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures as described in the claims. That is, 1. In a file storage device, a first storage unit that creates files and writes and reads data; a file usage frequency information storage unit that stores usage frequency information of the file; and a file usage frequency information storage unit that stores usage frequency information of the file. a file usage frequency information input/output update means for reading out the value of the part, increasing or decreasing the value and writing it; a comparison means for comparing the value of the usage frequency information with a predetermined transfer standard; a second storage section that stores files whose values are below a predetermined transfer standard; a transfer means that mutually transfers files between the first storage section and the second storage section and deletes the files from the transfer source; We decided to prepare the following.

This means automatically transfers particularly infrequently used files to the save storage device.

2. When reading or writing a file in the file storage device set forth in paragraph 1 above, when the value of the usage frequency information registered in the file usage frequency information storage section of the file is less than or equal to the predetermined transfer base IW. 2. The file storage device according to claim 1, further comprising means for transferring files from the second storage section to the first storage section.

This means corresponds to, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as the means in item 1 above.

This means automatically restores a file from the save storage device to the storage device when there is a file write/read request even if the file has been transferred to the save storage device.

3. In the file storage device of items 1 and 2 above, the logical address areas of the first storage section and the second storage section are continuous with each other.

4. The file storage device of item 3 above is provided with an address conversion means for converting the logical address to an address of the actual position of the file.

The address management is simplified in the above-mentioned item 3, and this means is a means for efficiently accessing files accordingly.

5. In the file storage device of Items 1 to 4 above, the first storage section is a magnetic disk storage device and the second storage section is an optical disk storage device.

6. In the file storage device of items 1 to 4 above, the data access speed to the first storage section is higher than the data access speed to the second storage section.

This means, together with the above item 5, aims to improve efficiency by using a high-speed storage device in a frequently used storage section.

7. In the file storage device of items 1 to 4 or 6 above, the first storage section and the second storage section are provided by dividing one storage device.

This means improves efficiency by separately providing a frequently used storage section and a less frequently used section within a single storage device.

8. In the file storage device of Items 1 to 7 above, files are read from and written to the second storage unit via file data compression and restoration means.

This means corresponds to the example shown in FIG. 3 as well as the means described in item 7 above.

This means compresses and utilizes the file data in the second storage section, and is intended to improve the efficiency of storage space.

9. In the file storage device of item 5 above, the first storage section and the second storage section are provided in a storage device that rotates an optical disk storage medium and a magnetic disk storage medium on the same rotation axis. And so.

FIG. 4 corresponds to this means.

This means has the advantage of downsizing the storage device.

10. In the file storage method, there is a procedure for writing the initial value of the file usage frequency when creating the file, writing new usage frequency information at regular intervals, and comparing the value of the file usage frequency information with a preset transfer base. , a procedure for transferring the file to the second storage unit when the usage frequency is less than the transfer standard, and further comparing whether the value of the file usage frequency information is larger than the transfer base l′p when the file is used If the usage frequency is higher than the transfer base, reading or writing is performed from the first storage unit, and if the usage frequency is lower than the transfer base, the file is transferred from the second storage unit to the first storage unit and read or written. In addition to writing, the method also includes a procedure for updating a value indicating the frequency of use of a file that has been read or corrupted to a value larger than the current value and then writing the value.

[Operation] The value representing the usage frequency of the file written in the file usage frequency information storage unit is updated every fixed period according to the usage frequency, and files whose value falls below a certain standard are transferred to the second storage unit. However, this value representing the frequency of use is updated every time the file is used, so the higher the frequency of use, the longer the storage space in the first storage device is allocated.

When a file that has been transferred to the second storage unit is used, it is re-registered in the first storage unit and storage space is allocated, but if it is not used after that, the value representing the usage frequency of the file will be lost after a certain period of time. becomes below the standard and is transferred to the second storage unit.

As described above, storage space is allocated to the first storage section only for frequently used files, and the second storage section is used for saving infrequently used files.
Using a high-speed magnetic disk storage device for the first storage section and a slower, larger-capacity optical disk storage device for the second storage section makes it possible to use the storage space efficiently. be.

Furthermore, when the user attempts to use a file that has been transferred to the second storage unit, the comparison means compares whether the value in the usage frequency information storage unit for that file is below the standard, and if it is below the standard, the value is automatically Since the file is automatically transferred from the second storage section to the first storage section, the user does not need to be aware of which storage section the file is located in.

As described above, by making the logical address area of the first storage part and the logical address area of the second storage part continuous, address management is simplified.

Further, the above-mentioned address conversion means accompanying this makes it possible to automatically and easily access a file at an actual address from a logical address.

Separating frequently used data from less frequently used data within a single storage device enables faster input/output of frequently used file data and makes storage space more efficient. .

Decompressing file data using software generally saves space, but requires additional time for human output of the data. In the present invention, by using this for the second storage section that is used less frequently, the reduction in speed does not become a problem and space can be saved.

Rotating the optical disk storage medium and the magnetic disk storage medium on the same rotation axis makes it possible to perform the required drive with just one motor, and the second and second storage sections can be operated as separate devices. This makes it possible to reduce the installation space compared to the case where the

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Note that in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the following explanation, the file usage frequency information and its value will be referred to as a "count" for convenience, and the file usage frequency information storage section will be referred to as an "r count storage section".

As shown in FIG. 1, the file storage device according to the present invention is a storage device capable of high-speed input/output operations as a first storage section.
, a storage device 9 with a large storage capacity as a second storage section, a transfer means 8, an access management means 4, a file usage frequency information input/output updating means 6, and a storage device 9 that stores the value of the file usage frequency information and the transfer reference value. A comparison means 7 for comparison and an address conversion means 31 are provided. The first storage device is preferably a device capable of high-speed input/output operations, and for example, a magnetic disk storage device is suitable. The second storage device is preferably a device with a large storage capacity and a relatively low access speed but capable of high-speed transfer; for example, an optical disk storage device is suitable. Further, a combination using a semiconductor disk device as the first storage device and a magnetic disk storage device as the second storage device is also a desirable configuration. Furthermore, by using a so-called collective storage device composed of several to several dozen storage devices as the first storage device and the second storage device, the first storage device and the second storage device can be combined depending on the number of storage devices to be combined. The storage capacity of the storage device may be allocated differently.

The first storage device has, like a conventional file storage device,
A file management information storage unit 25 (VTOC; Volume Table) registers file names 22, addresses 24, etc. as shown in FIG. 2 in correspondence with each file of the file group 3 to which storage space is allocated.
Of' Contents, directory, etc.) are provided, and when a file is created, its address etc. are newly registered. Furthermore, the file storage device according to the present invention is provided with a count storage section 23 for registering file usage frequency information 21 (count) in association with each file of the file group 3. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a count storage section 23 is provided at the end of the file management information storage section 25, and when the file management information storage section is read as a file management block 2 together with the file management information storage section. The count is also read out at the same time.

In FIG. 1, file reading and writing operations for the first storage device are basically the same as in the prior art.

That is, a command 30 from a host device is given to the access management means, and the access management means interprets the command, generates an address code 32, causes the storage device to perform a search operation, and reads information from the storage device through the data line 34. Or write. When reading or writing a file, the file management information storage unit first receives a read command from the host device, refers to the file name and file storage address, searches for the target address, and then reads or writes the target file. Writing is performed.

Hereinafter, a specific method of controlling the operation of the file storage device according to the present invention will be explained.

In FIG. 1, the access management means 4 operates as described above, but the comparison means compares the count 21 with a transfer standard and issues a transfer command 10 based on the result. The transfer means 8 transfers data from the first storage device l to the second storage device 9 or from the second storage device 9 according to a transfer command.
The file is transferred from to the first storage device l, and the file is deleted from the transfer source.

When a new file is created, a storage space on the first storage device l is allocated, its address, file name, etc. are registered in the file management information storage section 25, and
The initial value of the count 21 is registered in the count storage section 23. In the embodiment, the initial value=O1 transfer standard=0.

The count input/output updating means 6 and the comparison means 7 are activated periodically at preset intervals, read out the counts 21 for all files in the file group 3 through the input/output means, and set the count 21 of each file to the new count=(current count). The count is updated to -1) and written. At this time, in order to save time for update writing, it is preferable to perform update writing only for files whose counts are O or 0 or more. The comparison means 7 searches for a file to be saved by comparing the updated count with the transfer standard. Then, for files whose counts are below the transfer standard (count<O), a transfer command 10 is issued through the access management means. Upon receiving the transfer command, the transfer means 8 transfers the file from the first storage device 1 to the second storage device 9 and deletes the file from the file group 3 of the first storage device. When the file is transferred to the second device, the transfer destination address on the second storage device is registered in the file management information storage section 25 by the access management means. Note that in order to simplify the address management performed by the host device or the access management means, it is desirable that the address area of the first storage device and the address area of the second storage device be logically contiguous. . Therefore, in the embodiment, an address conversion means 31 is provided, and for the address of the second storage device, the address (logical address) generated by the access management means is converted into the actual address of the second storage device. I added it to the second storage device.

Next, read and write operations for files will be explained.

When a read or write request for a file is received from a higher-level device, the access management means 4 first refers to the information in the file management block 2, reads the information in the file management information storage section 25, and updates the count input/output at the same time. The count 21 registered in the count storage section 23 is read through the means 6. Then, the comparison means 7 is activated and the count 21 is compared with the transfer standard,
It is checked whether the target file is a transferred file (ie, the count is 0). If the count is greater than or equal to the transfer reference (count>O), the target file is read from and written to the first storage device 1 as usual. If the count is less than the transfer standard, a transfer command 10 is issued and the transfer means 8 is used to transfer the target file from the second storage device 9 to the first storage device 1, and the file management block 2 In the same way as a newly created file, the file is re-registered as a file to which the storage space of the first storage device is allocated, and reading and writing are performed. Further, when the reading or writing is finished and the file is accessed, the update means updates the count of the file, and writes the new count=(current count+1) to the count storage section 23 through the count input/output means 8.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the file management information storage section 25 and the count storage section 23 when the initial value of the count=O1 and the transfer standard=O. File l is a newly created file, and an initial value of 20 is registered as count A.

File 3 has a count C=30 and has been allocated storage space on the first storage device l. For example, if the activation cycle of the update means for searching for files that can be saved is set to every 0 o'clock, if this file 3
If it is left unused, the count C will become 29 after one day, 20 after 10 days, and the count C will become O after 31 days and will be transferred to the second storage device 9. . If it is used again within 31 days, the period until it is transferred will be extended by two days depending on the number of times it is used, for example, if it is used twice. File 2 has count 21 and count B=-1, so this file is allocated storage space on the second storage device,
The address (or address 2) is saved until the user determines that it is an unnecessary file and deletes it. If there is a read or write request for this file 2, it is transferred to the first storage device l, The storage space of the storage device is allocated as a new file and O is given to count B, and when the file is further used, count B becomes 1. In this way, writing and reading from this file is performed. and count B according to the number of times
increases, and the period for which the storage space on the first storage device is allocated is also extended, but if it is used only -times, the count B = -1 after two days and it is transferred to the second storage device.

Here, the period until file 3 was transferred to the second storage device was 31 days, but if you set the periodic count update size to -10, file 3 will be transferred to the second storage device. After three days, the data can be transferred to the second storage device. In this way, by appropriately setting the amount of increase in the count when using a file and the amount of decrease when updating the count periodically, flexible operation is possible depending on the system scale and file usage pattern. .

The above method of periodically subtracting and updating the count is one method that does not change the transfer criteria depending on the file. Other counting methods include methods that periodically count only the actual frequency of use during a given period, and methods that set appropriate transfer criteria depending on the file at that time.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the file compression and restoration means 11 is installed by dividing one storage device into two instead of the two storage devices shown in FIG. 1, and using one storage device as the primary file storage section 12 for normal file creation. , the other part is used as the secondary file storage section 13 and the file compression/restoration means 1
1 to transfer infrequently used files.

By dividing and using one device into two parts in this way, it is possible to effectively speed up the input and output of frequently used file data, and to improve the efficiency of storage space.

When trying to save storage space by compressing files on a regular device, you can use software to compress and compress files.
Since the restoration process requires a lot of extra processing time, file compression and restoration means must be configured with hardware. However, according to the present invention, only infrequently used files need to be compressed and restored, so even if files are compressed and restored using software, performance does not deteriorate significantly.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the storage space of the storage device can be used efficiently without adding new hardware.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the file compression/restoration means is applied to an example in which one storage device is divided into two as described above. However, the application of the file compression/restoration means is not limited to this example. For example, even when two devices are used as storage units as shown in Figure 1, the application of the file compression/restoration means can be applied to the second storage device that is used less frequently. Effects can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a magnetic disk device is used as the first storage device 1 and an optical disk storage device is used as the second storage device in the embodiment shown in FIG. The motor was connected to the motor and driven by - number of drive motors. According to this embodiment, since an optical disk device and a magnetic disk device can be easily installed in one device, the installation space can be reduced.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, a storage device with a high input/output speed can be used and its storage space can be used efficiently.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a file management information storage section, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram showing further aspects of the present invention. Explanation of symbols 1...Storage device 2...File management block 3...File group 4...Access management means 6...File usage frequency information input/output updating means 7...
Comparison means 8...Transfer means 9...Second storage device 23...File usage frequency information storage section 25...File management information storage section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a file storage device equipped with an access management means for writing and reading data in a file on the storage device using an access signal, a first method for creating a file and writing and reading data therein; a storage unit, a file usage frequency information storage unit that stores usage frequency information of the file, and a file usage frequency information input/output update that reads the value of the file usage frequency information storage unit, increases or decreases the value, and writes the value. a comparison means for comparing the value of the frequency of use information with a predetermined transfer standard; a second storage unit that stores files whose values of the frequency of use information are equal to or less than the predetermined transfer standard; 1. A file storage device comprising: transfer means for mutually transferring files between a storage unit and a second storage unit and deleting the files from the transfer source. 2. When reading or writing a file, if the value of usage frequency information registered in the file usage frequency information storage unit for the file is less than a predetermined transfer standard, the data is transferred from the second storage unit to the first storage unit. 2. A file storage device according to claim 1, further comprising means for transferring files to a computer. 3. The file storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the logical address areas of the first storage section and the second storage section are continuous with each other. 4. The file storage device according to claim 3, further comprising address conversion means for converting the logical address to an address of the actual location of the file. 5. The file storage device according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the first storage section is a magnetic disk storage device and the second storage section is an optical disk storage device. 6. The file storage device according to claim 1, wherein the data access speed to the first storage section is faster than the data access speed to the second storage section. 7. The file storage according to claims 1 to 4 or 6, wherein the first storage unit and the second storage unit are provided by dividing one storage device. Device. 8. The file storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that files are read from and written to the second storage unit via file data compression and restoration means. 9. The first storage unit and the second storage unit are provided in a storage device that rotates an optical disk storage medium and a magnetic disk storage medium on the same rotation axis. 5. The file storage device according to item 5. 10. In a file storage method that writes and reads file data on a storage device, there is a procedure for writing the initial value of the file usage frequency when creating a file, writing new usage frequency information at regular intervals, and also determining the file usage frequency. The value of the information is compared with a preset transfer standard, and if the usage frequency is below the transfer standard, the file is transferred to the second storage unit.Furthermore, when the file is used, the value of the file usage frequency information is transferred. If the usage frequency is greater than the transfer reference value, reading or writing is performed from the first storage unit, and if the usage frequency is smaller than the transfer reference value, the data is transferred from the second storage unit to the first storage unit. A file storage device comprising the steps of: transferring a file to read or write it; and updating a value indicating the usage frequency of the read or written file to a value larger than the current value and writing it. Method.