JPH04262431A - File management apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to carry out file management efficiently by reducing user's work required for selecting an unnecessary file and for preparing a backup file. CONSTITUTION:An internal file sweepout means 4, when a used area in an internal storage medium (fixed disk unit 5) exceeds a predetermined quantity, makes a request for writing to the internal storage medium wait once, while the internal file sweepout means 4 reads out low significance files from the internal storage medium and sweeps the read files outside until a constant amount of vacant area is available, and when low significance files are swept out from the internal storage medium and a constant amount of vacant area is opened available therein, the internal file sweepout means 4 allows the file management apparatus to execute the write request that has been made to wait. An external backup means 7 stores files swept out from the internal file sweepout means 4 in an external storage medium 9 to backup.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file management device for a computer equipped with a file system for managing an internal storage medium for storing files.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional file management device of this type. In FIG. 3, 1 is a computer main body including a file management device for managing files, 2 is an operating system for controlling file management, etc., and 3 is a fixed disk device 5 and a flexible disk as internal storage media for storing files. This is a file system that manages auxiliary storage media 6 such as drives.

Next, the operation will be explained. When a write request is received from a user to the fixed disk device 5 via the file system 3, if the fixed disk device 5 does not have enough free space, the file system 3 outputs a message to the user that the disk capacity is insufficient. At this time, if the user wants to write more files without installing an additional fixed disk device, the user can delete unnecessary files or use the auxiliary storage medium 6 to back up necessary files. Create free space in device 5. This makes it possible to continue writing to the same fixed disk device 5.

0004

As explained above, in conventional file management devices, when the fixed disk device runs out of free space, the storage area is filled with files.
In cases where it is not possible to immediately add fixed disk devices, it is necessary to delete unnecessary files each time, or back up files that are infrequently used on an auxiliary storage medium, and such tasks are performed by humans. This is very labor-intensive, and in cases where there are multiple users or files created by others, it is difficult to judge which files should be deleted or backed up, and this places a heavy burden on the user. There was a problem that it took a while.

[0005] This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to reduce the user's work required to select and create unnecessary files and files to be backed up, and to manage files efficiently. The purpose is to provide a file management device that can.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A file management device according to the present invention makes a write request to the internal storage medium wait once the used area of the internal storage medium (fixed disk device 5) exceeds a predetermined amount; During this time, files of low importance are read out from the internal storage medium and flushed out until a certain amount of free space is created, and files of low importance are swept out of the internal storage medium to free up a certain amount of free space. When the write request is executed, an internal file sweeping means 4 executes the write request, and an external backup means 7 stores the file flushed out from the internal file sweeping means 4 in an external storage medium 9 and backs it up.
It is equipped with the following.

[0007]

[Operation] When the used area of the internal storage medium (fixed disk device 5) exceeds a predetermined amount, the internal file cleaning means 4 makes a write request to the internal storage medium wait, and during this time, a certain amount of free space is created. Files of low importance are read out from the internal storage medium and flushed out to the outside, and a write request is executed when the files of low importance are flushed out from the internal storage medium and a certain amount of free space is released. The external backup means 7 stores the files swept out from the internal file sweeping means 4 on an external storage medium 9.
Save and back up.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1,
Components corresponding to those shown in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. In FIG. 1, 11 is the computer main body in this embodiment, and 4 is a fixed disk device 5.
When the used area exceeds a predetermined amount, a write request to the fixed disk device 5 is temporarily made to wait, and during this time, files of low importance are read from the fixed disk device 5 and flushed to the outside until a certain amount of free space is available. 12 is a file system comprising internal file purging means 4, which executes the write request when less important files are purged from the fixed disk device 5 and a certain amount of free space is released; 7 is an operating system equipped with a file system 13; 7 is an external backup means for storing and backing up the files swept out from the internal file sweeping means 4 in an external storage medium 9; and 8 is an operating system provided in the external backup means 7; 10 is an external support such as a randomly accessible flexible disk drive that is included in the external backup means 7 and manages the volume of the external storage medium 9. It is a storage medium.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. If there is a write request from a certain process to the fixed disk device 5, and the remaining disk capacity is less than a certain amount (if the used area of the fixed disk device 5 is more than a certain amount), The process is made to wait and the internal file purging means 4 is called. The above-mentioned predetermined amount refers to the amount when the disk capacity approaches or reaches its limit. The internal file purging means 4 manages files that have information on all files to which usage frequency, latest usage time, user importance designation, file size, etc. are added.
Using this information as a measure, files of low importance are read from the fixed disk device 5 until a certain amount of free space is available in the fixed disk device 5, and are passed to the external backup means 7. Then, the area of the read file on the fixed disk device 5 is released. When this process is completed, the internal file purging means 4 completes the process, calls the process that has been kept waiting, and continues the disk writing process. At this time, the internal file sweeping means 4 takes a log file of the flushed out files and manages this.

On the other hand, the external backup means 7 to which the read file is passed is stored in the external dedicated processor 8.
It has a cache that is large enough to store the files it has flushed each time, and writes all files once passed to that cache. When this writing is completed, the end of the process is notified to the internal file sweeping means 4. Thereafter, the external dedicated processor 8 records the file on the cache in the external storage medium 9. A log of the volume of this external storage medium 9 is recorded in the external auxiliary storage medium 10.

The above is the processing during normal operation, but if the capacity of the external storage medium 9 or the external auxiliary storage medium 10 becomes insufficient during the process, the file system 3 notifies the internal file purging means 4 of this fact. tell. The internal file sweeping means 4 interrupts all processes and outputs a message urging the user to replace the external storage medium 9. On the other hand, if the external storage medium 9 is replaced, the suspended process is activated and normal processing resumes. Further, it is possible to select whether or not to perform this processing by setting internal parameters of the file system 13. Furthermore, when performing the purge process, if the external storage medium 9 is not set in the external storage device (not shown) or the external auxiliary storage medium 10 is not set in the external volume management device during system operation, this will be notified to the user through the internal file purge means 4. tell.

0012

As described above, according to the present invention, when the used area of the internal storage medium exceeds a predetermined amount, a write request to the internal storage medium is temporarily made to wait, and during this time, a certain amount of free space is Read files of low importance from the internal storage medium and sweep them outside until the file is completed.
an internal file purging means that executes the write request when the less important files are purged from the internal storage medium and a certain amount of free space is released; and an internal file purging means for executing the write request; Since the configuration is equipped with an external backup means that stores and backs up data on an external storage medium, when the used area of the internal storage medium exceeds a predetermined amount, files that are considered to be of low importance are automatically selected. This reduces the user's work required to select and create unnecessary files and files to back up, and also in the case of multi-users.
You can leave the selection of less important files to you, which allows you to backup without having to ask each user, and you can speed up the creation of backups by using dedicated hardware. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently manage files.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a process flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional file management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Internal file sweeping means 5 Fixed disk device (internal storage medium) 7 External backup means 9 External storage medium

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: In a computer equipped with a file system that manages an internal storage medium that stores files, when the used area of the internal storage medium exceeds a predetermined amount, a write request to the internal storage medium is temporarily suspended. ,
During this time, files of low importance are read out from the internal storage medium and flushed out until a certain amount of free space is created, and files of low importance are swept out of the internal storage medium to free up a certain amount of free space. A file management system characterized by comprising: an internal file sweeping means for executing the write request when a write request is made; and an external backup means for storing and backing up the file swept out from the internal file sweeping means in an external storage medium. Device.