Xref: utzoo comp.unix.questions:15899 comp.sources.wanted:8542 comp.unix.wizards:17812
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!unisoft!cander
From: cander@unisoft.UUCP (Charles Anderson)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,comp.sources.wanted,comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: File system defragmenter needed
Message-ID: <2398@unisoft.UUCP>
Date: 24 Aug 89 16:38:51 GMT
References: <5176@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Lines: 21

From article <5176@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>, by cck@deneb.ucdavis.edu (Earl H. Kinmonth):
> On some systems, such as SCO Xenix, an approach such as the following
> has the effect of defragmenting file systems.
> (a)	backup up the file system you want to defragment (or at least
> major directory trees in that system);
> (b) verify the backup;
> (c) remove the backed up files;
> (d) fsck -s
> (e) restore from the back up.

A faster alternative to steps c and d is mkfs.  This will have the effect
of removing all files and rebuilding the free list and it runs a lot
faster than "rm -fr *" for full file systems.  When using fsck or mkfs
to build a free list, be sure you have reasonable vaules for the gap
and blocks/cyl.  Don't let them default; they really do make a difference.


-- 

Charles.
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