Re: multiply files in one (was GNU/Linux stance by Richard Stallman)

Allan M. Wind (wind@sap-help.com)
Mon, 29 Mar 1999 11:11:25 -0500


On Sat, Mar 27, 1999 at 06:22:55PM -0800, Larry McVoy wrote:

> The conclusion that I came to as a result of looking at this (and a lot
> more) data was that the wrong thing to do is worry about single files.
> What you want to do is to figure out how to put mutiple files in one
> "file" - essentially make tar be a part of the file system where you put
> related files in the same "tarball". Then when you access any file -
> metadata or data - then you schlep in the entire tarball and explode it
> in memory. Food for thought.

I think the idea is flawed.

You're building a filesystem in a filesystem to overcome your
"non-optimal" original file system. Either replace your original fs
or create your tar file.

Stacker (& later a MS deviate) under that other OS did something like
that and compressed the volume as well. I think the product was
pretty successful (MS stole the code) but I don't know how good the
"technology" is (you still need information to locate your "file",
access it and decompress it - what happens when you extend a "file"
etc).

As a side note (aprox current US prices):

9.1 GB UW-SCSI, 7200 rpm harddrive: ~$290
18 GB UW-SCSI, 7200 rpm harddrive: ~$600

I paid ~$600 for a 9.1 GB about a year ago (and I still have 2 GB
free). E.g. the pace of technology is probably against your idea.

/Allan

-- 
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