A file management system for a magnetic disk used as a buffer to write-once optical storage

Abstract

Write-once optical disks offer a technology that includes high capacity and removability for handling the information-storage requirements of today's “information age”. A multiple-write buffer is proposed to integrate write-once storage into existing systems and to provide an interface that is transparent to the user. This paper discusses the design of a multiple-write buffer for integrating WORM optical storage into existing computer systems. A brief discussion of the attributes of optical storage motivates the design of file management systems with a magnetic disk acting as a buffer for a WORM optical disk. The required data structures for the magnetic buffer file management system (MBFMS) and the optical disk file management system (ODFMS) are discussed. The major responsibilities of the MBFMS in acting as a go-between for the existing file management system (FMS) and the ODMS are outlined. Techniques for manipulating MBFMS and ODFMS data structures, responding to FMS directives, and submitting requests to the ODFMS are also presented.