[Nottingham] File copying filesystem -> filesystem

[Martin]

Martin wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> There's many ways to copy files around, but which is the 'best'?

Well, so far my thoughts are that you should copy across the largest 
files first in an attempt to minimise fragmentation. Copying the smaller 
files last lets them fill in any gaps on the disk hopefully without 
themselves getting fragmented.

Yet, files within a directory should be kept localised on the disk in 
the anticipation that you would wish to stay working within a directory...

Sooo, how about this strategy?...

Firstly create the entire directory hierarchy breadth-first. Then fill 
the directories ordered by largest total filesize for each directory. 
For a directory, transfer the files across ordered by largest file first.


(And no I haven't time to try this multiple times to make a scientific 
study out of different strategies!)


Yes, good, bad, indifferent?

Cheers,
Martin

-- 
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Martin Lomas
martin at ml1.co.uk
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