[Info-vax] VMS - The new file system. What do we know about it?...

[clairgrant71 at gmail.com]

On Friday, November 11, 2016 at 12:50:22 AM UTC-5, IanD wrote:
> Is it time for some more information to trickle through about the new file system?
> 
> I listened to the chat put up by the Progress software folks and there was some light chatter that let slip a few more details about it's performance
> 
> I'm still curious about the new file system
> 
> What else can be let loose about it?
> 
> - Will existing RMS work with it?
> 
> - Will VSI release any of the development tools / utilities used for testing / creating this file system to the public? (I'm asking because these types of tools/utilities can help other create extensions)
> 
> - Does it working across volumes? (i.e. sharding like abilities)
> 
> - I understand that it's being revamped to 64 bit internals, what are the limits (i.e. How does it compare to this list/ What's similar on this list?)
> 
> - Apart from performance, what other nice things come with it? Better security? snapshots ability? etc etc etc?
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_systems
> 
> Where is there more information about this new toy other than the VSI roadmap document?

There really isn’t much to say that we haven’t said already. First, and foremost, all existing file system interfaces will continue to work unchanged - RMS, QIO, etc.

The new FS will not be called ODS-anything. There will be some other name. VMS Advanced File System (VASF) seems to be the leading candidate now.

We do not have any new development tools. Existing VMS applications and regression tests are the test vehicles. There has been work done in SDA to support the new internal data structures.

The new FS is not being ‘revamped' to 64bitness. It is 64b by design and initial implementation. What is changing is the underlying operating system, namely the I/O Exec and many device drivers to support the expanded LBN field. This is serious work which is in progress now. While we are in there we are also eliminating ‘disk geometry’ which has not been relevant to the operating system for years. 

The new FS and 64b LBN work is for improved performance and the support of larger volumes. Other advancements will occur in future releases.

The maximum size of a file will not change. That requires changes to RMS and that is not happening.

Hope that helps a little.