operating-systemblockdisksector

Why do you need blocks when you have sectors and why is the block size a multiple of sector size?


On reading through disc structure, I come across this statement that blocks size is a multiple of sector size. First thought is why do u even need blocks when u have sectors, and secondly why is the block size a multiple of sector like 1,2,4?

Why can't it be half of sector? What's the rationale here? This is not for homework.


Solution

  • Block is an abstraction of filesystems. All filesystem operations can be accessed only in multiple of blocks. In other terms , smallest logically addressable unit to filesystem is block , not a sector.

    The smallest addressable unit on a block device is a sector.The sector size is physical property of a block device and is the fundamental unit of all block devices.

    Most block devices have 512-byte sectors (although other sizes are common. For example, some CD-ROM discs have 2-kilobyte sectors) while block sizes are commonly of size 512 bytes , 1 KB or 4KB. This is the reason block size is a multiple of sector.