Max Files

[laura68]

Hi, this was bought up in the pre-sales forum about max files on a client's account and it got me thinking....Is there a max number of files that an operating system limits per folder or drive? Example if I used OS 10.2, could it limit how many files I can have, no matter the space?

Thanks..... :)

[NMS]

If you are refring to your package, the limit is 15360 Files

[KimmiKat]

The way I read her questions is she's asking her computer, not her account.

[satis]

the answer is yes. My understanding is it's a limitation of the file system. MacOS 10.2 is based on the BSD kernel, so unless they (apple) made their own FS, it's probably the same as FreeBSD.

Now, I don't know a whole lot about FreeBSD, but I do know some things about linux. Every linux partition has a maximum file count, but it's entirely dependent on the size of the drive. Also, it's typically a seriously massive number, one you'd probably never hit on a home system because you're more likely to run out of drive space (due to large files) then hit the max-files barrier.

It's different for Powweb, though. Being a web host, I'll bet 99% of the files on their drives are <5KB. Hell, with the exception of some graphics, I'd say most of the files on my package are <1KB. Hence the max-file limitation.

And, just FYI, Windows also has a limitation for maximum files. Just most people don't know about it. In fact, FAT16, I believe, allowed a maximum of 1024 files in the root directory of a drive, and a maximum tree depth as well (I forget the exact tree distance, maybe 256 characters?).

[KimmiKat]

Gads, I remember the Windoze 1024 file limit vividly!

Originally posted by satis
And, just FYI, Windows also has a limitation for maximum files. Just most people don't know about it. In fact, FAT16, I believe, allowed a maximum of 1024 files in the root directory of a drive, and a maximum tree depth as well (I forget the exact tree distance, maybe 256 characters?).

[B&T]

That is why Microsoft started using the Program Files folder in the standard windows setup. Don't ya love history.

[Croc Hunter]

Even empty folders count. Each file will require one block for the header and one disk volume cluster for the file data. Each non empty file will take at least 34 blocks.

So roughly a 33Gig drive will hold 985350 non empty files.
Or 16 750 960 empty files.

You can only put 64 000 files in any one folder.
Seagate drives can take 65 535

Maximum file sizes:
Fat:
Supported by all version of dos & windows
Maximum volume size 4GB
Minimum Vilume size floppy drive
Maximum File size 4GB
Maximum files per volume 512 files / folders per volume / per folder

Fat32:
Supported by Windows .NET Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows
98, Windows 95 OEM Service Release (OSR) 2
Maximum volume size 2TB (although Windows XP lets you format only up to 32GB but can read larger volumes)
Minimum volume size 512MB
Maximum file size 4GB
Maximum files per volume 65,534 files or folders per folder

NTFS:
Supported by Windows .NET Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 support
NTFS 4 and 5 (previous version of Windows NT support NTFS 4 only)
Maximum volume size You can use 64KB clusters to achieve a 256TB volume (any volumes larger than 2TB must be dynamic, not basic)
Minimum Volume size 10MB (although some tools let you format a floppy drive
as NTFS
Maximum volume size Size of volume
Maximum files per volume 4,294,967,295

Interesting links
http://www.digit-life.com/articles/bootman/
http://www.actionfront.com/hdtech1.html
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/wizard/wiz_7884.html

[mjp]

Why PowWeb's file number limit is in place:

A file system provides two resources to the user: blocks (for data) and inodes (for files). Each file consumes one inode. File systems on the servers do not have an unlimited number of inodes available, so the file number limit is in place to prevent all of the inodes on the server from being used.

File data is stored in data blocks (usually made up of 1 Kbyte blocks). Theoretically, a user can exceed his or her inode quota by creating 15360 empty files (without using any blocks, as Croc Hunter pointed out, an empty file is still a file). A user can also use only one inode yet exceed his or her block quota by creating one file large enough to consume all the data blocks in the user's quota.

mjp

[Croc Hunter]

Find Junk Files will find and delete all those crappy little trace files .log etc. But the d/l also has in the "extra applications" folder. Find dead links. Find empty folders. Strip zip comments. And Find Folder space. It's free. :)

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22490,00.asp

[KimmiKat]

Will there be a pop quiz in the morning? :D

Learn something new everyday!

Originally posted by mjp
File data is stored in data blocks (usually made up of 1 Kbyte blocks). Theoretically, a user can exceed his or her inode quota by creating 15360 empty files (without using any blocks, as Croc Hunter pointed out, an empty file is still a file). A user can also use only one inode yet exceed his or her block quota by creating one file large enough to consume all the data blocks in the user's quota.

mjp

[KimmiKat]

I'd cracked open one of my computer books and here's a little more about inodes for those who are curious...

"Inodes are data structures that contain information about files in Unix file systems. Each file has an inode and is identified by an inode number (i-number) in the file system where it resides. inodes provide important information on files such as user and group ownership, access mode (read, write, execute permissions) and type. Inodes are created when a file system is created. There are a set number of inodes, which indicates the maximum number of files the system can hold. " That's why hosts set a file limit, although they are various values between hosts. Your milage may vary...