NTFS metafile layout

WxMan1 · May 23, 2011, 01:32 AM

Anybody have any advice with regards to optimal layout of NTFS metafilej? UltimateDefrag v3.x gives the user immense power of the placement and layout of these meta-files; they don't even have to be contiguous.

I mean there are oodles of meta-file types, e.g., $LOG, $MFT, $AttrDef, $BadClus, $Bitmap, $MFTmirr...$ObjID:$O:$Index_Allocation.

Specifically, I have two qwexions:

1) $MFTMirr is spoda be a backup copy of the $MFT - about 50 MB - so how can a couple of clusters mirror that? Where's a good place to put that?

2) UltimateDefrag v3.x likes to tack $ObjID:$O:$Index_Allocation to the very end of the swap file. Is that the best location? Does it matter?

3) Is there ideal location for $Logfile? I have mine layed out after the $Reserved_for_$MFT (the size and placement - placement of any NTFS metafile - is configurable in UD v3.x)

Dunno if any of that makes a major difference, but if one considers that all directory folder metafiles are prologue to the NTFS meta-data block, and that en-toto is placed as prefix to pagefile.sys, and $ObjID:$O:$Index_Allocation is the suffix, and the whole gamut is put about 1/3 inwards from outermost track, I'm just curious if there's a decent strategy.

By default MS places $LOG metafile at cluster 1 of any partition at format time. My understanding is that this is the NTFS journaling file; there should be a best place to put that (I'm thinkin').

I'm thinking from a perspective of 'head thrashing', you'd want this file near the MFT, but precisely where would be optimum?

May 23, 2011, 01:32 AM	#1
WxMan1 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 221 Rep Power: 40	NTFS metafile layout Anybody have any advice with regards to optimal layout of NTFS metafilej? UltimateDefrag v3.x gives the user immense power of the placement and layout of these meta-files; they don't even have to be contiguous. I mean there are oodles of meta-file types, e.g., $LOG, $MFT, $AttrDef, $BadClus, $Bitmap, $MFTmirr...$ObjID:$O:$Index_Allocation. Specifically, I have two qwexions: 1) $MFTMirr is spoda be a backup copy of the $MFT - about 50 MB - so how can a couple of clusters mirror that? Where's a good place to put that? 2) UltimateDefrag v3.x likes to tack $ObjID:$O:$Index_Allocation to the very end of the swap file. Is that the best location? Does it matter? 3) Is there ideal location for $Logfile? I have mine layed out after the $Reserved_for_$MFT (the size and placement - placement of any NTFS metafile - is configurable in UD v3.x) Dunno if any of that makes a major difference, but if one considers that all directory folder metafiles are prologue to the NTFS meta-data block, and that en-toto is placed as prefix to pagefile.sys, and $ObjID:$O:$Index_Allocation is the suffix, and the whole gamut is put about 1/3 inwards from outermost track, I'm just curious if there's a decent strategy. By default MS places $LOG metafile at cluster 1 of any partition at format time. My understanding is that this is the NTFS journaling file; there should be a best place to put that (I'm thinkin'). I'm thinking from a perspective of 'head thrashing', you'd want this file near the MFT, but precisely where would be optimum?