DSKLST Jun73

This 1973 programming specification describes DSKLST, a program designed to analyze the contents and status of disk-like storage devices. It serves as a crucial tool for system administrators, operators, field service personnel, and programmers.

DSKLST's primary functions include:

• Analyzing disk space utilization efficiency.
• Detecting and diagnosing disk-related problems (e.g., bad regions).
• Determining the optimal time for a disk refresh.
• Identifying the most efficient cluster size for storage.

The program generates a comprehensive output, segmenting its analysis into several key sections:

• Identification: Provides file structure and unit naming details.
• Home Block: Outlines fundamental file structure parameters and vital statistics.
• File Information (UFD): Lists a complete directory of named files for each user, detailing attributes like filename, extension, access/creation dates, allocated blocks, and error codes.
• Storage Allocation Table (SAT): Maps the current status of every disk block, indicating allocation, availability, or bad sectors, and helps assess fragmentation.
• Bad Allocation Table (BAT): Enumerates bad regions, specifying their physical location and diagnostic information for performance monitoring.
• Error Summary: Offers statistical insights into wasted disk space (words/blocks), discrepancies in free block counts, and categorizes various hardware and software errors.
• Performance Summary: Includes a logical histogram of file sizes, valuable for determining the optimal cluster size.

Users run DSKLST by executing a command, optionally specifying file structures and using switches to select particular output sections. The document recommends running a full DSKLST analysis weekly and checking the BAT block daily, ideally with universal access privileges (project-programmer number 1,2).