Why is the transfer unit of block devices block not page?
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Operating System Concepts says
A character-stream device transfers bytes one by one, whereas a block device transfers a block of bytes as a unit.
But I heard that the unit of transfer between main memory and disk is page.
Between what and what do the "transfers" in the quote happen?
Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
Thanks.
memory block-device character-device
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
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up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
Operating System Concepts says
A character-stream device transfers bytes one by one, whereas a block device transfers a block of bytes as a unit.
But I heard that the unit of transfer between main memory and disk is page.
Between what and what do the "transfers" in the quote happen?
Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
Thanks.
memory block-device character-device
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
Thanks. Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
– Tim
Oct 4 at 1:12
add a comment |Â
up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
up vote
-2
down vote
favorite
Operating System Concepts says
A character-stream device transfers bytes one by one, whereas a block device transfers a block of bytes as a unit.
But I heard that the unit of transfer between main memory and disk is page.
Between what and what do the "transfers" in the quote happen?
Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
Thanks.
memory block-device character-device
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
Operating System Concepts says
A character-stream device transfers bytes one by one, whereas a block device transfers a block of bytes as a unit.
But I heard that the unit of transfer between main memory and disk is page.
Between what and what do the "transfers" in the quote happen?
Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
Thanks.
memory block-device character-device
memory block-device character-device
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
asked Oct 4 at 0:57
Tim
23.9k67232418
23.9k67232418
Thanks. Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
– Tim
Oct 4 at 1:12
add a comment |Â
Thanks. Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
– Tim
Oct 4 at 1:12
Thanks. Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
– Tim
Oct 4 at 1:12
Thanks. Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
– Tim
Oct 4 at 1:12
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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The transfers typically occur between the storage device and main memory. When you hear about pages when referring to disk, they're probably talking about virtual memory which is in terms of pages since that's the unit of storage the MMU deals with. But block devices relate to all sorts of devices that may or may not be disks so you have this separate concept of a blocks and block size. Disk block size and memory page size used to (generally) be the same, 4096 bytes, which of course was very convenient. But there's nothing that says they must be the same. For example, you might have a multi-terabyte disk used to store images where it makes sense to increase the block size to 32k or more... having no impact on memory page size. Generally, as long as one is a power of two multiple of the other it can be made to work without too much trouble.
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
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blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
The transfers typically occur between the storage device and main memory. When you hear about pages when referring to disk, they're probably talking about virtual memory which is in terms of pages since that's the unit of storage the MMU deals with. But block devices relate to all sorts of devices that may or may not be disks so you have this separate concept of a blocks and block size. Disk block size and memory page size used to (generally) be the same, 4096 bytes, which of course was very convenient. But there's nothing that says they must be the same. For example, you might have a multi-terabyte disk used to store images where it makes sense to increase the block size to 32k or more... having no impact on memory page size. Generally, as long as one is a power of two multiple of the other it can be made to work without too much trouble.
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
The transfers typically occur between the storage device and main memory. When you hear about pages when referring to disk, they're probably talking about virtual memory which is in terms of pages since that's the unit of storage the MMU deals with. But block devices relate to all sorts of devices that may or may not be disks so you have this separate concept of a blocks and block size. Disk block size and memory page size used to (generally) be the same, 4096 bytes, which of course was very convenient. But there's nothing that says they must be the same. For example, you might have a multi-terabyte disk used to store images where it makes sense to increase the block size to 32k or more... having no impact on memory page size. Generally, as long as one is a power of two multiple of the other it can be made to work without too much trouble.
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
The transfers typically occur between the storage device and main memory. When you hear about pages when referring to disk, they're probably talking about virtual memory which is in terms of pages since that's the unit of storage the MMU deals with. But block devices relate to all sorts of devices that may or may not be disks so you have this separate concept of a blocks and block size. Disk block size and memory page size used to (generally) be the same, 4096 bytes, which of course was very convenient. But there's nothing that says they must be the same. For example, you might have a multi-terabyte disk used to store images where it makes sense to increase the block size to 32k or more... having no impact on memory page size. Generally, as long as one is a power of two multiple of the other it can be made to work without too much trouble.
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The transfers typically occur between the storage device and main memory. When you hear about pages when referring to disk, they're probably talking about virtual memory which is in terms of pages since that's the unit of storage the MMU deals with. But block devices relate to all sorts of devices that may or may not be disks so you have this separate concept of a blocks and block size. Disk block size and memory page size used to (generally) be the same, 4096 bytes, which of course was very convenient. But there's nothing that says they must be the same. For example, you might have a multi-terabyte disk used to store images where it makes sense to increase the block size to 32k or more... having no impact on memory page size. Generally, as long as one is a power of two multiple of the other it can be made to work without too much trouble.
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Oct 4 at 4:57
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
answered Oct 4 at 4:37
blihp
2365
2365
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
blihp is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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Thanks. Why is its transfer unit not page but block or byte?
– Tim
Oct 4 at 1:12