How to improve MEBES-III Write times by improving your MEBES-III directory management discipline, enabled by high-speed networking software
Greg Booi · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1995
At many sites, MEBES disk files are not optimally accessed during MEBES Write because the disk directories are not optimally managed by the MEBES operator. Many people are not aware that this can add minutes or hours to MEBES Write times. This is especially important to photomask shops which are operating their MEBES' at capacity, and to shops where delivery is constrained by turnaround time. The problem is due to disk fragmentation on the MEBES disks, and the unavailability of an easy solution. Disk fragmentation can be controlled by deleting files in a certain way, keeping the MEBES disks nearly empty. This approach requires a fast enough network such that Just-In-Time file transfer does not slow production, and the incentive and discipline to keep the disks nearly empty. ABNETTM data delivery to MEBESNETTM and Write-From-LinkTM has been available for years, hosted by slower Vaxs and SUN Sparc-IIs. It is the advent of faster host computers (Vax 4000 series, SUN SPARC 20, etc.) which has created fast enough network transfer. The incentive to improve throughput is provided by running the MEBES at capacity. The paper describes the mechanism and methods of disk defragmentation, and procedures to automate the discipline.