hdf - ways to reduce filesize

[Nova]

i am basically looking for options to save some space on hdfs. any chance to compress existing hdfs while retaining read/write accessiblity // probably massconvert to another more dense format?

i read about a few formats but i am not sure about the state of actuality?

[Leffmann]

You could identically partition and quick-format a sparse or dynamic HDF in the emulator, and clone the existing contents to it with

copy DHx: DHy: all clone quiet

to get an HDF that only takes up as much space as needed.

If HDF isn't a strict requirement then you could use a directory-based drive, that way the required storage space also goes down as you delete files, which won't happen with sparse or dynamic HDFs as far as I know. The directory-based drives also maintain all the Amiga-specific file flags.

[Nova]

hi leffmann,

thanks a lot for your suggestions.

regarding method 1: maintaining a single file format seems a big plus to me. on the other hand, it is a manual process + might take a lot of time when dealing with multiple hdfs.

a different format is no problem as long as it remains compatible at least with the emulators.

after all, the second method seems the way to go, as it is also the proposed format over here, if not mistaken.

i definitely will have to read into this more carefully.

for now, what is the recommended way to turn hdfs into directory based hds under linux?


p.s.: i am curious to see the final size comparison: hdf - directory hard drive.

[Saghalie]

Originally Posted by Nova

for now, what is the recommended way to turn hdfs into directory based hds
under linux?

The only way I can think of is to configure a system to boot up on an HDF
and have a few directories loaded as well (as harddrives). Then copy the
HDF contents to the directories.

Copy sys: harddrive1: all buf 10 clone

After that just configure another system with the directories as the
harddrives.


careful of the buf switch though... if you don't configure enough memory it
will fail.

[thomas]

I am not sure if the "directory-based drives also maintain all the Amiga-specific file flags" is true for Unix/Linux, too. It works well with Windows and NTFS (using data streams) and less well with FAT (using uaefsdb files for storing additional attributes). You can easily lose these attributes if you copy files using the host OS.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by Saghalie

The only way I can think of is to configure a system to boot up on an HDF
and have a few directories loaded as well (as harddrives). Then copy the
HDF contents to the directories.

ok, so much for an automated process on the host system, then. seems the 'conversion' can not be handled outside the emulator, which is what i hoped for (batch converter)? does there exist an amiga tool for managing this task?

anyway, thanks a lot saghalie


hi thomas,

I am not sure if the "directory-based drives also maintain all the Amiga-specific file flags" is true for Unix/Linux, too.

that is a good point, but i guess there is even less need to worry with linux - from fs-uae site:

"Some file names which are valid on the Amiga are not allowed on the host file system. This is particularly true on Windows, which has one of the most restrictive set of allowed file names (Linux and OS X are more flexible)."

after all, i think i better focus on dynamic hdfs. i really like the one-file aspect even though loosing direct accessibility of amiga files on the host system, that goes with a dir based solution.

again thanks a lot for your help.

[thomas]

I'm not talking about file names but file attributes. AmigaDOS has file notes, Linux has nothing like that. AmigaDOS has eight protection bits, Linux has three.

National characters in file names and code pages are another issue.

[Nova]

ok, i see what you mean, thanks for clarifying.

even more reasons to stay with hdfs, at least for linux people.

p.s: is this kernel related or can you escape by using another fs (say btrfs, zfs, xfs)?

[Rotareneg]

You could always just compress the .hdf in Windows:
Right click on file, "Properties", "Advanced...", Check "Compress contents to save disk space", "Ok", "Apply".