🖥️ Operating Systems Project : Mini-FAT File System

The Mini-FAT File System is a simplified implementation of the FAT (File Allocation Table) structure using C#.
It simulates a virtual disk with 1MB storage, supporting cluster-based data management, file allocation tracking via a FAT table, and metadata operations.
This project demonstrates essential file system design concepts and was developed by Abdalla Samir as part of the Operating Systems course at Assiut National University.

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🚀 Features

Virtual Disk Simulation

• Represents a 1MB virtual disk with 1024 clusters, each 1024 bytes.
• Includes superblock, FAT table, and content regions.

File Allocation Table (FAT)

• Tracks cluster usage:
  • 0: Free cluster.
  • -1: End of cluster chain.
  • Positive values: Next cluster in the chain.
• Stored in clusters 1-4.

Cluster Operations

• Efficiently read and write 1024-byte data blocks.

Free Space Tracking

• Dynamically calculates remaining storage space.

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🛠️ How It Works

Disk Initialization

• Creates a virtual disk with:
  • Superblock (unused).
  • FAT table.
  • Empty content clusters.

File Allocation

• Manages cluster allocation using a linked-list structure in the FAT table.

Data Management

• Supports reading and writing data blocks in 1024-byte clusters.

Free Space Calculation

• Dynamically calculates available storage.

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📜 Commands

The Mini-FAT File System supports the following commands for managing files and directories:

Command	Description	Example
cd	Change directory	cd k:\folder
dir	List directory contents	dir k:\folder
copy	Copy files/directories	copy file.txt k:\backup
import	Import files from physical disk	import C:\data.txt
export	Export files to physical disk	export data.txt D:\
md	Create a directory	md new_folder
rd	Remove a directory	rd old_folder
cls	Clear screen	cls
help	Show command help	help copy
type	Display file content	type file.txt
rename	Rename a file or directory	rename old.txt new.txt
del	Delete a file	del file.txt

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💻 Code Highlights

Key Methods

Method	Description
CreateOrOpenDisk(string path)	Initializes or opens the virtual disk file.
WriteCluster(byte[], int)	Writes 1024 bytes to a specific cluster.
ReadCluster(int)	Reads 1024 bytes from a specific cluster.
SaveFAT() / LoadFAT()	Saves and retrieves the FAT table from disk.
GetFreeSpace()	Calculates available storage space.
CloseDisk()	Saves the FAT table and closes the virtual disk.

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📂 Project Structure

Superblock (Cluster 0)

• Reserved for metadata (currently unused).

FAT Table (Clusters 1-4)

• Stores cluster allocation information.

Content Region (Clusters 5-1023)

• Holds file and directory data.

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🙏 Acknowledgments

Prof. Khaled Fathy - Project supervision.

Eng. Khaled Gamal - Technical guidance.

📧 Contact

Let's connect! Feel free to reach out or follow me on these platforms:

Abdalla Mahmoud Samir
Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence
Assiut National University
Operating Systems Course (CS321) - Third Level