Abstract: Disclosed is a file management method for a file system that has a storage device to save data blocks and a main memory of computer, the storage device and the main memory being provided with a management block to save in-use information, in-transition information, and information about expansion to an adjacent data block. The method has the steps of: checking the in-use information of the management block on the main memory when securing a second data block so as to store data relating to a first data block; initializing a management area of the second data block; storing the position of the first data block into the management area of the second data block; storing the position of the second data block into a management area of the first data block; copying the information of the management block on the main memory to the management block on the storage device; and removing the in-transition information.

Abstract: In a computer network, a master computer has an operating system (OS) management table for mapping unique addresses of the network computers to respective versions of an operating system and a status table for mapping the unique addresses to respective busy/idle states of the computers and to respective queues. A list of the OS versions is retrieved from the management table to allow user at a source computer to select one of the versions, and a request is sent to the master computer. In response, the master computer makes a search through the management table for remote computers in which the operating system of the selected version is installed and makes a search through the status table to determine their busy/idle states and to detect one of their queues having shortest length if all of the remote computers are busy.