Os Memory Management Questions
Compaction in memory management is a process that aims to reduce external fragmentation by rearranging the memory blocks. It involves moving the allocated memory blocks together to create a larger contiguous free memory space.
The process of compaction typically starts by identifying the free memory blocks and the allocated memory blocks in the memory space. Then, the allocated memory blocks are shifted towards one end of the memory space, leaving a single contiguous free memory block at the other end. This helps in minimizing the fragmentation and maximizing the available free memory space.
During compaction, the operating system updates the memory allocation table or data structures to reflect the new positions of the memory blocks. It also updates the pointers and references to the relocated memory blocks to ensure proper memory access.
Compaction is usually performed during periods of low memory usage or when the system is idle. It helps in improving memory utilization and reducing the chances of memory allocation failures due to fragmentation. However, compaction can be a time-consuming process, especially when dealing with large memory spaces or complex memory allocation structures.