Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

Which HFS volume structure tracks the allocation blocks that are in use and those that are free?

1. Logical Block 2

2. Logical Block 3

3. Volume Header

4. Allocation Table

The correct answer is: Logical Block 3

The correct answer relates to the structure responsible for tracking the allocation blocks in use and those that are free within an HFS (Hierarchical File System) volume. In HFS, the allocation of space on the disk is managed through the use of a data structure particularly designed for this purpose. Logical Block 3, also known as the Allocation Bitmap or Allocation Block, serves to capture the state of each block in the volume, indicating whether it is allocated (in use) or free. This bitmap effectively describes the usage of space on the disk by maintaining a dynamic map of block availability, which is critical for efficient storage management and for preventing data corruption or loss during write operations. The vital role this allocation table plays is that it allows the file system to quickly determine where free blocks are located, facilitating the efficient allocation and deallocation of space as files are created, modified, and deleted. This structure is integral to maintaining the integrity of the file system's organization, ensuring that data is stored in a recoverable and manageable fashion. Other options such as the Logical Block 2 and the Volume Header do not serve this specific purpose directly; they are involved in different aspects of the file system organization and management, such as metadata storage and overall volume characteristics.