In a file allocation system, the following allocation schemes are used:
A. Contiguous
B. Indexed
C. Linked allocation
Which of the allocation scheme(s) given above will not suffer from external fragmentation? Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

In file allocation systems, indexed allocation and linked allocation do not suffer from external fragmentation because they do not require consecutive memory blocks. However, contiguous allocation does suffer from external fragmentation due to its requirement for continuous memory blocks.
Information Booster
1. Explanation of Allocation Schemes:
· Contiguous Allocation: Files are stored in a single, continuous block of memory. This causes external fragmentation, as free memory blocks may not be contiguous, making it difficult to allocate larger files.
· Indexed Allocation: A separate index table is maintained to store pointers to file blocks. This eliminates the need for contiguous memory and avoids external fragmentation.
· Linked Allocation: Each file block contains a pointer to the next block, forming a linked list. No need for contiguous memory, hence no external fragmentation.
2. Key Characteristics:
· External Fragmentation: Occurs when free memory is divided into small, non-contiguous blocks, making it difficult to allocate large files.
· Internal Fragmentation: Occurs when allocated memory exceeds the actual requirement, leaving unused space within allocated blocks.
Additional Knowledge
· Advantages of Indexed Allocation:
· Random access is faster compared to linked allocation.
· Eliminates the need for traversing pointers.
· Advantages of Linked Allocation:
· Space-efficient and avoids external fragmentation.
· Suitable for sequential access.
· Real-World Usage: Indexed allocation is used in file systems like UNIX's inode structure.