Which disk scheduling algorithm is the simplest and processes requests in the order they arrive?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by restating the question and listing all options to set the stage for evaluation.
Question: Which disk scheduling algorithm is the simplest and processes requests in the order they arrive?
Options: a. SSTF, b. FCFS, c. LOOK, d. SCAN

Now, evaluate each option one by one:
Option a: SSTF (Shortest Seek Time First) seeks the pending request that is closest to the current head position. This minimizes average seek time but is not the simplest algorithm; it requires comparing distances to all pending requests to choose the nearest one, and it can cause starvation for certain requests far from the current head. Therefore, SSTF is not the simplest and does not process strictly in arrival order.
Option b: FCFS (First-Come, First-Served) processes each request in the exact order it arrives, with no reordering based on request location or distance. This makes FCFS the simplest algorithm logically and implementationally, though it may lead to inefficient movement and higher average wait times compared to more sophisticated schemes.
Option c: LOOK is a variation of the SCAN family where the head moves in one direction fulfilling requests until the furthest request in that direction and then reverses, omitting unnecessary travel beyond the outermost requests. It is more complex than FCFS because it requires tracking the ordering of outstanding requests and managing direction changes, and it does not simply follow arrival order.
Option d: SCAN (the elevator algorithm) moves the head in a single direction, servicing requests along the way to the end, then reverses at the end and continues. While efficient for reducing seek time, it involves ongoing movement patterns and direction changes, and it does not strictly process requests in arrival order either. It’s more complex than FCFS due to the directional sweeping behavior.

In summary, the key characteristic of FCFS is its unaltered adherence to the arrival order, without reordering or directional sweeps. The other algorithms introduce reordering based on position, seek distance, or movement direction, which increases complexity and changes the strict arrival-order processing.

Therefore, among the given options, FCFS is the simplest and processes requests in the order they arrive.

System Software and Computing Concepts (032025-ABB)

Which disk scheduling algorithm is the simplest and processes requests in the order they arrive?

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