Chapter 4. Navigating the File System

One of the biggest challenges for a long-enduring system like the HP e3000 is that of integrating the old with the new. HP's first minicomputer has stood the test of time by keeping pace with new developments while preserving the benefits of past successes. When MPE was first released back in the early 1970s, it had an efficient, logically structured file system. For approximately twenty years, the original architecture delivered high performance and solid data integrity, while making very few changes to the basic design. By the early 1990s, though, HP knew that the rules had changed. Efficiency was still an important consideration, but greater flexibility was also desired, and emerging industry standards like POSIX drove the demand for a major enhancement to the MPE file system. With grace and elegance that is remarkable but not surprising, HP deftly merged into MPE a completely new directory structure, offering extensive new capabilities without sacrificing compatibility with the established system.