A Beginner's Guide to Linux Filesystems [Explained]

There are many operating systems that run within digital ecosystems, not just the generic Windows OS and macOS. Linux is a competitive operating system that has gained remarkable popularity among developers. Given its widespread use in the market, it's essential to have an understanding of it. Thus, we've set up an article aimed at outlining Linux file system types. Knowing these file systems will give you a grip on the key to data management. Let's start with the definition of the Linux filesystem.

What is the Linux File System?

Next, we will explore the Linux filesystem, which will help readers understand the definition and basic elements of a filesystem.

A file system is a collection of data or files saved on a computer's hard disk or storage device. These systems define the location and arrangement of files on a storage device, highlighting the importance of file systems. Linux offers a dedicated file system that stores all the data required to boot the Linux system.

This image displays a Partition Manager interface on a Linux system.

Linux file systems run continuously in the background to maintain data within the system. They resemble regular file systems, functioning as an integral layer built into the Linux operating system. In addition to primary data storage and management, they also oversee details such as filenames, sizes, and creation dates.

Also, if you have problems using Linux, here are some links that may be useful:

Now that you have an understanding of the Linux filesystem, you may be wondering what types of filesystems Linux uses and what their characteristics are.

What are Linux file system types?

In this section, let's understand the major Linux file system formats and delve deeper into them. We have listed all significant file system types along with their descriptions to help you comprehend them better:

1. EXT (Extended File System)

EXT was the first file system type developed to support the Linux kernel, implemented in 1992. As the first member of the Extended File System family, the EXT file system allowed for filenames up to 255 characters long and supported partitions of up to 2 GB in the file system. Unfortunately, significant timestamp issues with the EXT file system have been reported in Linux.

2. EXT2 (Extended File System 2)

In 1993, all Linux users switched from the EXT file system to the EXT2 file system, which retained the internal structure that allowed for enhancements and extensions. EXT2 supports files up to 2 TiB in size but does not offer journaling, making file corruption and performance degradation its main issues.

3. EXT3: This is a journaling file system used for the Linux operating system, standing for Third Extended File System. It was developed by Stephen Tweedie in the late 1990s and became one of the widely adopted standard file systems within the Linux community, particularly in server environments. EXT3 ensures data safety and reliability by logging changes to the file system to prevent data loss. Although it has been succeeded by EXT4 and more modern file systems, EXT3 is still in use on some older systems and conservative deployments.

In the 2000s, the EXT3 file system type was introduced in the Extended File System family. This file system is still in use and has the same features, but it offers journaling to the user. Additionally, this file system aims to prevent data corruption and performance loss at all costs.

4. EXT4: EXT4 is a file system used in the Linux operating system, serving as a successor to EXT3. It offers improved performance, stability, and supports larger file system capacities. It can handle individual files up to 16TB in size and file systems as large as 1024PB (1024 exabytes). EXT4 introduces enhancements like pre-allocation, delayed allocation, faster file deletion, and quicker mounting and unmounting times.

As the default file system type for Linux, EXT4 surpasses other file systems in terms of performance and usability. Its reliability and stability make it one of the most esteemed systems around. You'll also find it compatible with SSDs, indicating its versatility in the market.

Here is a link that can help you understand the differences between EXT/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4:

What Are Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 File System Formats? Differences Explained [Complete Guide]

Confused about which file system to use between Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4? This article explains the Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 file systems in detail.

5. Xiafs (Hawaiian, meaning "hello" or "welcome")

Xiafs, as a competitor to the EXT2 file system, was not as feature-rich or performant. With a maximum file size limit of 64MiB, it has become obsolete in Linux and is currently not in use anywhere.

6. JFS (Journaling File System)

Created by IBM, this file system has been around since the 90s as an open-source option. Though considered capable of handling multiple workloads and displaying enhanced functionality, it has been superseded by more powerful and better options in contemporary times.

7. ReiserFS is a journaling file system specifically designed for the Linux operating system. Developed by Hans Reiser and his team, it aims to provide efficient, reliable, and secure data storage. ReiserFS became part of the Linux kernel in 2001 and was widely used in various Linux distributions, particularly in server environments due to its excellent performance with small files. However, with the emergence of other file systems like ext4 and XFS, the significance of ReiserFS has diminished over time. Nevertheless, it remains a mature and validated file system option.

This file system was introduced as a replacement for the EXT3 file system, and performs better with its improved features, though not remarkably. It supports file extensions, which is a notable feature.

8. XFS is a high-performance file system initially developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) and widely used in the Linux operating system. It supports large file systems and big files, with excellent data integrity features. XFS is designed for speed and scalability, making it well-suited for big data and enterprise storage environments.

XFS is one of the best file systems introduced for the Linux operating system. With support for very large file systems, XFS had its place in the high-end file system arena since the 90s. It's evident that XFS operates better and provides high-performance results, which is why it's still supported in Linux distributions.

9. SquashFS is a compressed read-only file system often used in creating lightweight Linux distributions, embedded devices, and virtual machine images. It efficiently stores large numbers of small files and supports a single superblock, enabling quick mounting.

SquashFS was introduced in 2000 as a read-only filesystem. It was found to be useful for embedded systems, but rather limiting for general-purpose use. There wasn't much to look for in this particular kind of filesystem.

10. Reiser4 is an advanced and free file system initially developed for the Linux kernel. It offers various performance enhancements and new features such as a journaling structure, online resizing, and transparent compression. However, despite development starting as early as 2001, Reiser4 has not become a core part of the Linux kernel, and support for it remains limited.

Reiser4 is a file system known for its efficient use of disk space, succeeding ReiserFS. It supports large system files and optimizes disk space by managing small files. The file system also offers additional encryption capabilities and performance enhancements.

11. btrfs (Better/Butter/B-tree File System)

You can see that this type of file system is used for very specific tasks, such as offering snapshots, disk pooling, and online defragmentation, but it is not suitable for production systems.

12. Bcachefs is a file system that was initially developed by Andrew Morton with the aim of providing high performance, high reliability, and advanced features. It leverages caching mechanisms, such as Bcache, to enhance performance and supports various file system attributes like logging, snapshots, linking, and copy-on-write. However, despite some attention during its development, it has not yet been widely adopted or incorporated into the main Linux kernel.

This is the newest file system available for Linux, and, with its Copy-On-Write feature, it is destined to outperform EXT4. The file system includes many advanced features, such as encryption of the file system, among others.

With a basic understanding of the various Linux filesystem types, it's time to determine which one is best for Linux users.

What is the best file system type for Linux?

Are you curious to know which Linux file system type has the best structure for your needs? We've put together a table outlining some key features to help you decide on the right file system for you.

The detailed information in the table indicates that EXT4 and EXT3 are excellent file system structures, capable of efficiently storing and managing data. These systems boast remarkable reliability and stability, making them ideal choices. Having understood the file system formats, you can proceed to format your device using one of these formats. Here's a link that might assist you:

Conclusions

This article has delved into the various types of Linux file systems and assisted you in determining the most suitable one for your current setup. The comprehensive overview of their features aids in defining parameters and making choices for your system setup. If you have further queries regarding today's topic, "Types of Linux File Systems," proceed to the next section for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Linux File Systems in UTF-8 Encoding

With our newfound knowledge of Linux filesystem types, we are now ready to answer some questions about them.

There are multiple file systems in Linux. Here are some common Linux file system types: 1. **EXT2** - The second Extended File System, commonly used in early Linux distributions. 2. **EXT3** - The third Extended File System, featuring journaling for improved system stability and data recovery. 3. **EXT4** - The fourth generation Extended File System, which is the default for most modern Linux distributions, offering faster speeds and support for larger file systems. 4. **FAT16/32** - Microsoft's File Allocation Table file system, used for compatibility with Windows systems. 5. **NTFS** - The default file system for Windows NT-based operating systems, also supported in Linux with specific drivers. 6. **VFAT** - Designed to address naming limitations of FAT file systems in Linux, supporting long file names. 7. **vFAT** - Similar to VFAT but adds read support for Windows NTFS file systems. 8. **ReiserFS** - A file system optimized for small files, once popular in certain Linux distributions. 9. **XFS** - A high-performance, journaling file system suitable for large data and I/O-intensive workloads. 10. **JFS** - A journaled file system developed by IBM, designed for large file systems and high-performance environments. 11. **Btrfs** - A modern, open-source, and scalable file system that supports snapshots, cloning, and automatic error detection and repair. These are just a few examples; others like NILFS (New Technology Iterative File System), UFS (Unix File System), and exFAT also exist within the Linux environment.

In the Linux operating system, you can find support for almost 100 file systems; EXT4 is currently the most popular.

**What are the three types of files in Linux?** In Linux, there are three fundamental types of files: 1. **Regular File**: These are standard files containing data or text, such as documents, images, audio files, and programs. 2. **Directory**: A directory is a container that holds other files or subdirectories. They are used to organize the file system structure. 3. **Special File**: This includes device files, sockets, and symbolic links. Device files are used for interacting with hardware devices, sockets facilitate network communication, and symbolic links are similar to shortcuts in Windows, pointing to the location of another file or directory. In addition to these, there are other file types like pipes (Pipe) and FIFOs (First-In, First-Out queues), but the three mentioned above are the most basic and commonly encountered.

Linux recognizes three file types in its system: “regular,” “directory,” and “special.”

3. What does XFS stand for?

XFS is an extent-based file system for the Linux operating system.