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Managing Linux Filesystems
Rank and File
Imagine a filesystem as a library that stores data efficiently and in a structured way. Without filesystems, persistent data would not be possible. Virtually every Linux system has at least one block-based filesystem (e.g., ext4, XFS, Btrfs). Block-based means that an underlying physical data store is involved, such as a hard drive, solid-state drive (SSD), or SD card. Linux has a number of filesystems from which to choose, and the ext2/3/4 series is likely known by everyone. If you work with a current distribution, you have probably met other filesystems, too (Table 1).
Table 1
Standard Filesystems
| Distribution | Filesystem |
|---|---|
| Debian (from v7.0 wheezy) | ext4 |
| Ubuntu (from v9.04) | ext4 |
| Fedora (from v22) | XFS |
| SLES (from v12) | Btrfs for the root partition, XFS for data partitions |
| RHEL 7 | XFS |
Most filesystems are very similar and differ only in detail. The following terms will help you understand them:
- Superblock: Stores metadata about a filesystem, such as the total number of blocks
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