Linux file systems

There are numerous file systems for different application purposes. This article includes excerpts highlighting particularly relevant file systems that are also included in the Linux Storage Stack Diagram. Further file systems are mentioned in the documentation of the Linux kernel.

File systems for storing data

Block-based file systems

The following list displays block-based file systems:

• btrfs - Copy-on-write file system.
• ext2 - New version of extended file system.
• ext4 - An enhanced version of the journal-based ext3 file system with support for large file systems (64-bit).
• f2fs - A file system that uses NAND flash storage devices and is based on a log-structured file system (LFS).
• gfs2 - Cluster file system.
• iso9660 - Read-only file system for optical data carrier (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-ray Disc etc.).
• ntfs3 - A fully functional read/write driver for NTFS up to version 3.1.
• ocfs2 - (Oracle Cluster File System 2) cluster file system from Oracle.
• squashfs - Comprimized, read-only file system.
• vfat - File system for Microsoft operating systems.
• xfs - Journaling file system for Unix-like operating systems developed by Silicon Graphics (SGI)

More details can be found in the article Block-based Linux file systems.

Network FS

• ceph
• coda
• nfs
• smbfs

Stackable FS

• ecryptfs - (Enterprise Cryptographic Filesystem) POSIX-compliant cryptographic stacked file system.
• overlayfs - An overlay file system that provides a writable file system on top of another (usually read-only) file system (often used for live CDs).

Raw Flash FS

• jffs2
• ubifs

More file systems

Pseudo FS

• futexfs
• pipefs
• proc - (process filesystem) serves as an interface to internal data structures in the kernel. It can be used to obtain information about the system and to change certain kernel parameters at runtime (sysctl).
• sysfs - RAM-based file system that was originally based on ramfs. It provides the ability to export kernel data structures, their attributes, and the relationships between them to user space.
• usbfs

Special Purpose FS

• devtmpfs
• ramfs
• tmpfs

Einzelnachweise

Author: Werner Fischer Werner Fischer, working in the Knowledge Transfer team at Thomas-Krenn, completed his studies of Computer and Media Security at FH Hagenberg in Austria. He is a regular speaker at many conferences like LinuxTag, OSMC, OSDC, LinuxCon, and author for various IT magazines. In his spare time he enjoys playing the piano and training for a good result at the annual Linz marathon relay.

Translator: Alina Ranzinger Alina has been working at Thomas-Krenn.AG since 2024. After her training as multilingual business assistant, she got her job as assistant of the Product Management and is responsible for the translation of texts and for the organisation of the department.