File Systems

ext3 is a robust, journaling file system with improved data integrity. Time is saved after unclean system shutdowns because extensive file system checking is no longer necessary after such an event. Speed can be improved because journaling optimizes hard drive head motion. The whitepaper found at this link covers "Red Hat's New Journaling File System: ext3".

The Journaled File System (JFS) provides fast file system restart in the event of a system crash. Using database journaling techniques, JFS can restore a file system to a consistent state in a matter of seconds or minutes, versus hours or days with non-journaled file systems. IBM has contributed this technology to the Linux open source community with the hope that some or all of it will be useful in bringing the best of journaling capabilities to the Linux operating system.

The Open Global File System (OpenGFS, or OGFS) is a journaled file system that supports simultaneous sharing of a common storage device by multiple computer nodes. It provides direct access to shared storage media. This is one way to implement a "clustered file system".

Parallel Virtual File System is a user-space parallel file system for use on clusters of computers (and Beowulf parallel clusters in particular). It provides transparent file striping across multiple machines and includes a shared library for use with existing binaries.

Parallel applications need a fast I/O subsystem. Clusters need a parallel file system that can scale as the number of nodes increases to the thousands and tens of thousands. PVFS2 is the answer.

XFS combines advanced journaling technology with full 64-bit addressing and scalable structures and algorithms. This combination delivers the most scalable and high-performance filesystem in the world.

• Journaling: Quick Recovery
• Fast Transactions
• High Scalability
• Excellent Bandwidth