The 6 Best File Systems for Installing Linux
Choosing the right file system for your computer can be a difficult process. It’s easy to wonder: why do file systems matter at all? Is there a specific file system that works best for installing Linux?
As it turns out, there are two file systems that stand out as the best general-purpose options for installing Linux.
The Best General-Purpose File System for Linux
The two best file systems for installing Linux are ext4 and Btrfs. While these two file systems are similar in many ways, there are a fewkey distinctions between Btrfs and ext4that you should be aware of.
ext4 is the default file system used for most Linux installations. It was first released in 2008 and serves as the successor to ext3. As a long-used file system, ext4 is notable because it is proven to be reliable, capable, and high-performing.
One of the primary advantages of ext4 is that it is a journaled file system, meaning that it tracks the location of files on the disk and logs changes made to the disk. ext4 is extremely efficient and reliable, with each new version offering substantial improvements in performance and features.
Btrfs is an open-source file system that serves as one of the most popular alternatives to ext4. While it doesn’t have the same history of reliability, Btrfs has garnered its enthusiasts due to its interesting set of features.
The most notable aspect of Btrfs is its copy-on-write (COW) approach, which involves copying data to an alternative location on the disk before modifying it. As a result of its COW approach, Btrfs significantly minimizes the risk of data corruption.
That isn’t the only interesting thing about Btrfs. It also checksums data blocks and metadata, which serves as yet another preventative measure against data corruption. While it doesn’t measure up to ext4 in terms of efficiency, Btrfs is formidable in its own right for its impressive functionality.
Both ext4 and Btrfs are worth considering as the file system foryour new Linux installation. ext4 is better for most general-purpose users, while power users may find that one or two of the features in Btrfs make its slightly slower performance worthwhile.
Other Linux File Systems to Consider
Of course, Btrfs and ext4 aren’t the only file systems you have to choose from when installing a new Linux distro. While options like XFS and ZFS aren’t nearly as famous, there are certain cases where you should consider making them the file system of choice.
Of all the niche file systems, one of the most interesting is Z File System (ZFS). First created in 2001, ZFS is a recent contender that incorporates an interesting feature: pooled storage. While most file systems utilize a separate file manager, these two components are combined in this pooled storage system.
This is an excellent feature if you have multiple disk drives because you will be able to combine their storage capacity in a unified file system.
Additionally, ZFS incorporates many of the same features as Btrfs (including COW, snapshots, and data checksum verification)—allowing you to rest assured that your data is valid and intact.
4. Reiser4
While Reiser4 isn’t a particularly popular file system, a few of its features make it worth noting. Reiser4 stands out for its efficient journaling and small file storage. It also incorporates atomicity, a property that only allows file changes to go through completely or not at all and prevents corruptions from partially-completed changes from occurring.
The main disadvantage of Reiser4 is the negative reputation of its founder. Reiser4 is actively maintained to this day, but the unfortunate history associated with its name and the challenges in development it has faced as a result have forced it into a small niche.
Like ZFS, XFS isn’t a particularly common file system—but it has a few interesting traits that distinguish it from ext4 and other file systems.
Its internal partitioning into allocation groups allows it to run multiple I/O operations at once, making it an excellent option when multiple processors or cores run in parallel. It also includes xfsdump and xfsrestore, which are both helpfulfile backup and restoration utilities.
The final file system that you should consider using for your new Linux installation is JFS. Like ext4, JFS is a journaled file system, but it only journals metadata and enjoys slightly higher write speeds at the expense of thoroughness in file recovery.
While JFS may appeal to you if you’re looking for a fast file system, its approach to journaling makes it a poor fit for systems that handle important data.
Now You Can Install Linux With Ease
With the modern abundance of file system types, users have an incredible amount of options—and file system type isn’t the only thing you get to choose.
Researching what distribution of Linux will best suit your needs is also important. By combining the right distribution and file system, you’ll be able to design and use the perfect system in just one simple installation.
2022 was a fantastic year for all Linux distributions, but some of them were at the forefront of representing FOSS and the power of a community.
So much time invested, and for what?
Anyone with more than a passing interest in motorsports must see these films.
I gripped my chair the entire time—and then kept thinking about it when the screen turned off.
Free AI tools are legitimately powerful; you just need to know how to stack them.
Obsidian finally feels complete.
