6 Best File Systems for Installing Linux

Choosing the right file system for your computer can be a tricky process. You may ask: Why is the file system so important? Are there specific file systems suitable for installing Linux?

In fact, there are two file systems that perform best when installing Linux.

The best general-purpose file system for Linux

The best file systems for installing Linux are ext4 and Btrfs. Although the two file systems are similar in many ways, there are some key differences between Btrfs and ext4 to be aware of.

1、ext4

ext4 is the default file system used in most Linux installations. It was first released in 2008 and is the successor to ext3. As a long-standing file system, ext4 has proven reliability, functionality, and performance.

One of the major advantages of ext4 is that it is a journaling file system that keeps track of the location of files on disk and records changes to the disk. ext4 is very efficient and reliable, with each new version offering significant improvements in performance and functionality.

2、Btrfs

Btrfs is an open source file system and one of the most popular alternatives to ext4. While it doesn't have the same proven track record, Btrfs has attracted a loyal user base due to its interesting features.

The most notable feature of Btrfs is its copy-on-write (COW) approach, which copies data to another location on the disk before modifying it. Btrfs greatly reduces the risk of data corruption due to its copy-on-write approach.

This is not the only interesting feature of Btrfs. It also performs checksums on data blocks and metadata, which is another preventive measure against data corruption. Although not as efficient as ext4, Btrfs excels in its field with its powerful features.

Whether you choose ext4 or Btrfs, it is worth considering as the file system for a new Linux installation. For most average users, ext4 is more suitable; for advanced users, Btrfs has a feature or two that might make its slightly slower performance more valuable.

Other Linux file systems to consider

Of course, Btrfs and ext4 are not the only file systems you can choose when installing a new Linux distribution. While options like XFS and ZFS are not as well-known, there are situations where you should consider them as your file system of choice.

3、ZFS

Of all the domain-specific file systems, one of the most interesting is the Z File System (ZFS). First created in 2001, ZFS is a recent contender with an interesting feature: pooled storage. Most file systems use a separate file manager, whereas these two components are merged together in a pooled storage system.

This is a great feature if you have multiple disk drives, as it combines their storage capacity into a unified file system.

Additionally, ZFS has many of the same features as Btrfs (including COW, snapshots, and data checksum verification), giving you peace of mind knowing your data is valid and complete.

4、Reiser4

Although Reiser4 is not a particularly popular file system, some of its features are worth noting. Reiser4 stands out for its efficient logging and small file storage. It is also atomic, allowing only file changes to be completed completely or not at all, and prevents partial changes from causing corruption.

The main drawback of Reiser4 is the negative reputation of its founder. Although Reiser4 is currently actively maintained, the unfortunate history associated with its name and the challenges encountered in its development have kept it restricted to a small area.

5、XFS

Similar to ZFS, XFS is not a particularly common file system, but it has some interesting characteristics that set it apart from ext4 and other file systems.

Its internal division into allocation groups enables it to run multiple I/O operations simultaneously, making it a good choice when multiple processors or cores are running in parallel. It also includes xfsdump and xfsrestore, both useful file backup and recovery tools.

6、JFS

The last file system you should consider using in a new Linux installation is JFS. Like ext4, JFS is a journaling file system, but it only records metadata and is less thorough in file recovery at the expense of slightly higher write speeds.

If you are looking for a fast file system, JFS may appeal to you, but its approach to logging makes it unsuitable for systems that handle important data.

Now, you can easily install Linux

Among the many modern file system types, users have many choices, and the file system type is not the only thing you need to choose.

It’s also important to research which Linux distribution best suits your needs. By choosing the right distribution and file system, you will be able to design and use the perfect system in a simple installation.

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