Comparison of Windows and Linux File

Systems

Author’s Name

Author’s Affiliation

City & Country Location

E-mail Address

I. Introduction referred to as a scrubber. The scrubber is essential to

occasionally scan the volume, detect the corruption,
A file system is the main element in the and immediately trigger the repair process.
operating system, which is utilized in the writing and Consequently, ReFS offers virtualized workloads and
reading sectors in the storage drive. In addition, it is performance sensitivity, which aid varied workloads
used to manage the folder structure and offers an and dynamics [1]. ReFS is developed in a manner
index to the file. Windows and Linux both utilize the that supports enormously huge data sets without
files system to store, update and retrieve data, hence interfering with performance. This makes the ReFS
the file system is crucial as it is used to manage user more suitable than the previous windows version,
data and enable the data to be in human-readable however, the current servers also support NTFS for
form. This paper will compare windows and Linux clients who require the older version.
file systems and provide their importance and
differences. On the other hand, Linux's most used file
II Comparison of Windows and Linux File Systems system includes XFS and ext4, regarded as the
reliable and fastest journaled file systems. Since 2009
In the classical times, windows primarily Ubuntu has utilized the ext4 as its default filesystem
supported new technology file systems (NTFS) and [2]. The ext4 filesystem was used until 2014 when
file allocation tables). For instance, in Windows XP, XFS was introduced in Ubuntu. Since their
Windows 2000 and window4.0. Technology has introduction into Linux, XFS has been used as more
gradually changed, and new servers, such as advanced while ext4 fills the gap that differentiated
Windows servers in 2016, 2019 and 2022, have XFS. In the Linux file system, the journal feature is
brought changes to the file system. The current responsible for writing a duplicate log of the changes
servers use a Resilient File System (ReFS) to make that occur in the file system [2]. In case of any power
the best use of data availability, integrity, and scale outage, the system evaluates the journal and rewinds
efficiency for large data sets in various workloads [1]. to curb file corruption and data loss. Consequently,
The ReFS system is as efficient as it advocates for an the ext4 and XFS map out bits of data in huge
expansion set of storage circumstances and offers portions referred to as extents which are critical in
room for future improvement and innovation. The managing large volumes and files by eliminating the
major benefit of the current file system is resiliency, essential of tracking the file membership of every
and it introduces features that can exactly detect block [2]. To curb and ascertain corrupted files, ext4
corruption and fix them while still online, aiding in and XFS compute a checksum on journal files and
improving data retention and integrity [1]. Moreover, metadata and eliminates the corruption. Although
the resiliency feature in ReFS provides proactive most Linux utilizes ext4 and XFS filesystem, the
error correction, which offers a data integrity scanner upcoming generation of ZFS and briefs works more
safely and flexibly with a huge quantity of storage IV CONCLUSION
[2]. Inconclusion both Linux and Windows
The upcoming generation of Linux files will ensure filesystem are capable of efficient and effective
the file system will not over-write data, eliminating storage but Linux storage proves to be safer in
the chances of the filesystem getting inconsistent. protecting the files compared to windows due to
The file system will detect and eliminate errors block complexity in accessing the files. Consequently,
by block without running fsck which is used to fix Windows file accessing is more friendly compared to
the errors. Moreover, the upcoming system will be Linux. The new version of windows is more
more user friendly compared to XFS. advanced compared to the present Linux file system
as its more resilient and performs better. Linux can
III Differences Between Windows and Linux compete fairly with Windows if they install their
Filesystem upcoming filling system which will enhance
The directory structure in Linux uses a efficiency and curb data corruption as well as foster
completely different layout and uses several user-friendly features.
distinguished names for folders, while all files in
Windows might be kept in one folder [3]. When it References
comes to cases, the sensitive Linux filesystem is very [1]"Resilient File System (ReFS)
sensitive it treats lower-case letters and capitalized overview", Docs.microsoft.com, 2022. [Online].
letters differently hence one can have a file named Available:
SCHOOL, School and school in a similar folder https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/stor
meaning differently in contrast, one cannot have a age/refs/refs-overview. [Accessed: 13- May- 2022].
file named School and SCHOOL in the similar folder [2] A. Enderson, "Guide to Linux
as it assumes the names are similar. Backlashes are Filesystems", Baeldung.com, 2022. [Online].
used in Windows in the user directory, while Linux Available:
uses forward lashes [3]. Moreover, Linux filesystems https://www.baeldung.com/linux/filesystems.
are available in arbitrary directories, while Windows [Accessed: 13- May- 2022].
contains several partitions and devices identified by
the file letters [3]. Conclusively everything on Linux [3] C. Hoffman, "6 Ways the Linux File System is
is a file which is not the case in Windows. Different from the Windows File
System", Howtogeek.com, 2022. [Online]. Available:
https://www.howtogeek.com/137096/6-ways-the-
linux-file-system-is-different-from-the-windows-file-
system/. [Accessed: 13- May- 2022].