File Systems
This page provides information on some of the file systems commonly used in Manjaro. It also shows where and how they are used. Further information on these and other file systems can be found in the ARCH Wiki
A file system manages the space on a storage medium (hard disk, SSD ...). It makes this memory available to the operating system so that files can be saved and read again. Each of the following file systems has advantages and disadvantages. They are mostly developed for a special purpose and are therefore used in a certain environment.
Linux
File systems that are mostly used under linux.
Note that many file system drivers are already included in the Linux kernel. You may not need anything else to mount, read, or write these filesystems. But there are packages with additional tools. You may need them to format, check, repair, modify, or optimize such file systems. So if you regularly use a file system, it is a good idea to install the appropriate tools
Ext2 → Ext3 → Ext4
Ext4 is the default file system in Manjaro at the moment. It is the evolution of the most used Linux filesystems (Ext3, Ext2) and promises improved design, better performance, reliability, and features over its predecessors.
If you are using Ext2 or Ext3, you can convert the partition to Ext4. Ext4 uses journaling, checksums and write barriers and is therefore more robust against damage.
Currently Ext4 is fully supported in Win10 and OsX. Support for ext4 has been built in since WSL is included in Win10 (2016).
see Ext4@kernel.org, Ext4@ARCH-wiki, Ext4@wikipedia
Install
In manjaro e2fsprogs is already installed
Tips
For advanced optimizations see the Archwiki Ext4 article.
btrfs
A modern file system with a lot of advanced features. Its main advantage it to be a Copy-On-Write-filesystem
see btrfs@kernel.org, Btrfs@ARC-wiki, Btrfs@wikipedia
Install
reiserfs → reiser4
Reiserfs was actively used by a few distributions a while ago, but is not currently widely used. Reiser4 is the successor to reiserfs (3). However, Reiser4 is not integrated in the kernel.
see Reiser4@ARCH-wiki, ReiserFS@wikipedia, Reiser4@wikipedia, Reiser4@kernel.org
Install
Windows
File systems mostly used in windows
NTFS
This today is used by most windows installs
see NTFS@ARCH-wiki, NTFS@wikipedia
Install
DOS
File systems under DOS and early windows on a lot of floppydisks and USB-sticks
FAT → FAT32 → VFAT
You may find this filesystem on disks created under DOS or Windows9x. It is sometimes used to transport files from one operating system to another.
see FAT@ARCH-wiki, FAT@wikipedia
Install
exFAT
Microsoft created the exFAT (Extended File Alocation Table) to make up for the inadequacies of FAT32, as it can hold large files, large numbers of files & use very large partitions. Supported on Linux, Windows, MacOS and many other devices, it is one of the most compatible filesystems. A good choice when you need to share a removable device between many systems.
see ExFAT@wikipedia
Install
macOS
Filesystems mostly used in macOs
HFS → HFS+
Install from AUR
Others
XFS
see XFS@ARCH-wiki
ZFS
see ZFS@ARCH-wiki
Comparisions
| Filesystem | manjaro | Win10 | OsX | Win9x, DOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ext2 | ■ | ▷ ExtFS | ■ | |
| ext3/4 | ■ | ▷ ExtFS | ? | |
| btrfs | ● btrfs-progs | ▷ ExtFS, WinBtrfs | - | - |
| reiser3 | ● reiser4progs | ▷ RFSTool | ? | - |
| reiser4 | ● reiserfs | ? | ? | - |
| NTFS | ○ ntfs-3g | ■ | ? | |
| FAT | ● dosfstools | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| exFAT | ● exfatprogs | ■ | ? | ? |
| HFS | ○ hfsprogs (AUR) | ? | ■ | |
| XFS | ? | ▷ ExtFS | ? | |
| ZFS | ? | ? | ? |
■ = fully supported ● = fully supported, additional tools to install ○ = partially supported ▷ = possible via external tools ? = feel free to extend ;-)
| Properties | ext2 | ext3 | ext4 | btrfs | reiserfs | XFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| journaling | - | ● ordered | ● ordered | ● | ▶ 2.6 | ● |
| barriers | - | ● | ● | ? | ||
| checksum | - | - | ◎ metadata | ● full | ? | |
| kompression | - | - | - | ●, zstd ▶ 4.14/5.1 |
- | |
| encryption | - | - | ▶ 4.13 | - | ||
| snapshots | - | - | - | ● | - | |
| TRIM possible | - | - | ▶ 2.6.33 | ▶ 4.3 | ||
| xattr, ACL | ◎ | ? | ACL | ACL | ACL | |
| small repair | ● fsck | ● fsck | ● fsck | ● auto | reiserfsck | |
| journal repair | ● fsck | ● fsck | ● fsck | ● auto 3.2 | ||
| repair after power loss | - | ? | ● tune2fs, fsck | ● auto, scrub | ||
| since | 1993 | 2001 | 2008 | 2009 | 2001 |
See also
Wikipedia:exFAT
Wikipedia:Comparison of file systems
Archwiki:File Systems