The professional filesystem ZFS
Snapshots
Another common technique for enhancing the data security of a filesystem is creating snapshots. ZFS provides very easy and efficient snapshot capability thanks to its copy-on-write technology; older data is always saved, because the filesystem stores new datasets in free memory blocks instead of overwriting the existing data. The following command creates snapshots of a volume:
# zfs snapshot pool_name/volume@snapshot_name
The system creates the snapshot in the current directory in a hidden folder with the extension .zfs
. Although this folder is not displayed with the ls -lisa
command, you can change to it with a simple cd .zfs
. This .zfs
directory has a snapshot/
subfolder, where you will find your snapshot(s).
The individual snapshots are accessible as in conventional file hierarchies: You can retrieve or copy files from them, and you can create backups. The snapshot technology built into ZFS is far more flexible than you will find in other filesystems (Figure 4).
Conclusions
ZFS is one of the most innovative and modern filesystems available for Unix-flavored operating systems today. Restrictions of obsolete filesystems fall away completely with ZFS, and ZFS comes with a range of features, such as RAID, snapshots, and data compression. ZFS also cuts a good figure on the desktop. The less sophisticated Btrfs provides some of the enhanced features of ZFS, but Btrfs has its own issues. It is time to resolve the restrictive license disputes around ZFS and make the ZFS filesystem fully suitable for use on Linux.
Infos
- ZFS: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19253-01/819-5461/zfsover-2/
- Common Development and Distribution License: https://opensource.org/licenses/CDDL-1.0
- Filesystem in User Space (FUSE): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_in_Userspace
- Storage pools: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19253-01/819-5461/gaypk/index.html
- ZFS on FUSE: http://zfs-on-fuse.blogspot.co.uk/
- ZFS on Linux: http://zfsonlinux.org/
- ZFS with Ubuntu: https://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/02/16/zfs-is-the-fs-for-containers-in-ubuntu-16-04/
« Previous 1 2 3
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Endless OS 6 has Arrived
After more than a year since the last update, the latest release of Endless OS is now available for general usage.
-
Fedora Asahi 40 Remix Available for Macs with Apple Silicon
If you've been anticipating KDE's Plasma 6 for your Apple Silicon-powered Mac, then you're in luck.
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.