What does XFS mean in Linux?

XFS is a high-performance journaling file system originally developed by SGI (Silicon Graphics Inc.) and used for the IRIX operating system. It boasts advanced features such as scalability, support for large storage capacities, high-performance I/O operations, and was initially designed for handling large files and storage devices, but is now widely used in the Linux operating system.

XFS stands for “eXtended File System,” which is an extension and improvement of traditional file system designs. XFS uses a data structure called B+ trees to organize indexes of files and directories, allowing it to efficiently handle large amounts of files and directories. Additionally, XFS also supports advanced logging systems, ensuring consistency of the file system even in the event of system crashes or power outages.

XFS also offers numerous other features such as snapshots, online expansion, real-time compression, and fault diagnosis. It is considered a very stable and reliable file system, suitable for various applications including servers, storage systems, and high-performance computing clusters.

In conclusion, XFS is a high-performance, highly reliable file system that is widely used in the Linux operating system, especially for handling large files and high-capacity storage devices.