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Topic starter 01/08/2025 10:01 pm
🧵 UFS (UNIX File System) is a robust and time-tested file system originally developed as part of the Berkeley Fast File System (FFS) in the early 1980s. It became the standard for many UNIX and UNIX-like operating systems, including Solaris, BSD variants, and HP-UX.
🧠 Core Concepts
- Inode-based structure: Every file is represented by an inode containing metadata like permissions, timestamps, and pointers to data blocks.
- Hierarchical layout: Files and directories are organized in a tree structure starting from the root
/. - Cylinder groups: Disk is divided into groups to localize related data and reduce fragmentation.
📐 Technical Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Max volume size | Up to ~16 TB (with UFS2) |
| Max file size | ~1 TB per file |
| Filename length | Up to 255 characters |
| Journaling (UFS Logging) | ✅ Supported for metadata consistency |
| Snapshots | ✅ Allows read-only views of the file system at a point in time |
| Extended attributes | ✅ Includes UID, GID, and device numbers |
| Supported OS | Solaris, BSD variants, HP-UX, Tru64 UNIX, illumos |
🛠️ UFS Versions
- UFS1: Original version with 32-bit block addresses
- UFS2: Enhanced version with 64-bit support, larger file sizes, and additional timestamps
⚙️ Real-World Applications
- Enterprise UNIX systems: Common in servers running Solaris or BSD
- Embedded systems: Used where reliability and simplicity are key
- Legacy environments: Still found in older infrastructure and backup systems
