XFS vs ext4

 XFS and ext4 are both 64-bit journaling file systems for Linux. They are the successors to the ext2 and ext3 file systems, respectively. XFS was developed by Silicon Graphics, and ext4 was developed by the Linux kernel community.

 

Both file systems are widely used on Linux systems. XFS is generally considered to be more robust and reliable than ext4, while ext4 is more widely supported and has better performance for small files.

 

Here is a more detailed comparison of XFS and ext4:

 

XFS

 

Pros:

• More robust and reliable than ext4
• Better suited for large files and volumes
• Supports larger file sizes and volumes
• Supports snapshots
• Supports copy-on-write (COW)
• Supports extents

Cons:

• Not as widely supported as ext4
• Slower performance for small files
• More complex to manage
• Does not support journaling on removable media

 

ext4

 

Pros:

• More widely supported than XFS
• Better performance for small files
• Simpler to manage
• Supports journaling on removable media
• Supports file encryption
• Supports resizable file systems

Cons:

• Not as robust and reliable as XFS
• Not as well-suited for large files and volumes
• Does not support snapshots

Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs. If you need a robust and reliable file system for large files and volumes, XFS is a good choice. If you need a file system that is widely supported and has good performance for small files, ext4 is a good choice.