A file system is a system of how the data is stored and retrieved for future uses. Without a file system, it is almost impossible to recognize where a data is ending and the next one is starting. Therefore, the file system recognizes each data with a specific name that is easily isolated and identified. In the file system, each group of data is termed as a file.
There are various kinds of file systems depending on the structure, logic, speed, security, size, etc. Some of the whole systems include VMFS, HPFS, NTFS, Veritas File System, ZFS, XFS, UFS, ReiserFS, etc. ZFS or UFS is the file systems that are often confused with one another, however, the two file systems differ from one another in various aspects.
ZFS or Zettabyte File System and UFS or Unix File System are open source software licensed under the Common Development and Distribution License. Zettabyte File System is a file system that comes with a volume manager and large space. Unix File System is an old version that has limitations on space and various other features.
ZFS vs UFS
The main difference between ZFS and UFS is that ZFS is abbreviated for Zettabyte File System and is open-source software that offers a large storage capacity and comes with a lot of features that are advantageous over UFS. UFS is abbreviated for Unix File System and is an open-source software that is more compatible with Unix operating systems and other Unix like operating system but has certain disadvantages over ZFS since it offers lesser storage capacity.
Comparison Table Between ZFS and UFS
| Parameter of Comparison | ZFS | UFS |
| What it stands for? | ZFS is an abbreviated form of the Zettabyte File System. | UFS is an abbreviated form of the Unix File System. |
| What does it mean? | ZFS or Zettabyte File System is an open source software that has been given license under the Common Development and Distribution License | UFS or Unix File System is a file that is more compatible with the Unix operating system and other Unix like operating systems. It is also known as the Berkeley Fast File System. |
| Creation of nodes | In Zettabyte File System, Vnodes are automatically created at the time of the creation of files or directories which are used to refer to the files or directories themselves. | In the Unix File System, Inodes are created at the time of the creation of the file system and it is used to refer to the files or directories. |
| Level of mirroring | Mirroring in the Zettabyte File System occurs at the data level. | Mirroring in the Unix File System occurs at the level of blocks. |
| Features | ZFS supports high storage capacity and logical volume management, integration of the concepts of file systems, snapshots and optimization, continuous integrity checking, automatic repair, etc. | UFS offers reservations for boot blocks that means they should be initialized separately. It also has a superblock that is necessary to identify the Unix file system. |
What is Zettabyte File System?
Zettabyte File System abbreviated as ZFS is a file system that also has a volume manager. In 2001, it began as a part of Sun Microsystems Solaris Operating System, however, when Oracle corporation acquired it was placed under a closed source license.
In 2013, it was again developed under the name OpenZFS. It is widely in Unix-like operating systems. In this file system, Vnodes are created at the time of the creation of the files or directories and the mirroring occurs at the data level.
ZFS has support for features like high storage, volume management, automatic repair, optimization, snapshots and replication, etc. It is also effective in detecting errors in the data, however, it assumes that the data is safe.
What is Unix File System?
In UNIX operating systems, the core component is a file system. It is an open source software designed mainly for Unix and Unix-like operating systems. Initially, it supported ordinary files, directories and special files or device files.
In the Unix File System, Inodes are created at the time of the creation of the files or directories and mirroring occurs at the block level. It provides reservations for boot blocks and their separate initialization. It also supports super locks that are important to identify Unix file systems.
Main Differences Between Zettabyte File System and Unix File System
- ZFS stands for Zettabyte File System and UFS stands for Unix File System, Unix File System is also known as the Berkeley Fast File System.
- Zettabyte File System and Unix File System both are open source software under the Common Development and Distribution License.
- Zettabyte File System is compatible with all operating systems, on the other hand, Unix File System is more compatible with the Unix operating system and other Unix like operating systems.
- Zettabyte comes with a larger capacity of storage while the storage capacity and the Unix File System is much less as compared to that of the ZFS.
- In ZFS and UFS, Vnodes and Inodes respectively are created at the time of the creation of the files or directories and both are used to refer to the files or directories.
- Mirroring in Zettabyte File System occurs at the data level while mirroring in Unix File System occurs at the block level.
- Zettabyte File System provides support for logical volume management, optimization, automatic repair, continuous integrity checking, etc, on the other hand, Unix File System provides support for separate initialization and superblock.
Conclusion
Zettabyte File System and Unix File System both are open sources software that provides storage capacity as well as various other features. UFS is an older version while ZFS is a newer version. ZFS is more advantageous over the UFS and is, therefore, more widely used as compared to the UFS. Zettabyte File System is also easier to manage as compared to the Unix File System, however, when it comes to speed both operate at a fast speed. There are certain limitations in the UFS that are covered by the ZFS.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5226462/
- https://www.usenix.org/system/files/login/issues/login_june_2006.pdf#page=22