StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Linux and Mac File Systems - Article Example

Cite this document
Summary
The NTFS is short of new technology file system. It was created by Microsoft and supports Windows operating system. Lastly, EXT3fs stands for third…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.2% of users find it useful
Linux and Mac File Systems
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Linux and Mac File Systems"

File Systems. HFS+ stands for hierarchical file system plus, and it is file system created by Apple for its operatingsystem and programs. The NTFS is short of new technology file system. It was created by Microsoft and supports Windows operating system. Lastly, EXT3fs stands for third extended file system. It is the default file system in many Linux distributions. NTFS is considered more reliable and robust. The reasons being, it has widespread support, it has a wide adoption, and it is one of the oldest file system allowing maturity (Palmer and Walters 197).

It is also highly scalable and support Access Control lists as compared to Ext3fs which support a basic form of ACL or HFS+ which moved NTFS style of ACL recently. Moreover, NTFS is more robust than Ext3fs in that Ext3fs is based on Ext2fs and hence carries some of the problem from the older file system. Also, Ext3fs has an impact on performance due to its journaling features. An inode (index node) is data structure in the file system that stores all the information about a file except its name.

The information includes access permissions, the owner of the file, file type and size of the file. The Linux file system (ext3fs) employs this approach for indexing small files. For larger files, Linux allows the use of indirect blocks. The indirect blocks extend the file size that can be stored to slightly more than 4 MB. On the other hand, NTFS has entries in the master file table (MFT) instead of inodes. The MFT contains the information required to retrieve a file from NTFS. The MFT have a unique identifier, i.e., FILE_RECORD_SEGMENT_HEADER which is a file header used to identify a file from other files.

HFS+ also does not have inodes, but it emulate its behavior. In Mac OS, the equivalent of the inode in Linux is referred to as indirect node file. The indirect node file is stored in the metadata directory, which exist in the root directory. The indirect node file stores file’s content properties like the owner ID and the group ID. Though, Mac OS is UNIX based, its file system does not implement inode like Linux but a similar indexing is implemented. In contrast, the inode is a file system feature found in UNIX based operating system like Linux but not found in Window Operating system.

The MFT, indirect node file, and inode are similar in that they store file’s properties and allow easy retrieval of the files. The NTFS and Mac OS inode structure are more superior to the Linux one, and thus they improve performance and efficiency. Linux adoption both by desktop users and server users has been in upward trend recently. The main reasons for this trend can be attributed to the low cost of acquiring the operating system, better system stability, better virus and malware protection and free software licensing.

Moreover, most Linux distribution has multiple desktop workspaces, is easy to customize, have extensive support through forums and has simplified update installation. The Academic community and startup companies are opting for Linux due to the availability of its source code and the fact that security patches are released more often than those of Windows. Governments are also changing to Linux due to environment reasons. The delivery over the internet reduces environment pollution. Corporations are also switching to Linux servers due to their speed and reliability.

Work CitedPalmer, Michael, and Michael Walters. Guide to Operating Systems. Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Linux and Mac File Systems Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/information-technology/1688645-linux-and-mac-file-systems
(Linux and Mac File Systems Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 Words)
https://studentshare.org/information-technology/1688645-linux-and-mac-file-systems.
“Linux and Mac File Systems Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/information-technology/1688645-linux-and-mac-file-systems.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Linux and Mac File Systems

Comparison between Operating Systems: Linux, Windows & Mac

Hence it can be stated that linux and mac OS share a commonality and it is that they derive characteristics like command line interface, handling of drivers and hardware interfaces from UNIX.... These commonalities enable the linux and mac systems to run endlessly without rebooting.... Accordingly, Linux is the cheapest of all the OS because in the case of Windows and mac each user has to buy a separate license to use the system.... But there is a trade-off, to install Linux one needs significant technical knowledge where as installation in the case of Windows and mac is easy and user-friendly as it does not require technical knowledge....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

What an Operating System Is

This paper ''Operating systems'' tells that Few people exist today that do not know, at least on a fundamental level, what an operating system is.... However, operating systems were not always as efficient as they are today (Darnay, 2005).... All operating systems serve the same basic purpose: to control the programs' execution and provide the user with input and output control, data management, resource allocation, and scheduling (Computes Malaysia, 1999)....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

3D Feature in User Interface of Unix Operating System

The purpose of this paper is to examine the phenomenon of 3D feature in the operating systems of Mac OS, the widespread Linux, Windows and more emphatically UNIX.... It couples sound and graphic and enables a faster multiple file copying and file location.... Apart from its impact on the IT world we will consider a review and evaluation of multiple desktops, program launchers, file browsers, task switchers from a 3D standpoint....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Operation Systems

Just like most computer systems, UNIX can be used for a variety of purpose which is why it is popular in research institutions, government agencies, banks,… According to Williams and Sawyer, the usability of UNIX lies on its multitasking operating system.... It is still, however, present in the current Windows operating systems and can be used to control both software and hardware....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Installation and Migration Computer's OS

hellip; This paper gives information that operating systems are the connection between the hardware and the software of computers.... As per the request of the Vice President (Information Technology), I have compared the three major operating systems and these are my findings: Windows, Linux, Mac OS Windows is a software operating system produced by Microsoft....   Linux refers to the family of Unix-like computer operating systems using the Linux kernel....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Macs and Windows: Compatibility Issues

In Windows if you erroneously shift a folder or a file such as a program file or a driver, the system will inevitably crash.... Also, the author describes why mac Computer is the most advanced, stable and secure OS, with good multimedia options.... When we compare an Apple mac to an MS Windows PC, two traditional feasible choices for personal and business computing, though, the subjective should be thrown out of the window and the facts wisely considered....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Operating system

It coordinates between other software and users for efficiencyTypes of operating systems.... he three most common operating systems for personal computers are Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.... (Anonymous, 2010)Modern operating systems use a graphical user interface, or GUI.... (Anonymous, 2010)Operating systems for mobile devices Normally, the operating systems of mobile phones are designed specifically for mobile devices....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

Comparing Windows With Linux

What Windows file systems do you typically use and why?... here are many file systems in Linux including xfs, ext3, ext4, ext2, and jfs.... The Filesystems in linux and Windows Insert Insert Reasons that will make you choose one filesystem over another typically?... We also consider its compatibility with a majority of the other… It is also vital to consider the length of its fsck which determines whether it's or not journalized. I use exFAT filesystem because it saves me the time of having to format the drive when shifting from the two operating systems I use i....
1 Pages (250 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us