Next-generation Linux file systems: NiLFS(2) and exofs (developerWorks)

IBM developerWorks has posted an introduction to the NilFS2 and exofs filesystems. "An interesting aspect of NiLFS(2) is its technique of continuous snap-shotting. As NILFS is log structured, new data is written to the head of the log while old data still exists (until it's necessary to garbage-collect it). Because the old data is there, you can step back in time to inspect epochs of the file system. These epochs are called checkpoints in NiLFS(2) and are an integral part of the file system. NiLFS(2) creates these checkpoints as changes are made, but you can also force a checkpoint to occur."

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