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{{Short description|File system for the Linux kernel}}
⚫
'''Xiafs''' was a file system for the [[operating system]] [[Linux]] which was conceived and developed by [[Frank Xia]] and was based on the [[Minix file system]]. Today it is [[obsolete]] and not in use, except possibly in some historic installations.
{{distinguish|XFS}}
{{Infobox file system
| name = Xiafs
| full_name = Xia file system
| developer = Ge (Frank) Xia
| introduction_date = {{Start date and age|1993|12|df=yes}}
| max_volume_size = 2 GB
| max_file_size = 64 MB
| OS = [[Linux]]
| discontinuation_date = {{Start date and age|1997|01|14|df=yes}}<br />with Linux 2.1.21
}}
⚫
'''Xiafs''' was a file system for the [[Linux kernel]] which was conceived and developed by Ge (Frank) Xia and was based on the [[MINIX file system]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Dr. Linux |publisher=Linux Systems Labs |year=1994 |pages=514}}</ref> Today it is obsolete and not in use, except possibly in some historic installations.


==History==
Linux originally used the [[Minix]] file system, but it had a number of limitations. For example, the length of filenames was limited to 14 characters and the partition size was limited to 64 MB. To replace the Minix file system, the [[extended file system]] (or ext) was developed. However, it too had some problems such as poor performance and the lack of some date stamps. Two contenders for replacing ext were quickly developed: [[Ext2]] and Xiafs. The two file systems were included in the standard kernel in December 1993 ([[Linux kernel|Linux]] 0.99.15). [[Ext2]] and Xiafs had the same goal: to offer good performance, reasonable limitations (for example to allow partitions of at least 2 [[GiB]] and larger files) and fixing the flaws of [[Extended file system|ext]]. Initially, Xiafs was more powerful and more stable than Ext2, but being a fairly minimalistic modification of the [[Minix file system]], it was not very well suited for future extension.
Linux originally used the [[MINIX]] file system, but it had a number of limitations. For example, the length of filenames was limited to 14 characters and the partition size was limited to 64 MB. To replace the MINIX file system, the [[extended file system]] (or ext) was developed. However, ext retained some problems such as poor performance and the lack of some date stamps. Two contenders for replacing ext were quickly developed: [[ext2]] and Xiafs. The two file systems were included in the standard kernel in December 1993 ([[Linux kernel|Linux]] 0.99.15). [[ext2]] and Xiafs had the same goal: To offer good performance, reasonable limitations, and fixing the flaws of [[extended file system|ext]]. Initially, Xiafs was more stable than ext2, but being a fairly minimalistic modification of the MINIX file system, it was not very well suited for future extension.<ref>[https://www.linuxfoundation.jp/jp_uploads/seminar20060911/Ted_Tso.pdf "The Linux ext2/3/4 Filesystem: Past, Present, and Future"], Ted Ts'o</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Card, Rémy. & Ts'o, Theodore. & Tweedie, Stephen|year=1994|url=http://web.mit.edu/tytso/www/linux/ext2intro.html|title=Design and implementation of the second extended filesystem|journal=Proceedings of the First Dutch International Symposium on Linux|isbn=90-367-0385-9}}</ref>


⚫
The result was that Xiafs changed very little while ext2 evolved considerably, rapidly improving stability and performance, and adding extensions. ext2, after some shakedown time, quickly became the standard file system of Linux. Since then, ext2 has developed into a very mature and robust file system.
⚫
Xiafs is less powerful and offers less functionality than Ext2. It suffers from more limitations (the maximum size of a file is 64 MiB and the maximum size of a partition is 2 [[GiB]]). The only advantage is that it uses a little less disk space for its control structures and had greater stability compared to Ext2 at that time.


Xiafs and the original ext were removed from [[Linux kernel|Linux]] version 2.1.21, as they were no longer in use and were not maintained. [[ext2]], [[ext3]], and their successor [[ext4]] are in the Linux kernel. As an exercise in computer history and as a file system tutorial, Xiafs was ported to modern Linux in 2013.<ref>[http://time.to.pullthepl.ug/post/2013/06/24/porting-an-ancient-filesystem-to-modern-linux/ Porting an Ancient Filesystem to Modern Linux], Jeremy Bingham</ref>
⚫
The end result was that Xiafs changed very little while Ext2 evolved considerably, rapidly improving stability, performance and adding extensions. Ext2, after some shakedown time, quickly became the standard file system of Linux. Since then, Ext2 has developed into a very mature and robust file system.


==Comparison with ext2==
Xiafs was removed along with the original Extended file system from [[Linux kernel|Linux]] 2.1.21, as it was no longer in use and was unmaintained. Today [[Ext3]] (an extension of Ext2) is considered the standard Linux file system and [[Ext4]] is already in the kernel.
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2017}}
⚫
Xiafs was less powerful and offered less functionality than ext2. The maximum size of a file was 64 MiB and the maximum size of a partition was 2 GiB. While this was an improvement over ext, it did not measure up to ext2. Xiafs used less disk space for its control structures and it had greater stability at that time.


== See also ==
==See also==
* [[List of file systems]]
*[[List of file systems]]
* [[Comparison of file systems]]
*[[Comparison of file systems]]


==External links==
⚫
[[Category:Disk file systems]]
*[https://github.com/ctdk/modern-xiafs A modern implementation of Xiafs]
[[Category:Linux file systems]]


==References==
[[it:Xiafs]]
{{reflist}}
{{File systems}}

⚫
[[Category:Disk file systems]]
[[Category:File systems supported by the Linux kernel]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 1 September 2024

Not to be confused with XFS.
Xiafs
Developer(s)Ge (Frank) Xia
Full nameXia file system
IntroducedDecember 1993; 31 years ago (1993-12)
Discontinued14 January 1997; 27 years ago (1997-01-14)
with Linux 2.1.21
Limits
Max volume size2 GB
Max file size64 MB
Other
Supported
operating systems		Linux

Xiafs was a file system for the Linux kernel which was conceived and developed by Ge (Frank) Xia and was based on the MINIX file system.[1] Today it is obsolete and not in use, except possibly in some historic installations.

History

[edit]

Linux originally used the MINIX file system, but it had a number of limitations. For example, the length of filenames was limited to 14 characters and the partition size was limited to 64 MB. To replace the MINIX file system, the extended file system (or ext) was developed. However, ext retained some problems such as poor performance and the lack of some date stamps. Two contenders for replacing ext were quickly developed: ext2 and Xiafs. The two file systems were included in the standard kernel in December 1993 (Linux 0.99.15). ext2 and Xiafs had the same goal: To offer good performance, reasonable limitations, and fixing the flaws of ext. Initially, Xiafs was more stable than ext2, but being a fairly minimalistic modification of the MINIX file system, it was not very well suited for future extension.[2][3]

The result was that Xiafs changed very little while ext2 evolved considerably, rapidly improving stability and performance, and adding extensions. ext2, after some shakedown time, quickly became the standard file system of Linux. Since then, ext2 has developed into a very mature and robust file system.

Xiafs and the original ext were removed from Linux version 2.1.21, as they were no longer in use and were not maintained. ext2, ext3, and their successor ext4 are in the Linux kernel. As an exercise in computer history and as a file system tutorial, Xiafs was ported to modern Linux in 2013.[4]

Comparison with ext2

[edit]

Xiafs was less powerful and offered less functionality than ext2. The maximum size of a file was 64 MiB and the maximum size of a partition was 2 GiB. While this was an improvement over ext, it did not measure up to ext2. Xiafs used less disk space for its control structures and it had greater stability at that time.

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dr. Linux. Linux Systems Labs. 1994. p. 514.
  2. ^ "The Linux ext2/3/4 Filesystem: Past, Present, and Future", Ted Ts'o
  3. ^ Card, Rémy. & Ts'o, Theodore. & Tweedie, Stephen (1994). "Design and implementation of the second extended filesystem". Proceedings of the First Dutch International Symposium on Linux. ISBN 90-367-0385-9.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Porting an Ancient Filesystem to Modern Linux, Jeremy Bingham
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