However, there is always confusion about how XFS is different from ZFS. In this tutorial, we will give you a complete comparison between XFS and ZFS and help you decide which file system to use.
XFS vs. ZFS: A Brief Comparison
Before moving to the differences between these filesystems, let’s look at the basic definitions of XFS and ZFS.
What Is XFS?
The XFS is a 64-bit journaling file system which is notable for its fast and effective parallel input/output(IO) operations processing. Currently, XFS is the default filesystem in the distributions like RHEL, Rocky Linux, CentOS, and other RedHat-based distros. Hence, this filesystem works well due to its immense speed. XFS works on the principle of allocation groups (AGs). These sub-volumes manage their file data, allowing the file system to perform the concurrent I/O operations over various AGs.
What Is ZFS?
ZFS is a 128-bit file system which is primarily created for storage systems targeted for server-grade and workstation-level storage solutions. ZFS has a free version called OpenZFS and a commercial version which is supported by Oracle.
One of the primary features of ZFS is the self-healing of data inconsistencies and writing failures. It does so by utilizing the checksums and snapshots. There is also a specific RAID layout for ZFS called RAID-Z which improves efficiency by only stripping the data from the necessary discs instead of stripping the data randomly across all devices.
Difference Between XFS and ZFS
Here is the comparison table which provides more clarity about the XFS and ZFS:
Factors | XFS | ZFS |
Definition | Journaling file system | Volume manager and file system |
Conceived in | 1993 | 2001 |
Architecture | 64-bit | 128-bit |
Maximum File Size | 8 exbibytes | 16 exbibytes |
Key feature | Journaling, Fast parallel I/O | Copy on write, data consistency |
RAID | Needs to be configured | Has its own implementation, RAID-Z |
Advantages | 1. High Scalability
2. High Performance 3. Fast Transactions |
1. Data Integrity
2. Pooled Storage 3. Increased performance |
Disadvantages | 1. Doesn’t support journal checksum
2. Cannot disable journaling 3. Size cannot be reduced directly |
1. Requires more hardware
2. Complicated setup, comparatively 3. Increased management complexity |
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we explained the similarities and the major differences between XFS and ZFS. Both file systems have advantages and disadvantages. You can select either file system based on your requirements. Choose XFS if capacity is your top concern, and go with ZFS if data integrity is your top priority. We briefly explained the key features, advantages, and disadvantages in a simple, easy-to-understand comparison.