Samsung Intros NAND Flash-Friendly File System
Samsung has created a file system for the Linux kernel tuned for NAND flash devices like SSDs, SD cards and more.
On Friday, Jaegeuk Kim from Samsung revealed on the Linux kernel mailing list a new open-source file system for NAND flash storage devices called the Flash-Friendly File System, or F2FS.
Last week Kim said the company chose a log-structured file system (LFS) approach, which it adapted for new form factors like SSDs, SD cards and more. In the process, Samsung fixed some of the known issues surrounding the older log-structured file systems including the snowball effect of wandering trees and high cleaning overhead.
"Because a NAND-based storage device shows different characteristics according to its internal geometry or flash memory management scheme aka FTL, we add various parameters not only for configuring on-disk layout, but also for selecting allocation and cleaning algorithms," Kim added.
The new file system arrives in the form of 16 patches, adding around 13,000 lines of new code to the Linux kernel tree. This will make it easy to integrate the new file system into Android which commands the majority of the smartphone market. The system's Linux-based roots also means it will more likely be adopted by NAND flash device OEMs that may benefit from F2FS.
"Sweet, a new Linux file system from Samsung that is faster than existing ones when running on flash storage devices, submitted in a clean, easy-to-apply manner," said Greg KH, the lead Linux kernel developer. "This will be great for Android-based systems."
To get F2FS, type in the following:
# mkfs.f2fs /dev/sdb1
# mount -t f2fs /dev/sdb1 /mnt/f2fs
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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ricardok How long until implemented on Android? Maybe CyanogenMod will make it available on their ROMs? Hopefully yes.Reply -
joytech22 Wow Samsung's really going all-out. A filesystem was the last thing I expected from them.Reply
Then again, when I found out they also made machinery I was equally shocked. -
tntom Apple introduces new proprietary connector < Samsung releases open-source file system.Reply
Although I have to say I wish Apple would release their Lightening as an open standard and it would be adopted for all phones less their stupid chip. I hate the the stupid polarity requirement of micro-SD. -
anti-painkilla batkersonWhy isn't it called "F3S" for Flash-Friendly File System???Reply
Sell it to their marketing department, maybe for the price of a SSD or GS3?
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azraa I cant yet figure out why any of you guys isnt all excited and shocked with the article.Reply
This develpment is EFFING HUGE!
Its reach is quite massive
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Alphi batkersonWhy isn't it called "F3S" for Flash-Friendly File System???Reply
you need the FS abbreviation otherwise people wont know what it is... how about 3FS.