Filesystem Showdown
Both XFS and ext4 are mature, stable filesystems commonly used on Linux systems, but XFS offers several significant advantages for modern computing needs.
Why XFS is Superior
1. Performance at Scale: XFS handles large files and high-volume directories much more efficiently than ext4, making it ideal for servers and storage systems.
2. Better Parallel I/O: XFS was designed for parallel I/O operations from the beginning, allowing better performance on multi-core systems and with modern storage devices.
3. Superior Allocation: XFS uses delayed allocation which reduces fragmentation and improves write performance compared to ext4's traditional block allocation.
4. Online Defragmentation: Unlike ext4, XFS supports online defragmentation without needing to unmount the filesystem.
5. Better Large File Support: XFS handles very large files (up to 8 exabytes) more efficiently than ext4 (16TB maximum file size).
6. Advanced Metadata: XFS maintains consistent metadata even during crashes, with faster recovery times than ext4.
When to Use ext4
ext4 remains a good choice for general-purpose desktop use or systems with many small files, but for servers, databases, and large-scale storage, XFS is clearly the better filesystem choice.