FAT File-System Driver For Linux Sees Patch To Run Multiple Times Faster

[phoronix]

Phoronix: FAT File-System Driver For Linux Sees Patch To Run Multiple Times Faster

At the same time of Linux receiving a new exFAT driver, the Linux kernel is still seeing improvements to its classic FAT file-system code...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Linux-Faster-FAT

[polarathene]

It'd be nice if the filesystem live USB media that many distro provide for trying a live environment and installer, could get some improvements, or maybe that performance is just a hardware one with USB sticks?

[eydee]

First they update floppy disk drivers, then FAT drivers. Someone's up to running stuff from a floppy disk.

[Slithery]

For those still relying upon FAT16/FAT32 file-systems you should really think about upgrading

If you could tell me how to use a different filesystem for my EFI partition then I would do so happily...

[ssokolow]

For those still relying upon FAT16/FAT32 file-systems you should really think about upgrading especially with Linux having a good exFAT driver now

Looking at the Wikipedia "Comparison of file systems" article, it looks like exFAT is actually inferior to FAT32 for smaller filesystems because, aside from support for larger files and filesystems and bringing TRIM support to FAT on Windows (Linux already has it for FAT32 according to the chart), it brings nothing and lacks GNU Parted's support for offline grow/shrink.

[birdie]

I just want Microsoft to open source NTFS. ExFAT is OK, no doubt about it, but millions of devices out there (e.g. Smart TVs or TV boxes) support only FAT32 and NTFS.

[StarterX4]

I just want Microsoft to open source NTFS. ExFAT is OK, no doubt about it, but millions of devices out there (e.g. Smart TVs or TV boxes) support only FAT32 and NTFS.

They could make step ahead and opensource ReFS.

[caligula]

First they update floppy disk drivers, then FAT drivers. Someone's up to running stuff from a floppy disk.

Now if only the kernel was small enough to fit on a 1,44 MB floppy.

[George99]

If you could tell me how to use a different filesystem for my EFI partition then I would do so happily...

Well you can get rid of the EFI partition and use legacy boot (CSM). As long as your boot SSD is not greater than 2 TB. Personally I still stick to it as it's simpler (one primary partition, one extended one)

[angrypie]

It's surprising there's still performance to be extracted from the FAT driver on Linux, since it's so barebones a filesystem that you think nobody can get it wrong.

Well you can get rid of the EFI partition and use legacy boot (CSM). As long as your boot SSD is not greater than 2 TB. Personally I still stick to it as it's simpler (one primary partition, one extended one)

You can still boot from GPT disks on CSM. Create a 1MB "BIOS boot partition" before the 2TB barrier and install GRUB as usual. This isn't Windows.