File System Constructs and Functions

In addition to the basic structures of file systems just discussed, several different constructs and functions are common in file systems today:

  • Superblock

  • Name space

  • Metadata

  • Access permissions

  • Interface semantics

  • Locking

  • Buffers

  • Journaling

These primary file system functions are discussed in the following sections.

Superblock

File systems usually have a reserved location in a storage address space to keep internal information about their operation, configuration, and status. This reserved location is called the superblock in UNIX file systems and the master file table in Windows server file systems.

The Name Space

The file system's name space provides a method for interpreting and displaying file and directory ...

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