Common filesystem features

This is the glossary of the common filesystem features table.

The intention of this table is to provide an at-a-glance list of features and specifications for each filesystem.

List the names of those credited with the design of the filesystem specification. This should not include those responsible for writing the implementation.

The full, non abbreviated, name of the filesystem itself.

The name of the operating system in which this filesystem debuted.

The partitioning scheme and marker used to identify that a partition is formatted to this filesystem.

Describe how the filesystem allocates and isolates bad sectors.

Describes how the filesystem allocates sectors in-use by files.

Describes how the subdirectories are implemented.

Lists the characters that are legal within file and directory names.

The maximum number of characters that a file or directory name may contain.

The maximum number of files the filesystem can handle.

The maximum size of a volume that the filesystem specification can handle. This may differ from the maximum size an operating system supports using a given implementation of the filesystem.

What type of dates and times the filesystem can support, which may include:

This is the date the file was “created” on the volume. This does not change when working normally with a file, e.g. opening, closing, saving, or modifying the file.

This is the date the file was last accessed. An access can be a move, an open, or any other simple access. It can also be tripped by Anti-virus scanners, or Windows system processes. Therefore, caution has to be used when stating a “file was last accessed by user XXX” if there is only the “File Access” date in NTFS to work from.

This date as shown by Windows there has been a change to the file itself. E.g. if a notepad document has more date added to it, this would trip the date it was modified.

The date and time related attributes were modified. This may include ACLs and the file/directory name.

The date and time when the file was last backed up.

The maximum year that can be handled by the filesystem, as per the specification.

Lists the basic file attributes available.

Determines if the filesystems supports multiple data streams. NTFS refers to these as alternate data streams, HPFS as extended attributes and HFS calls them forks.

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