Why does QNAP choose the ext4 file system over Btrfs?
Just like airbags keep you safe in your car. Snapshots keep your data protected on your NAS
#all_QNAP_NAS_have_snapshots
#QNAP_does_not_use_Btrfs
#ext4_is_much_faster_and_more_stable
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, keep your snapshots in a separate volume for a more sound storage strategy.
#QNAP_does_not_use_Btrfs
#smart_people_know_why
#Btrfs_cannot_separate_data_volume_and_snapshot_storage
#ext4_is_much_faster_and_more_stable
Red Hat stops using Btrfs
It’s no wonder that QNAP prefers ext4
#QNAP_does_not_use_Btrfs
#Btrfs_has_greater_IO_lags
#ext4_is_much_faster_and_more_stable
When it comes to your storage, performance is non-negotiable.
Don’t settle for a slower file system.
#QNAP_does_not_use_Btrfs
#ext4_is_much_faster_and_more_stable
#Btrfs_has_greater_IO_lags
#Performance_is_the_priority
The Challenges in using Btrfs for NAS Applications
Latency Issues
- Btrfs has greater I/O latency than ext4. Testing out file transfer speeds over Samba QNAP’s ext4 NAS outperformed a competitor’s Btrfs NAS by 61.5% faster. A benchmark report from Phoronix, a leading technology website for Linux hardware reviews, showed similar result.
Less Reliable Snapshot Storage
- Although Btrfs supports snapshots, it cannot separate volumes for storing data and snapshot usage. Snapshot files will occupy system storage space, and that increases the difficulty of storage management and puts IT operations at risk.
Inability to Utilize the Growing Capability of Current Hard Drives
- Traditional Hard Drives provide 100-150 MB/s and perform approximately 500 IOPS during data access; these speeds can be a bottleneck for overall system performance. The sequential access speed of current hard drives can rise to 180-220 MB/s, but the higher I/O latency of Btrfs can reduce the performance advantages these drives would otherwise bring. The performance bottlenecks of Btrfs become even more apparent when running SSDs, which are becoming increasingly affordable.
10GbE connectivity benefits
- The total cost of implementing 10GbE network environments continues to fall, allowing more organizations to take advantage of the massive potential performance benefits. However, if the performance bottleneck caused by Btrfs-based NAS is not addressed, it would offset any productivity improvements from 10GbE connectivity and diminish the ROI.
Block-Based Snapshots are Key to Defending Against Ransomware
- Ransomware has become an increasingly prevalent threat in recent times, with wide-scale attacks leaving businesses in disarray. Snapshots are an essential component in protecting yourself against ransomware, and not only can you take snapshots of your volumes but you can also take snapshots of block-based iSCSI LUNs on a QNAP NAS. iSCSI LUNs are an effective tool for businesses to increase storage flexibility and manage data. Taking snapshots of block-based LUNs are much faster and more efficient than file-based LUNs. The Btrfs snapshot does not support block-based iSCSI LUNs, which can be a big handicap to businesses that require superior performance.
What others are saying
Choose specification
