86 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2010
Files are stored in a file system (p. 86) on a volume. In different file systems, files can be stored in
different ways, with different file name requirements and different ways to write the full path to the
file in the folder (p. 86) tree.
File system
A data structure that is used to store and manage files (p. 85) on a volume.
A file system tracks free and occupied space, supports folders (p. 86) and file names, and stores the
physical positions of files on a disk.
Examples of file systems that are supported in Windows are FAT16 (also known simply as FAT),
FAT32, and NTFS.
Examples of file systems that are supported in Linux are ext2 and ext3.
When formatting (p. 86) a volume, you can choose a file system for it.
Folder
A named container for files that are stored on a volume.
A folder can contain other folders (sometimes called subfolders).
In the file system (p. 86), a folder is a table that contains a description of files (p. 85) and other
folders. Such a structure allows creation of a folder tree that begins with the root folder (p. 90).
Foreign disk
A dynamic disk which is a part of a foreign dynamic disk group (p. 86).
Foreign dynamic disk group
A group of dynamic disks that is not native for the currently running operating system.
To be able to use such disks, you need to import them to the existing disk group on the machine.
Formatting
The process of creating a file system on a volume.
After the volume is formatted, you can place files and folders on it.
Fragmentation
The scattering of parts of a file across different areas of the volume.
As a result of adding, deleting, and changing files, many files can occupy space on the volume in
multiple non-contiguous pieces. This requires more time to access such files.
The defragmentation (p. 83) process aims at improving access times by making fragmented files
contiguous.
