Book excerpt: Master the design and structure of Linux storage stack and explore its sophisticated architecture Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook Key Features Explore the virtual file system (VFS) and how it serves as an abstraction layer for the actual file system Understand how the block layer acts as an intermediary between file systems and physical storage Discover the physical layout and protocols linked with storage media Book Description The Linux storage stack serves as a prime example of meticulously coordinated layers. Embark on a journey through the kernel code with Architecture and Design of the Linux Storage Stack, crafted for anyone seeking in-depth knowledge about the layered design of Linux storage and its landscape. You'll explore the Linux storage stack and its various concepts. You'll unlock the secrets of the virtual filesystem and the actual filesystem and the differences in their implementation, the role of the block layer, the Multi-Queue and Device Mapper frameworks, I/O schedulers, physical storage layout, and how to analyze all the layers in the storage stack. By the end of this book, you'll be acquainted with how a simple I/O request from a process travels down through all the layers and ends up in physical storage. What you will learn Understand the role of the virtual filesystem Explore the different flavors of Linux filesystems and their key concepts Manage I/O operations to and from block devices using the block layer Deep dive into the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) subsystem and the layout of physical devices Gauge I/O performance at each layer of the storage stack Discover the best storage practices Who this book is for This book is for system and storage administrators, engineers, linux professionals, linux community in general, and anyone looking to expand their understanding of Linux and its storage landscape. Prior knowledge of Linux operating system is a must.