Which file system should I use to create a volume?
Last updated:Dec 25, 2023
Which file system should I use to create a volume?
Purpose
This article compares the different file systems to help you decide which one to choose when creating a volume.
Notes:
- Check the Datasheet of your Synology NAS model to find out which file systems it supports.
Resolution
Recommended for general use
Btrfs is the recommended file system to use in most scenarios.
- Main features:
- Data protection features, including snapshot, replication, and point-in-time recovery
- Data integrity protection
- User quotas for each shared folder
- Ability to create large volumes of up to 1 PB1
- Suitable for:
- Storing critical business data that require data integrity and protection
- General file sharing or providing iSCSI LUNs for server virtualization
Less hardware requirements
ext4 is a file system used by Linux operating systems. It has less hardware requirements and is more readily available in older or entry-level Synology NAS models.2
Notes:
- Btrfs supports this feature as of DSM 7.2. If your DSM version is 7.0.1 to 7.1.1, use the Btrfs (Peta Volume) file system instead. For more information and supported models, refer to this article.
- As of DSM 7.2.1, certain rackmount models can no longer create ext4 volumes, but existing ext4 volumes remain fully functional.