media server file system

**tone33** · September 19th, 2008

I'm setting up a linux media server (quite possibly an ubuntu flavor) and am trying to decide on a file system. I like XFS, but would also like to be able to access it from a windows pc. In order to meet the windows requirement am I required to use NTFS?? And what are the real drawbacks with using NTFS over XFS? or some other linux file system.

**Martje_001** · September 19th, 2008

It doesn't matter what filesystem you choose. You problably are going to share with SAMBA, which has nothing to do with it.

**tone33** · September 20th, 2008

so samba will allow windows to see XFS?

**Martje_001** · September 21st, 2008

It will see it, but not as XFS. It sees it as a SAMBA share.

(so yes, it will see your files & folders)

**tone33** · September 22nd, 2008

can it read and write to it? It'd be ok if i can't write, but I would like to be able to read. so I'll have a windows machine with Media Player and would like to play mp3's from the XFS (samba) share.

**Martje_001** · September 22nd, 2008

If you give permission to write and read, it will.

Read this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=202605

**aeiah** · September 22nd, 2008

basically it looks like this if it makes it clearer:

Code:

 [------samba-------]
 [-linux filesystem-]
 [----hard drive----]
###### computer ######

windows clients communicate with samba, not the actual file system. samba knows how to write to anything that linux knows how to write to, so you can choose which one is best for you in terms of speed, reliability etc. in truth it isnt that important because it isnt gonna be under much stress.