Back to basics by Erik Mouw
File systems are like water: indispensable, invisible, and only noticeable when they stop flowing. From the “My Documents” folder to persistent volumes in Kubernetes: we rely on them every day without even thinking about it. But do you actually know how Linux file systems keep everything running under the hood? Join us for the “Back to the Core” TechTalk with Erik Mouw, engineer at SUE. He’ll take you on a journey through the fascinating world of file systems: from their historical origins to modern implementations.
What can you expect?
During this session, Erik explains how the first Unix file system laid the foundation for today's Linux systems. You will learn about the core concepts of filesystems: directory entries (dentries) and inodes—and how they work together to store and retrieve data.
We then zoom in on how these structures are implemented for both programs and the kernel, and conclude with a deep dive into the on-disk formats of a number of well-known filesystems.
This session is perfect for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of Linux internals, or simply rediscover the fundamentals that make modern computing possible.
Why participate?
Understanding the fundamentals of Linux file systems changes the way you think about storage, performance, and reliability, and allows you to take those seemingly simple ls-command perhaps appreciate it just a little more.
Meet our speaker
Erik Mouw
Engineer at SUE
Erik discovered Linux in 1992 while studying Electrical Engineering at Delft University of Technology and compiled his first kernel in 1994. After obtaining his MSc degree, he joined the same university as a Linux kernel hacker. He later worked at a data recovery company, where he reverse-engineered countless obsolete and obscure filesystems.
Erik has been part of SUE for over 17 years. His in-depth technical expertise and curiosity continue to inspire colleagues and customers to this day.
Back to basics by Erik Mouw
What we cover
