Installable File System (IFS) is an API that allows an operating system to access different file systems without being natively configured. IFS loads drivers that instruct the kernel how to access the new file system, allowing users to browse and modify any file system. IFS was developed by IBM and Microsoft for OS/2 and later integrated into Windows. It works by loading code into the system kernel, giving direct access to the hardware where the file system is located. IFS is commonly used to access files on a partition or drive managed by a different type of operating system and by manufacturers of portable storage devices.
Installable file system (IFS) is an abstract programming interface (API) that gives an operating system the ability to access different file systems without requiring the operating system to be natively configured to the specific format. Essentially, the operating system is able to load drivers that use the Installable File System API which instructs the main area of the operating system, called the kernel, how to access the new file system. This feature allows a user to browse and modify any file system for which there is an installable file system driver (FSD). It also provides manufacturers with a mechanism that can be used to allow a computer to interface with a storage device without having to design the device to use any existing file systems. The IFS provides a layer of abstraction strong enough to allow a remote network drive to be mounted via the same software mechanisms as can be seen with the network file system (NFS).
The original installable file system was developed by IBM® and Microsoft® as they worked together on the development of the OS/2 operating system to ensure that the software would be able to work with new technologies in the future. Microsoft® eventually integrated the technology into its Windows® operating system. Other versions of abstract software-based file system interfaces exist, although they are generally referred to as virtual file systems on non-Windows® operating systems.
Within the operating system, the installable file system works by loading important code into the system kernel, the area where lower-level software processing takes place. This allows the IFS driver to have very direct access to the hardware where the file system is located, but also limits the use of high level library functions due to the way the kernel is partitioned. In Windows®, the installable file system is actually loaded as a compiled dynamically linked library (DLL) and usually includes utilities that give the user the ability to format and repair a volume using the custom file system.
There are a variety of uses for the installable file system. One of the most common is accessing files on a partition or drive managed by a different type of operating system. IFS can also be used by manufacturers of portable storage devices such as flash drives or by digital camera manufacturers to provide a way to view files stored on devices in a familiar way. An installable file system driver can be used to change the way an existing partition is accessed despite the actual file system being used, allowing a drive to be made read-only by loading a configured IFS.
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