Resilient File System (ReFS)

Technet Windows Server Library

Resilient File System Overview
Published: February 29, 2012
Updated: November 1, 2013
Applies To: Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

This topic describes Resilient File System (ReFS), a new file system in Windows Server 2012, the deployment scenarios for the new file system, and the new and changed functionality for ReFS in Windows Server 2012 R2.
Feature description

Windows customers want a cost-effective platform that maximizes data availability, scales efficiently to very large data sets across diverse workloads, and guarantees data integrity by means of resiliency to corruption (regardless of software or hardware failures). ReFS is a new file system that targets these needs while providing a foundation for significant future innovations. By utilizing an integrated storage stack comprising ReFS and the new Storage Spaces feature in Windows Server 2012, customers can now deploy the most cost-effective platform for available and scalable data access using commodity storage.

Storage Spaces protects data from partial and complete disk failures by maintaining copies on multiple disks. ReFS interfaces with Storage Spaces to automatically repair the corruption. For more information about Storage Spaces, see Storage Spaces Overview and the Storage Spaces Microsoft TechNet blog.

The key attributes of ReFS include:

• Maintaining a high level of data availability and reliability, even when the individual underlying storage devices experience failures.
  
  
• Providing a full, end-to-end resilient architecture when used in conjunction with Storage Spaces. When used together, ReFS and Storage Spaces provide enhanced resiliency to storage device failures.

For information about new and updated functionality in Windows Server 2012 R2, see New and updated functionality later in this topic.

...more

Ummm... And?

This is not new.... It was part of Windows Server 2012 (i.e. Windows 8 Server) and Was included in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 (i.e. Windows 8.1 Server)

Ummm... And?

This is not new.... It was part of Windows Server 2012 (i.e. Windows 8 Server) and Was included in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 (i.e. Windows 8.1 Server)

Ummm... And... Win8 was so well received it probably is new to many. The blog aren't only for those in the know, ya know

I suppose the real interest is in knowing if anyone has implemented ReFS and what their experience is using it. Anything you might add along those line would be helpful.

Well, it has rather limited use for home users. You can't boot from it, from what I recall and has other limitations. It's primary benefits are for larger SAN's and what not.

Every file system has drawbacks and limitations. ReFS will eventually replace NTFS just as NTFS replaced FAT32 and exFAT.

Anyway, it will take many years before MS has the opportunity to replace NTFS. I think it took almost 15 years to completely replace FAT32.

Bill
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I'm not so sure that ReFS will replace NTFS... I think it's a special purpose file system, not intended for general use, and I think it will stay that way.

I think it took almost 15 years to completely replace FAT32

Don't want to act dumb but when was FAT32 completely replaced? Considering EFI can only boot (unless you give it some extra drivers) a FAT partition. My phone and camera also still are formatted FAT. Am I living in the past?

Don't want to act dumb but when was FAT32 completely replaced? Considering EFI can only boot (unless you give it some extra drivers) a FAT partition. My phone and camera also still are formatted FAT. Am I living in the past?

I should have said as the primary or the default file system- FAT32 and exFAT are secondary choices. Why EFI requires FAT is beyond me. It probably has to do with avoiding accidental encryption

Maybe 'cos it's universal across all OS', I presume.

Maybe 'cos it's universal across all OS', I presume.

Now why didn't I think of that answer