Linux 6.18 introduces FUSE enhancements and VirtIO-FS optimizations
The Linux kernel version 6.18 brings notable updates to the FUSE subsystem, enabling better performance for user-space file systems. These changes include 64-bit support for file operations and improvements in virtualized environments. The enhancements aim to boost efficiency in areas like cloud storage and edge computing.
Linux 6.18, as detailed in a recent Phoronix report, features significant improvements to the FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) framework, which allows non-privileged users to create and mount file systems without altering kernel code. A key update extends the copy_file_range interface to full 64-bit capability, helping handle large files and offsets more effectively. This is especially useful for applications in cloud storage and big data analytics that require seamless data copying.
The release introduces synchronous FUSE_INIT support, which provides more predictable initialization and reduces latency for starting user-space file systems. Optimizations in VirtIO-FS request handling further streamline communication in virtualized setups between host and guest systems, potentially improving performance metrics.
Additional features include the ability for FUSE to enter a freezable state, supporting system hibernation and power management—beneficial for mobile and edge devices focused on energy efficiency. Servers can now request pruning of unused inodes to manage resources better and avoid unnecessary memory use in long-running processes.
Bug fixes address potential deadlocks in asynchronous I/O and sync release operations, enhancing stability for enterprise use through community contributions and testing.
Preparatory work for block/iomap support in FUSE lays groundwork for future integration with block devices, which could advance custom storage solutions in containerization and distributed computing. Documentation updates clarify mount options and permission handling, aiding developers in building secure file systems.
These changes build on prior kernel trends and tools like libfuse, which provides APIs for user-space file systems. As Linux 6.18 rolls out, they are expected to influence adoption in cloud infrastructure, IoT, and beyond, with major distributions already using FUSE for encrypted drives and network storage.