Storage and Virtualization: Block Devices vs Filesystems
Explore the fundamentals of storage and virtualization. Learn the difference between block devices like Linux /dev/sda and filesystems in data infrastructure.
Best quote from Storage and Virtualization: Block Devices vs Filesystems
The distinction between a block device and a filesystem is the foundation for everything else—once you grasp that a filesystem must reside on a block device, the 'alphabet soup' of NAS, SAN, and DAS starts to clear up.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
I want to learn about storage systems first, ssad hdd nas san iscsi fiber channel flash storage etc from very basic to core details. Then move to virtualisation core basics from os level and then to kubernetes and then to kubernetes based virtualisation like kvm etc
Frequently Asked Questions
A block device represents the raw, unformatted space on a disk, such as a grid of empty sectors where data can live without organization. In contrast, a filesystem is a layer added on top of the block device to provide a familiar folder and file structure. While the block device acts like a warehouse without shelves, the filesystem handles the housekeeping by tracking which specific blocks hold your data.
In a Linux system, a block device is often represented as a handle like /dev/sda. This handle points to the physical hardware or raw storage space before any organizational structure is applied. Understanding this representation is a key part of managing server hardware and data infrastructure, as it allows administrators to identify the raw storage resources available before they are formatted with a specific filesystem for user access.
A filesystem is essential because it translates raw storage blocks into a usable format for software and users. Without a filesystem, you would have to request data by specific block numbers rather than by filename. The filesystem manages the organization of data, allowing you to easily retrieve files like photos or documents by remembering exactly which blocks on the underlying hardware contain the necessary pieces of information.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
