Write Anywhere File Layout

Write Anywhere File Layout (WAFL) is a file system. It was developed with large RAID arrays in mind. After a failure, the RAID array can be directly restarted. Other features like making the filesystem bigger without taking it offline are also supported.

Write Anywhere File Layout Media

WAFL inode structure, metadata stored alongside data
Traditional Copy On Write technique data in place backup
NetApp RoW Snapshot data in place backup
WAFL FlexVol Layout: blocks and inode metadata alongside user data
SyncMirror replication using plexes
Non-volatile memory cache mirroring in a MetroCluster and HA

This short article about technology can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.