HDFS
Definition
Hadoop Distributed File System — the storage layer that Hadoop uses to spread large files across many machines in a cluster.
Use Cases
- Netflix: Storing and processing massive amounts of video data — Netflix uses HDFS to store video files across a distributed cluster, enabling efficient data processing and retrieval for streaming services. (Improved data processing speed and reliability, supporting seamless streaming experiences for millions of users.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: Amazon S3
- Azure: Azure Data Lake Storage
- GCP: Google Cloud Storage
- OCI: OCI Object Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between HDFS and a traditional file system?
- HDFS is designed for distributed storage, breaking files into blocks and storing them across multiple nodes, whereas traditional file systems store files on a single machine.
- When should I use HDFS?
- Use HDFS when you need to store and process large volumes of data across multiple machines, especially for big data applications.
- How much does HDFS cost?
- HDFS itself is open-source and free, but costs arise from the hardware and infrastructure needed to run a Hadoop cluster.
Category: data
Difficulty: advanced
Related Terms
See Also