Where does WAFL store metadata?

WAFL, which stands for Write Anywhere File Layout, is a file system used by NetApp for managing how data is stored and accessed on disk. It utilizes a structure that allows for efficient storage and retrieval of both data and its associated metadata.

In WAFL, metadata is primarily stored in inodes, which are sophisticated data structures used to store information about files and directories. An inode holds metadata attributes such as file size, timestamps, ownership, and pointers to the data blocks where the actual file content resides. By using inodes to manage this information, WAFL can quickly access relevant details about files, streamline operations such as file creation and deletion, and maintain efficient storage management.

The other options do not serve as the primary location for metadata within the WAFL architecture. Data tables typically store actual file data rather than metadata. File headers can contain some information about the file, but they are not the main storage structure for metadata within WAFL. Cluster maps are used to manage free space and data allocation on disk, but they do not encompass the comprehensive metadata handling that inodes provide. Thus, inodes play a crucial role in WAFL's ability to effectively store and manage metadata.