The OS/2 operating system has two file systems: the file allocation table (FAT) file system and the high performance file system (HPFS). These file systems define how information is organized on the storage devices.

A user can choose to install either or both file systems. An application must be able to work with any file system. The OS/2 operating system provides a common set of file system functions that are not dependent on a particular file system.

Both of these file systems support:

• Existing logical file and directory structure
  
• Existing naming conventions
  
• Multiple logical volumes (partitions)
  
• Multiple and different storage devices
  
• Redirection or connection to remote file systems
  
• Extended attributes
  
• Metacharacter file-name processing.

Additionally, HPFS supports:

• Long file names 
  An extendable application interface.

  The High Performance File System is an example of a class of file systems called installable file systems. Installable file systems are installed by the user (by changing CONFIG.SYS) and are loaded by the operating system during system initialization.

  The OS/2 operating system permits users to have multiple file systems active at the same time; for example a FAT file system for one hard disk and HPFS for another.

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