write-intent-bitmap · shipping · also RAID bitmap

Write-intent bitmap

A write-intent bitmap tracks regions of a redundant array that may need synchronization after interrupted writes.

A bit identifies a region, not the old or new user data needed to replay its update.

Relations

related

raid-write-hole, partial-parity-log, raid-5, mirroring

Advantages

• Tracks potentially unsynchronized regions so recovery can avoid scanning every region. [1]

Limitations

• A bitmap is not a data journal or an independent copy of missing contents. [1, 2]

Citations

1. Linux v6.12: RAID arrays, dirty/degraded assembly and bitmap metadata (accessed 2026-10-11)
2. Linux v6.12: RAID 4/5/6 cache (accessed 2026-10-11)
3. Hesela: RAID write hole, bitmap and PPL (accessed 2026-10-11)

JSON: /data/terms/write-intent-bitmap.json