Which file system permits a maximum file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 32GB?

The file system that permits a maximum file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 32GB is FAT, specifically the FAT32 variant of the File Allocation Table (FAT) file system. This limitation is inherent to FAT32, which was widely used for its simplicity and compatibility across different operating systems.

FAT32's maximum file size is set at 4GB minus 1 byte, which makes it inadequate for handling larger files commonly found in modern usage, such as high-definition videos or large database files. The maximum partition size is limited to 32GB in many implementations, although technically, it can support partitions larger than this; 32GB is a standard size enforced by most operating systems when formatting a FAT32 volume.

In contrast, other file systems like NTFS, HFS+, and ext4 support much larger file sizes and partition sizes. NTFS, for instance, can handle files up to 16TB and volumes that can be several petabytes in size. HFS+ and ext4 also have significantly higher limits on both file and partition size, making them more suitable for modern data storage needs. Thus, FAT32 is uniquely characterized by its specific size restrictions, which leads to it being the correct answer