FILESYSTEMS(5) Linux Programmer's Manual FILESYSTEMS(5)
NAME
filesystems - Linux filesystem types: minix, ext, ext2, ext3, xia, msdos, umsdos,
vfat, proc, nfs, iso9660, hpfs, sysv, smb, ncpfs
DESCRIPTION
When, as is customary, the proc filesystem is mounted on /proc, you can find in the
file /proc/filesystems which filesystems your kernel currently supports. If you
need a currently unsupported one, insert the corresponding module or recompile the
kernel.
In order to use a filesystem, you have to mount it, see mount(8) for the mount
command, and for the available mount options.
Below a short description of a few of the available filesystems.
minix is the filesystem used in the Minix operating system, the first to run under
Linux. It has a number of shortcomings: a 64MB partition size limit, short
filenames, a single time stamp, etc. It remains useful for floppies and RAM
disks.
ext is an elaborate extension of the minix filesystem. It has been completely
superseded by the second version of the extended filesystem (ext2) and has
been removed from the kernel (in 2.1.21).
ext2 is the high performance disk filesystem used by Linux for fixed disks as
well as removable media. The second extended filesystem was designed as an
extension of the extended file system (ext). ext2 offers the best
performance (in terms of speed and CPU usage) of the filesystems supported
under Linux.
ext3 is a journaling version of the ext2 filesystem. It is easy to switch back
and forth between ext2 and ext3. ext3 offers the most complete set of
journaling options available among journaling filesystems.
xiafs was designed and implemented to be a stable, safe filesystem by extending
the Minix filesystem code. It provides the basic most requested features
without undue complexity. The xia filesystem is no longer actively
developed or maintained. It was removed from the kernel in 2.1.21.
msdos is the filesystem used by DOS, Windows, and some OS/2 computers. msdos
filenames can be no longer than 8 characters, followed by an optional period
and 3 character extension.
umsdos is an extended DOS filesystem used by Linux. It adds capability for long
filenames, UID/GID, POSIX permissions, and special files (devices, named
pipes, etc.) under the DOS filesystem, without sacrificing compatibility
with DOS.
vfat is an extended DOS filesystem used by Microsoft Windows95 and Windows NT.
VFAT adds the capability to use long filenames under the MSDOS filesystem.
proc is a pseudo-filesystem which is used as an interface to kernel data
structures rather than reading and interpreting /dev/kmem. In particular,
its files do not take disk space. See proc(5).
iso9660
is a CD-ROM filesystem type conforming to the ISO 9660 standard.
High Sierra
Linux supports High Sierra, the precursor to the ISO 9660 standard
for CD-ROM filesystems. It is automatically recognized within the
iso9660 filesystem support under Linux.
Rock Ridge
Linux also supports the System Use Sharing Protocol records specified
by the Rock Ridge Interchange Protocol. They are used to further
describe the files in the iso9660 filesystem to a UNIX host, and
provide information such as long filenames, UID/GID, POSIX
permissions, and devices. It is automatically recognized within the
iso9660 filesystem support under Linux.
hpfs is the High Performance Filesystem, used in OS/2. This filesystem is read-
only under Linux due to the lack of available documentation.
sysv is an implementation of the SystemV/Coherent filesystem for Linux. It
implements all of Xenix FS, SystemV/386 FS, and Coherent FS.
nfs is the network filesystem used to access disks located on remote computers.
smb is a network filesystem that supports the SMB protocol, used by Windows for
Workgroups, Windows NT, and Lan Manager.
To use smb fs, you need a special mount program, which can be found in the
ksmbfs package, found at
ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/system/Filesystems/smbfs.
ncpfs is a network filesystem that supports the NCP protocol, used by Novell
NetWare.
To use ncpfs, you need special programs, which can be found at
ftp://linux01.gwdg.de/pub/ncpfs.
SEE ALSO
proc(5), fsck(8), mkfs(8), mount(8)
2001-12-07 FILESYSTEMS(5)
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