filesystems - Linux filesystem types: minix, ext, ext2, xia, msdos,
umsdos, vfat, proc, nfs, iso9660, hpfs, sysv, smb, ncpfs
In the file /proc/filesystems you can find which filesystems your
kernel currently supports. (If you need a currently unsupported one,
insert the corresponding module or recompile the kernel.)
Below a description of the various 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completely superseded by the second version of the extended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 will eventually be removed from the
kernel.
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.
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 is used infrequently.
msdos is the filesystem used by DOS, Windows, and some OS/2 computers.
msdos filenames can be no longer than an 8 character name
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 extended DOS filesystem used by Microsoft Windows95 and
Windows NT. VFAT adds capability for 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 provides
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.
proc(5), fsck(8), mkfs(8), mount(8)
1996-03-25 FILESYSTEMS(5)
[ Back ] |
