filesystems (5)

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; see proc(5) for more details. If you need a currently unsupported filesystem, insert the corresponding module or recompile the kernel.

In order to use a filesystem, you have to mount it; see mount(8).

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, including a 64MB partition size limit, short filenames, and a single timestamp. 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 It has been completely superseded by the second version of the extended filesystem (ext2) and has been removed from the kernel (in 2.1.21).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 filesystem (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.

ext4

is a set of upgrades to ext3 including substantial performance and reliability enhancements, plus large increases in volume, file, and directory size limits.

Reiserfs

is a journaling filesystem, designed by Hans Reiser, that was integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.1.

XFS

is a journaling filesystem, developed by SGI, that was integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.20.

JFS

is a journaling filesystem, developed by IBM, that was integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.24.

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.

ntfs

replaces Microsoft Window's FAT filesystems (VFAT, FAT32). It has reliability, performance, and space-utilization enhancements plus features like ACLs, journaling, encryption, and so on.

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

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

proc(5), fsck(8), mkfs(8), mount(8)

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