fs

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              completely superseded by the  second  version  of  the  extended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   is a journaling version of the ext2 filesystem.  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)