Filesystem Basics Flashcards
What kind of filesystems are supported by Linux?
- Conventional disk filesystems, like ext3, NTFS, vfat
- Flash storage filesystems, like ubifs, jffs2
- Database filesystems
- special purpose filesystems, like sysfs, tmpfs, debugfs
What is a partition?
- dedicated subsection of physical storage media
- “fixed area” to be treated as a whole
What is a filesystem?
- method of storing and accessing files
- can span more than one partition if a symbolic link is used
What is the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)
- standard layout that says how important files are to be stored by linux systems
- maintained by Linux Foundation
Where can one find more information about the FHS?
https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs-3.0.pdf
How are multiple drives and partitions mounted?
- as directories in a single filesystem
Where are removable media like usb drives shown in the filesystem?
Mounted at
/run/media/yourusername/disklabel
for recent distros
/media for older distros
What folders are part of the FHS?
/bin/
/boot/
/dev/
/etc/
/home/
/lib/
/media/
/mnt/
/opt/
/sbin/
/srv/
/tmp/
/usr/
/var/
/root/
/proc/
What is the following directory used for?
/bin/
Essential user command binaries
What is the following directory used for?
/boot/
Static files of the boot loader
What is the following directory used for?
/dev/
device files
What is the following directory used for?
/etc/
Host-specific system configuration
What is the following directory used for?
/home/
User home directories
What is the following directory used for?
/lib/
Essential shared libraries and kernel modules
What is the following directory used for?
/media/
Mount point for removable media
What is the following directory used for?
/mnt/
mount point for a temporarily mounted filesystem
What is the following directory used for?
/opt/
Add-on application software packages
What is the following directory used for?
/sbin/
system binaries
What is the following directory used for?
/srv/
data for services provided by this system
What is the following directory used for?
/tmp/
temporary files
What is the following directory used for?
/usr/
(multi-)user utilities and applications
What is the following directory used for?
/var/
variable files
What is the following directory used for?
/root/
home directory for the root user
What is the following directory used for?
/proc/
virtual filesystem documenting kernel and process status as text files
Are Linux filesystems case-sensitive?
Yes
/boot, /Boot and /BOOT are three different directories
What difference is usually made between core processes needed for system operation and other programs?
- other programs are usually stored in /usr (like user)
