NAME
filesystems - Linux filesystem types: minix, ext, ext2, xia,
msdos, umsdos, vfat, proc, nfs, iso9660, hpfs, sysv, smb,
ncpfs
DESCRIPTION
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has been completely superseded by the second version of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.
SEE ALSO
proc(5), fsck(8), mkfs(8), mount(8).