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          has been completely superseded by the second version of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).