FILESYSTEMS(5) Linux Programmer's Manual FILESYSTEMS(5)
NAME
filesystems - Linux file-system types: minix, ext, ext2, ext3, ext4,
Reiserfs, XFS, JFS, xia, msdos, umsdos, vfat, ntfs, proc, nfs, iso9660,
hpfs, sysv, smb, ncpfs
DESCRIPTION
When, as is customary, the proc file system is mounted on /proc, you
can find in the file /proc/filesystems which file systems your kernel
currently supports. If you need a currently unsupported one, insert
the corresponding module or recompile the kernel.
In order to use a file system, you have to mount it; see mount(8).
Below a short description of a few of the available file systems.
minix is the file system 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
timestamp, etc. It remains useful for floppies and RAM
disks.
ext is an elaborate extension of the minix file system. It has
been completely superseded by the second version of the
extended file system (ext2) and has been removed from the
kernel (in 2.1.21).
ext2 is the high performance disk file system used by Linux for
fixed disks as well as removable media. The second extended
file system 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 file systems supported under
Linux.
ext3 is a journaling version of the ext2 file system. 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 file system, designed by Hans Reiser, that
was integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.1.
XFS is a journaling file system, developed by SGI, that was
integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.20.
JFS is a journaling file system, developed by IBM, that was
integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.24.
xiafs was designed and implemented to be a stable, safe file system
by extending the Minix file system code. It provides the
basic most requested features without undue complexity. The
xia file system is no longer actively developed or
maintained. It was removed from the kernel in 2.1.21.
msdos is the file system 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 file system used by Linux. It adds
capability for long filenames, UID/GID, POSIX permissions,
and special files (devices, named pipes, etc.) under the DOS
file system, without sacrificing compatibility with DOS.
vfat is an extended DOS file system used by Microsoft Windows95
and Windows NT. VFAT adds the capability to use long
filenames under the MSDOS file system.
ntfs replaces Microsoft Window's FAT file systems (VFAT, FAT32).
It has reliability, performance, and space-utilization
enhancements plus features like ACLs, journaling, encryption,
and so on.
proc is a pseudo file system 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 file system type conforming to the ISO 9660
standard.
High Sierra
Linux supports High Sierra, the precursor to the ISO
9660 standard for CD-ROM file systems. It is
automatically recognized within the iso9660 file-
system 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 file system to a UNIX host, and provide
information such as long filenames, UID/GID, POSIX
permissions, and devices. It is automatically
recognized within the iso9660 file-system support
under Linux.
hpfs is the High Performance Filesystem, used in OS/2. This file
system is read-only under Linux due to the lack of available
documentation.
sysv is an implementation of the SystemV/Coherent file system for
Linux. It implements all of Xenix FS, SystemV/386 FS, and
Coherent FS.
nfs is the network file system used to access disks located on
remote computers.
smb is a network file system 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 file system 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)
COLOPHON
This page is part of release 3.53 of the Linux man-pages project. A
description of the project, and information about reporting bugs, can
be found at http://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/.
Linux 2012-08-05 FILESYSTEMS(5)
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