filesystems(5)
NAME
filesystems - Linux filesystem types: ext, ext2, ext3, ext4, hpfs,
iso9660, JFS, minix, msdos, ncpfs nfs, ntfs, proc, Reiserfs, smb, sysv,
umsdos, vfat, XFS, xiafs,
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; see proc(5) for more details. If you need a
currently unsupported filesystem, insert the corresponding module or
recompile the kernel.
In order to use a filesystem, you have to mount it; see mount(8).
Below a short description of the available or historically available
filesystems in the Linux kernel. See kernel documentation for a
comprehensive description of all options and limitations.
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been completely superseded by the second version of the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
filesystem (ext). See ext2 (5).
ext3 is a journaling version of the ext2 filesystem. It is easy
to switch back and forth between ext2 and ext3. See ext3
(5).
ext4 is a set of upgrades to ext3 including substantial
performance and reliability enhancements, plus large
increases in volume, file, and directory size limits. See
ext4 (5).
hpfs is the High Performance Filesystem, used in OS/2. This
filesystem is read-only under Linux due to the lack of
available documentation.
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.
JFS is a journaling filesystem, developed by IBM, that was
integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.24.
minix is the filesystem used in the Minix operating system, the
first to run under Linux. It has a number of shortcomings,
including a 64MB partition size limit, short filenames, and a
single timestamp. It remains useful for floppies and RAM
disks.
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.
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.
nfs is the network filesystem used to access disks located on
remote computers.
ntfs replaces Microsoft Window's FAT filesystems (VFAT, FAT32).
It has reliability, performance, and space-utilization
enhancements plus features like ACLs, journaling, encryption,
and so on.
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).
Reiserfs is a journaling filesystem, designed by Hans Reiser, that was
integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.1.
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.
sysv is an implementation of the SystemV/Coherent filesystem for
Linux. It implements all of Xenix FS, SystemV/386 FS, and
Coherent FS.
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.
XFS is a journaling filesystem, developed by SGI, that was
integrated into Linux in kernel 2.4.20.
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
xiafs filesystem is no longer actively developed or
maintained. It was removed from the kernel in 2.1.21.
SEE ALSO
fuse(4), ext2(5), ext3(5), ext4(5), proc(5), fsck(8), mkfs(8), mount(8)
COLOPHON
This page is part of release 4.09 of the Linux man-pages project. A
description of the project, information about reporting bugs, and the
latest version of this page, can be found at
https://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/.
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