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FILESYSTEMS(5) Linux Programmer's Manual 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               been completely superseded  by  the  second  version  of  the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 64 MB 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

     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.  See

     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.

     tmpfs     is  a  filesystem  whose  contents  reside in virtual memory.
               Since the files on such filesystems typically reside in  RAM,
               file access is extremely fast.  See tmpfs(5).

     vfat      is an extended FAT 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.