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  It has been completely superseded by the second version of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 3.25 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                                                      2010-05-24                                             FILESYSTEMS(5)