LINUX FILES
How Does The Linux File System Work?
When Linux is installed, a file system is carved out a chunk of hard disk
and formatted it so that Linux can use it. A hierarchical (treelike) structure for storing files imposes some order
on the file system to help both you and the Linux find needed files.
In this section, you'll learn how to work with files and directories in a Linux system. You'll understand how the file system is
structured to separate system data from personal data and how to navigate through it. We'll cover two ways to manipulate your
files: using the command line and the Midnight Commander.
When you're done, you'll be creating, deleting, copying, renaming, listing, linking, and protecting your files like a pro. You'll also
learn the Nine Deadly Keystrokes--or how to wipe out the entire file system without really trying. (But don't worry; this command
can affect you only if you're logged in as root.)
Log in as hermie and try the examples in this section as you read through it. You'll find that the Linux file system is a lot like
DOS, only more robust and flexible.
What Is a Linux File?
We've created a structured file system and filled it with a whole bunch of files--without knowing what Linux files are. Here's what
files are in the Linux world and how they are named.
Types of Files
In most operating systems, a file is simply a blob of data stored on disk with a unique name. A file could be a list of names and
numbers, a cheesecake recipe, or an executable program. But under Linux, everything is a file. In addition to data and
executable files, Linux treats directories and even the various components of your computer as files.
This means there are files that represent your keyboard, console, printer, CD-ROM, and even your system's RAM. These special
files are called devices, and they are found in the /dev directory (see Figure 4-1). (If you look in this directory later, you'll see files
such as /dev/fd0 (a floppy drive), /dev/tty1 (a console), and others you may be able to identify by their names.) When Linux
(or any Unix program) needs to talk to a physical hardware device, it does so by simply reading from or writing to one of these
special files.
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Comments
masud (
27 Jan 2010, 00:36)
Can i know that details of linux works
Bob Rankin (
28 Jan 2010, 09:20)
Ummm... yes?
yatindra (
30 Jan 2010, 09:10)
show me how to install software in linux
Bob Rankin (
01 Feb 2010, 05:35)
See "Installing Packages With RPM"
http://lowfatlinux.com/linux-rpm-install.html
banwari (
08 Feb 2010, 01:11)
how to use linux commands & creat a file ?
Bob Rankin (
08 Feb 2010, 14:51)
@banwari - Are you kidding? Turn your head 2 inches to the left and you'll
find the answer.
Robin (
19 Feb 2010, 19:37)
Bob, your site is a great resource for Linux newbies. Thanks for all your
hard work.
P.S. Can you show me workings of linux? j/k ;)
TorCanHazLinux? (
26 Feb 2010, 23:40)
Say I have two Linux computers connected with an ethernet cable. How can I
transfer a file from one system to the other? Thanks for a fantastic site.
Bob Rankin (
01 Mar 2010, 06:53)
It's been a long time since I've networked two linux computers. But if
they are both connected to a router, they should both have IP addresses on
the local network. In that case, you could connect to the other machine
and transfer files using the ftp command. I'm sure there is also a way to
mount the disk directly on a local network. Anyone want to chime in with a
suggestion?
Copyright ©
by Bob Rankin
All rights reserved - Redistribution is allowed only with permission.
