version 4, including all changes.
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CraigBox |
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A directory in a FileSystem that doesn't itself have any contents, but is used to [Mount] another FileSystem in its place. |
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For example, your root file system __/__ must exist on one 'volume' (partition). If you have /usr on another hard disk, you create an empty directory called /usr on the first hard disk, and you [Mount] the file system on the second disk to that mount point. You can then access the files in the /usr. |
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If you're unfamiliar with the standard Linux file layout, see FileSystemHierarchy. |
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Mountpoints are generally defined in fstab(5) and handled by mount(8). |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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Usually, when your system starts up, it will mount all the file systems (partitions) listed in /etc/fstab. |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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You can mount additional file systems using the mount command from the command line. |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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Note that if you mount a partition (filesystem) in a non-empty directory, Linux will ignore (but not damage) the files already in that directory; they will reappear if the |
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partition is unmounted. However this is not usually done, it's normal practice to create an empty directory for the mount point. |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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!Common Examples |
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CraigBox |
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; __/cdrom__ and __/floppy__ : Linked to your floppy and CDROM drive (in fstab(5)), and empty until you put a disk in and mount it. |
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; __/mnt__ : A special case, __/mnt__ is a directory that is defined by the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard as the MountPoint for a temporarily mounted file system. |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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Typically, you may wish to mount a USB flash card or card reader with e.g. |
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__mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt__ (where vfat is the file type, /dev/sda1 |
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is where the USB card reader is plugged in, and /mnt is the mount point). |
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Cards in some multi-card readers of the type that support SD, XD, MMC, CF etc cards may show up as /dev/sdb1, /dev/sdc1 or /dev/sdd1 instead). |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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Remember to un-mount the card (with e.g. __umount /mnt__ ) before unplugging |
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ChrisRodliffe |
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the USB connection. (Note it's 'umount' not 'unmount'). |
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More recent Linux distros will save you the bother by auto-mounting CD's and |
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USB cards. |
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CraigBox |
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This system is completely extensible - your filesystem can grow from / as far as it needs to grow. |
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Compare DriveLetters (which can't grow past 24 'mount points'). |
