How to understand the Linux file system?

  1. Understand the basic directory structure:
    Linux has a hierarchical file system, which starts with the root directory. All other directories are located under the root directory. The basic directory structure includes directories like /bin, /etc, /home, /usr, and /var.

  2. Know the commands to navigate and list directories:
    The basic commands to navigate and list directories are cd, ls, pwd, and tree. For example, “cd” is used to change directories, “ls” to list files and directories in the working directory, “pwd” to print the current working directory, and “tree” to display the directory structure in a tree-like format.

  3. Understand the permissions and ownership of files and directories:
    Every file and directory in Linux has an owner and permissions that control who can read, write, and execute them. The basic commands to modify permissions and ownership are chmod, chown, and chgrp. For example, “chmod u=rw,g=r,o=r filename” changes the permissions of the file named “filename” so that the user can read and write the file, and group members and others can only read it.

  4. Know the different file types:
    Linux has different file types such as regular files, directories, symbolic links, sockets, and device files. Each file type has its own properties and is used for a specific purpose. For example, regular files hold data, while symbolic links serve as a pointer to another file or directory.

  5. Understand the file system hierarchy standard:
    The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) defines the directory structure and the contents of files and directories for Linux systems. It provides a standardized approach to organize and manage files in Linux systems.

  6. Understand the importance of mount points:
    Mount points are directories used to access different file systems. When a file system is mounted on a directory, it becomes part of the file system hierarchy. The mount command is used to mount a file system on a directory. For example, “mount /dev/sda1 /mnt” mounts the partition on /dev/sda1 to the directory /mnt.

By following these steps, you can gain a good understanding of the Linux file system, which will help you to manage files and directories effectively.