Accessing local and remote file systems Introduction 11.. PPuurrppoossee _L_i_n_u_x manage all file-systems as a single large tree. This is different from _D_O_S which manage all hard drives and network volumes as a set of independent unit (C: D: E:). The first partition accessed by _L_i_n_u_x is called the _r_o_o_t. The top- level directory is called /. The other partitions (and network volumes) may be installed anywhere in the file-system tree. For example, you can setup your _L_i_n_u_x system like this. +o /D +o /E +o /servers/server1/vol1 +o /servers/server1/vol2 +o /servers/server2/apps +o /servers/server2/util These directories are called _"_m_o_u_n_t _p_o_i_n_t_s_". They are initially empty. _L_i_n_u_x will logically install the different partitions and volumes right there. All of this to tell you that you have to tell which partitions/volumes go where. 22.. LLooccaall ddrriivvee Your computer may have several hard drive. Each one may have several subdivisions. These are called partitions. Each of those can be thought as a smaller hard drive. Unless told so, Linux won't access those partitions. So here you are. 33.. NNFFSS vvoolluummee Most NFS server (Generally Unix server) have a list of file systems available to user's workstation. You can logically install one server volume in one empty directory, merely extending the span of you local hard drives. 44.. SSwwaapp ffiillee aanndd ppaarrttiittiioonnss _L_i_n_u_x may have up to 16 swap spaces active at one time. A swap space is used to extend your computer RAM. If you don't have a swap, get one here.