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Filesystem handling

Hierarchy

Path Porpose
/bin essential command binaries
/boot bootloader files
/dev device files
/proc the virtual filesystem for processes
/sys the virtual filesystem used to communicate with devices
/etc specific configurations
/lib essential shared libs and kernel modules
/media removable media mount points
/mnt temporary mount points for filesystems
/opt optional softwares
/sbin system binaries
/srv data for services
/tmp temporary data
/user secondary hierarchy for users
/var variable data
/home home directories
/root root home directory

Create/Repair

To create a filesystem:

mkfs -t <filesystem type> <device>

To check/repair the filesystem:

fsck <device>

0   - No errors
1   - FS corrected
2   - System should be rebooted
4   - FS errors left uncorrected
8   - Operational error
16  - Usage or syntax error
32  - Fsck canceled by the user
128 - Shared-library error

Useful options:

    -A: global check
    -R: exclude root path from checking
    -M: don't run on mounted fs
    -t: specify the filesystem. Placing 'no' prefix in front of 
        the fs name (i.e. 'noext3') will exclude that specific filesystem.
    -y: automatically resolve problems
    -a: automatically repair damaged portions
    -n: avoid repair, but prompt only

Partitioning

For text-based tool for partitioning:

fdisk [-l] <device>  # use -l to list all the partitions
> m                    # show help message

For ncurses tool for partitioning:

cfdisk <device>

Mounting

To mount a filesystem in a binary format (.iso, .bin, .extX etc.):

mount [-r] -o loop <file> <directory>   # use -r for read-only
mount -t proc  /proc <directory>/proc/
mount -t sysfs /sys  <directory>/sys/
mount -o bind  /dev  <directory>/dev/

To mount a network filesystem:

mount -o tcp <address>:<remote path> <local path>

To automatically mount a filesystem using /etc/fstab:

...
/dev/sdX   /data   ext4   defaults,auto   0 0

CPIO

To extract a cpio image inside the current directory:

cpio -idv < file.cpio

Recovery

To recover deleted files, use the testdisk tool:

testdisk
Create -> Disk /dev/sdX -> Intel -> Advanced -> Select List Option

A file manager will apear, showing deleted files in "red" color.

'c' over the file to recover -> select output directory -> 'c'

Installation Setup

The following partitioning scheme can be used as reference for a server setup:

Path Size Type
/boot 500MB Primary
/ 30GB Primary
/var 50GB Logical
swap 4GB Logical
/home 165GB Logical