A file system is a complete directory structure, including a root directory and any subdirectories and files beneath it. File systems are confined to a single logical volume. Some of the most important system management tasks are concerning file systems, specifically:
Following is a list of system management commands that help manage file systems:
backup | Performs a full or incremental backup of a file system |
chfs -a splitcopy | Creates an online backup of a mounted JFS file system |
dd | Copies data directly from one device to another for making file system backups |
df | Reports the amount of space used and free on a file system |
fsck | Checks file systems and repairs inconsistencies |
mkfs | Makes a file system of a specified size on a specified logical volume |
mount | Attaches a file system to the system-wide naming structure so that files and directories in that file system can be accessed |
restore | Restores files from a backup |
snapshot | Creates a snapshot of a JFS2 file system |
umount | Removes a file system from the system-wide naming structure, making the files and directories in the file system inaccessible. |
There are a number of commands designed to operate on file systems, regardless of type. The /etc/filesystems file controls the list of file systems that the following commands can manipulate:
chfs | Changes the characteristics of a file system |
crfs | Adds a file system |
lsfs | Displays the characteristics of a file system |
rmfs | Removes a file system |
mount | Makes a file system available for use |
Four commands operate on virtual file systems types. The /etc/vfs file contains the information on the file system types that the following commands manipulate:
chvfs | Changes the characteristics of a file system type |
crvfs | Adds a new file system type |
lsvfs | Lists the characteristics of a file system type |
rmvfs | Removes a file system type |