Unlock Linux Mastery: Understanding Ext4, XFS and Core Directory Structure
This article explains how Linux organizes files through its file system, covering the role of the kernel and shell, the classification of file systems, detailed insights into ext4 and XFS, and the purpose of each standard directory in the hierarchy.
Operating systems can be roughly divided into two layers: the kernel layer, which sits directly on the hardware, and the shell layer, which provides a human‑machine interface. While this model seems perfect, deeper exploration reveals many nuances.
The file system is the subsystem that manages all files, allowing the OS to interact with them. It classifies file systems into three types: single‑machine, shared, and distributed. This article focuses on single‑machine file systems used by Linux.
In Linux, the most common single‑machine file systems are ext4 and XFS (ext3 is now outdated). Below is a diagram illustrating how the file system connects to the operating system.
The ext4 file system forms a tree structure with the root (/) mounted on the OS, serving as the entry point for file management. Various directories reside beneath this root, each serving specific purposes:
/boot : core files needed to boot Linux.
/dev : device files representing hardware.
/etc : system configuration files.
/home : user home directories (e.g., /home/lele).
/lib : essential shared libraries.
/lost+found : recovery area for orphaned files after an improper shutdown.
/mnt : temporary mount point for other file systems.
/proc : virtual directory exposing kernel and process information.
/root : home directory for the superuser.
/sbin : system administration binaries.
/tmp : temporary files.
/var : variable data such as logs (e.g., /var/log).
/usr : largest directory, containing most applications and user utilities.
Understanding these directories greatly aids Linux mastery. Additionally, XFS, introduced in Red Hat 7.0, shares a similar structure with ext4 but offers superior performance; a brief overview is provided without deep detail.
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