Lab Activity
Module 4: Devices, Linux Filesystems, FHS
Learn to explore Linux devices, block and character files, and understand filesystem structure and management based on the FHS.
Overview
In this lab, you'll explore the Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) and device management fundamentals that are essential for system administration. You'll navigate through the standard directory structure, examine device files, and learn filesystem management commands. By working with directories like /bin, /etc, /var, and /dev, along with commands like df, mount, lsblk, and findmnt, you'll gain practical understanding of how Linux organizes files, manages storage devices, and maintains system structure according to industry standards.
Learning Outcomes
- Navigate and understand the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) directory structure including
/bin,/sbin,/etc,/var,/usr, and/home. - Identify and work with device files in
/devdirectory, distinguishing between block devices, character devices, and special files. - Use filesystem management commands like
df,mount,lsblk, andfindmntto examine mounted filesystems and storage devices. - Analyze system configuration files such as
/etc/passwd,/etc/hosts, and/etc/fstabto understand system setup. - Examine filesystem usage with
ducommands and understand disk space management for system maintenance. - Explore kernel interfaces through
/procand/sysdirectories to access system and hardware information.
Key Concepts
- Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS): Standardized directory structure that defines where files and directories should be placed in Linux systems for consistency across distributions.
- Device Files: Special files in
/devthat provide interfaces to hardware devices and kernel services, including block devices for storage and character devices for input/output. - Mount Points: Locations in the filesystem tree where storage devices are attached and made accessible to the system.
- System Configuration: Files in
/etcdirectory that contain host-specific configuration settings for system services and applications. - Virtual Filesystems: Special filesystems like
/procand/systhat provide runtime access to kernel data structures and system information. - Storage Management: Commands and techniques for monitoring disk usage, filesystem types, and device relationships in the system.
Why It Matters
- Understanding FHS ensures you can navigate any Linux system efficiently and know where to find specific types of files and configurations.
- Device file knowledge is crucial for system administration tasks involving hardware management, troubleshooting, and storage configuration.
- Filesystem management skills enable you to monitor system health, diagnose storage issues, and perform maintenance tasks effectively.
- These concepts form the foundation for advanced topics like system recovery, performance tuning, and automation scripting in professional Linux environments.