Frequently asked questions for Linux file systems
In this section we collect all frequently asked questions about Linux file systems. Do you have a question or one that really should be listed here? Share your feedback. Thanks for your contribution!
Articles for FAQ
Learn how to compare two directories on a Linux systems and see their differences between both or what files they are having in common.
Learn how to sort the output of the ls command and list a directory contents by its modification time. Here is which options to use.
Symbolic links may point to a directory or a file. Learn how to use the find command to discover symbolic links that refer to a directory.
Find the biggest directories and files on disk by using the du command. The output can be sorted using numeric values to find the biggest entries.
Linux filesystems typically store file modification timestamps. Learn how to find the last modification time of a file or subdirectory in a specified directory.
Use the find command to search for any files on Linux that are writable. To make this work, the -perm option of find can be used.
Got a busy Linux systems and wondering what the culprit is? Learn how to monitor them and focus on disk activity with tools like iotop, sar, vmstat, or iostat.
Need to delete the contents of a sensitive file on Linux? Instead of just deleting it with rm, have a look at some other options for a more secure deletion.
Learn how to see files smaller or bigger than a specific defined size on Linux, using the du command. Or use the find command to achieve a similar result.
Files starting with a dot are usually hidden on Linux. Learn how to see any hidden files on the command line or in the terminal using the ls command.
Linux file systems use inodes, unique references to link to a file or directory. Learn how to see inode usage on a Linux file system or mount point.
Linux may store the initial creation of a file. Learn how to use the stat command to find this initial creation time of a file, also known as its birth time.
The file command is a powerful tool for Linux users. Learn how to see the file type of normal and special files on a Linux system.
Disks will eventually fill up. Learn how to quickly see the size of a directory or folder on Linux systems using the du command.
File systems on Linux store a lot more than just the data itself. Learn how to see the size of a file on Linux systems using the ls or stat command.
Learn how to see used and remaining disk space on Linux systems by gathering the statistics of file systems and mount points using the df command.