Understanding personal file storage in Linux

[varaonaid]

Hi,

I'm working on switching over to Linux and I'm curious about how it handles file storage. What I'm meaning is this: essentially, Windows stores all of "my" files (docs, music, pics, etc.) within the OS. So if I ever decide to remove the OS, all of my files typically disappear as well, correct? Well, I'm wondering if this is the same in Linux. If the files are stored within the OS or outside of it allowing me to update or even switch distros without losing all my data? I've seen folks that have 6+ distros installed so I was guessing that there's a way to install and uninstall distros without disturbing personal files.

I realize as well, that the file system is different from Windows and I'm not trying to make Linux exactly like Win. I just want to understand it a little better. My one time using Xandros open edition a couple of years ago, I never could figure out how the file sys worked and ended up extremely confused. (again, please don't take this is a dis of linux, only of my limited amount of knowledge).

Thanks in advance!

[likwid]

I think you should read a unix file system layout FAQ.

Your personal files are stored under your home directory, which under linux is normally /home/username. Under some other unices it is /export/home/username and a couple other variations. Understanding the way the fs is laid out is detrimental to using linux, so I really think you should look for a basic faq on it.

[varaonaid]

I think you should read a unix file system layout FAQ.

Your personal files are stored under your home directory, which under linux is normally /home/username. Under some other unices it is /export/home/username and a couple other variations. Understanding the way the fs is laid out is detrimental to using linux, so I really think you should look for a basic faq on it.

I'm sorry, I don't understand why it would be detrimental to using linux for me to better understand the file system. Could you please explain?

[oz]

Here's an article that explains it:

http://freeos.com/articles/3102/

[rong]

I'm sorry, I don't understand why it would be detrimental to using linux for me to better understand the file system. Could you please explain?

I'm sure he meant quite the opposite to detrimental. He probably meant to say essential!

I doubt there are very many forum users who have the time to explain the linux file system so as the above post suggests use google and you will find a large number of articles from simplified to complex on this subject. It's good practice to google and search the forums as a first step.

Welcome to the forum.

ron

[varaonaid]

Here's an article that explains it:

http://freeos.com/articles/3102/

Thanks for the link. It was very helpful. My brain is starting to melt a little trying to get my head around the new filesys but I'm beginning to get a little understanding.

Having read that, though. My first question is still unclear to me. Do I create a file section separate from the / (root) that contains all personal files or do I just use the user home folder and backup files if I want to switch or upgrade distros?

Thanks again.

[varaonaid]

I'm sure he meant quite the opposite to detrimental. He probably meant to say essential!

I doubt there are very many forum users who have the time to explain the linux file system so as the above post suggests use google and you will find a large number of articles from simplified to complex on this subject. It's good practice to google and search the forums as a first step.

Welcome to the forum.

ron

Thanks for clearing that up. I wondered if that what the poster meant!

I've been doing some reading on how Linux filesystems work but, it's so new and different, that I'm having a little trouble assimilating it. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm trying to understand how the file system works with multiple distros. I'm beginning to get the idea how how a single distro works. The whole "mounting" thing is still a little foggy as well (sorry, I am working on it!).

Again, thanks for your help.

[Zelmo]

What's recommended it to have a separate partition for /home, which is easy to set up when you install the distro (it should be one of the filesystem set-up options). Then you can use that same partition as /home for any number of distros you want to have concurrently installed, and you can leave it intact and re-use it if you decide to replace one distro with another.

The same thing can be accomplished with Windows' "C:\Documents and Settings" but it's not nearly as easy since you have to mess with the registry, and you'd have to do it after Windows is already installed.

[rong]

Your efforts to learn will pay off. Learning linux takes patience and sweat .

It makes no difference what OS you use, backing up your files is always the first step. If your hard drive fails it (normally) makes no difference what OS you are using. However with linux it is customery to have a seperate partition for /home/yourname while the essential OS files are on a seperate partition. This way if the OS gets corrupted there is a good chance your /home/xxx partition is OK and that way you can reinstall the OS without having to reformat the /home/xxx partition thus leaving your files in tact. Does that make sense?

[varaonaid]

Zelmo and Rong,

That's *exactly* the info I needed! Thanks so much. That explains to me how it would work, now that I have a (very) little idea of the file structure. It makes so much sense to set it up that way.

Now, (please don't throw something at me) I may have to dual boot for awhile till I can get fully switched over to Linux, which is my ultimate goal. Can I use the new partition of /home/yourname which would have all my files in it for Windows to also access or is that just too much to ask of it? I'd rather not have to have all my docs duplicated in two different places on my drive.

Again, thanks for being so helpful to such a rank newbie!