About the Linux File System and Inode
Linux File System
In my previous articles, I shared detailed information on this topic. You can find more detailed information about this in my article on the Ext4 File System.
As the name suggests, a file system includes a structure where files are stored. Your disk space might not be full, but your inode count could be exhausted. :)
So, what is an Inode?
Inode stands for “index node.” It is a data structure in Unix-like file systems. It stores all the information within the file system. All details except the file name are stored within the inode.
- Owner
- Group the owner belongs to
- Creation date
- Size
- Number of links
- Type
- Access rights
- Last access date
- Date of the last modifications
- And other information
In Unix operating systems, since every process is considered a file, each inode represents one file. Every file has an inode. Directories, character files, block devices, processes, etc., are all considered files.
Each inode has a unique number within the file system. If your inode space within the file system is full, you will not be able to create any new files, which can cause the operating system to malfunction. If you encounter such an issue and your inodes are completely exhausted, you can free up space by deleting unnecessary files.
Let’s explore some details about inodes on the file system together.
Viewing File Inode ID
File System Inode Usage Rate
Viewing File System Inode Size
