Interview

20 Linux Filesystem Interview Questions and Answers

Prepare for the types of questions you are likely to be asked when interviewing for a position where Linux Filesystem will be used.

Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system that is widely used in many industries. As a result, many employers are looking for candidates with Linux experience. If you are interviewing for a position that uses Linux, you can expect to be asked questions about the Linux filesystem. In this article, we will review some of the most common questions about the Linux filesystem so that you can be prepared for your next interview.

Linux Filesystem Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Linux Filesystem interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is the Linux filesystem?

The Linux filesystem is the file system used by the Linux kernel. It is a hierarchical file system, with a root directory at the top, and subdirectories below.

2. What are some of the main features of a Linux filesystem?

Some of the main features of a Linux filesystem include the ability to support multiple users, the ability to support multiple file types, and the ability to be easily expanded.

3. Can you explain what an inode means?

An inode is a data structure that stores information about a file on a Linux filesystem. This information includes the file’s size, permissions, ownership, and location on the disk. Each file on a Linux filesystem has its own inode, and inodes are used to keep track of all the files on the system.

4. Is it possible to create a directory from within a shell script? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to create a directory from within a shell script. You can do this by using the mkdir command.

5. How can you check for free space on a disk using the command line?

You can use the “df” command to check for free space on a disk.

6. What does the fdisk utility do?

The fdisk utility is a command-line tool that can be used to manipulate disk partitions in a Linux filesystem. With fdisk, you can create, delete, or resize partitions, as well as set or change the partition type.

7. What’s the difference between ext2 and ext3 filesystems?

The ext2 filesystem is the standard Linux filesystem. It is a very stable filesystem that is well-tested and widely used. The ext3 filesystem is an extension of the ext2 filesystem that adds journaling capabilities. This makes the ext3 filesystem slightly more robust and resistant to data corruption, but at the cost of slightly reduced performance.

8. When using the “df” command, what does the output mean?

The output of the “df” command shows the amount of free disk space on the filesystem. The first column shows the filesystem, the second column shows the amount of free space, and the third column shows the percentage of free space.

9. Which commands would you use to find out which directories are taking up the most disk space?

You could use the ‘du’ command to find out which directories are taking up the most disk space. This command will show you the size of each directory, and you can use the ‘-h’ flag to show the results in a human-readable format. You could also use the ‘df’ command to show you the amount of free space on each mounted filesystem, which can be helpful in determining which directories are taking up the most space.

10. What happens if the mkfs command is used without the “-t” option?

The “-t” option is used to specify the type of filesystem to be created. Without this option, the mkfs command will create a filesystem of the type specified by the environment variable MFKFS_TYPE, or of type ext2 if this variable is not set.

11. What is the best way to change the default block size when creating a new file system?

The best way to change the default block size when creating a new file system is to use the -b option when running the mkfs command. For example, if you wanted to create a new file system with a block size of 4096, you would use the following command: mkfs -b 4096 /dev/sda1.

12. What are hard links in context with Linux filesystems?

Hard links are a type of file that allows multiple files to share the same inode. This means that the files will share the same data blocks on the disk, and will therefore take up less space. Hard links can be very useful in a number of situations, but they can also cause problems if not used correctly.

13. Is it possible to retain changes made to files even after a reboot? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to retain changes made to files even after a reboot. This can be done by using a utility like Persistent.

14. What does the mount command do?

The mount command is used to attach a filesystem to a directory, making the contents of the filesystem accessible to the user.

15. What is the significance of the -w option with the mount command?

The -w option with the mount command tells Linux to mount the filesystem in read-write mode. This is the opposite of the -r option, which mounts the filesystem in read-only mode.

16. What is the difference between mounting and unmounting a filesystem?

Mounting a filesystem makes it accessible to the system, while unmounting it removes it from the system. In order to mount a filesystem, you need to have root access. Once a filesystem is mounted, any user on the system can access it. In order to unmount a filesystem, you need to have root access. Once a filesystem is unmounted, it is no longer accessible to any user on the system.

17. What is the purpose of loopback mounts?

Loopback mounts are used to mount a filesystem on top of another filesystem, making it appear as if the filesystem is a part of the underlying filesystem. This can be useful for creating snapshots of a filesystem, or for providing access to a filesystem that is not physically present on the system.

18. Can you give me some examples of error messages that might be displayed while trying to access a mounted filesystem?

There are a few different error messages that might be displayed while trying to access a mounted filesystem. One example might be “filesystem not mounted,” which would indicate that the filesystem is not currently mounted and thus cannot be accessed. Another example might be “filesystem not found,” which would indicate that the filesystem could not be located. Finally, “access denied” would indicate that the user does not have permission to access the filesystem.

19. What are the conditions that need to be met before a device can be unmounted?

In order for a device to be unmounted, the following conditions must be met:

-The device must be mounted.
-The device must not be in use.
-The device must not be the root file system.

20. In what situations should you avoid using umount?

You should avoid using umount in any situation where the filesystem is in use, as this can lead to data corruption. Additionally, you should never umount a filesystem that is currently mounted on top of another filesystem, as this can also cause data corruption.

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