Accessing local and remote file systems 11.. PPuurrppoossee _L_i_n_u_x manages all filesystems as a single large tree. This is unlike _D_O_S, which manages all hard drives and network volumes as a set of independent units (C: D: E:). The first partition accessed by _L_i_n_u_x is called the _r_o_o_t. The top- level directory is called /. The other partitions (and network volumes) may be installed anywhere in the filesystem tree. For example, you can set up your _L_i_n_u_x system like this: +o /D +o /E +o /servers/server1/vol1 +o /servers/server1/vol2 +o /servers/server2/apps +o /servers/server2/util These directories are called _"_m_o_u_n_t _p_o_i_n_t_s_". They are initially empty. _L_i_n_u_x will logically install the different partitions and volumes right there. All this means is that you have to tell Linux which partitions/volumes go where. 22.. AAcccceessss llooccaall ddrriivvee Your computer may have several hard drives. Each one may have several subdivisions. These are called partitions. Each of those can be thought of as a smaller hard drive. Unless told to do so, Linux won't access those partitions. 33.. AAcccceessss NNFFSS vvoolluummee Most NFS servers (Generally UNIX servers) have a list of filesystems available to a user's workstation. You can logically install one server volume in one empty directory, merely by extending the span of your local hard drives. 44.. SSwwaapp ffiilleess aanndd ppaarrttiittiioonnss _L_i_n_u_x may have up to 16 swap spaces active at one time. A swap space is used to extend your computer's RAM. If you don't have a swap, get one here.