System Administration Guide: Basic Administration

Additional Virtual File Systems

These additional types of virtual file systems are listed for your information. They do not require administration.

Virtual File System 

Description 

FIFOFS (first-in first-out) 

Named pipe files that give processes common access to data

FDFS (file descriptors) 

Provides explicit names for opening files using file descriptors

MNTFS 

Provides read-only access to the table of mounted file systems for the local system 

NAMEFS 

Used mostly by STREAMS for dynamic mounts of file descriptors on top of files

SPECFS (special) 

Provides access to character special devices and block devices

SWAPFS 

Used by the kernel for swapping