Linux Tree

From above Figure you can see there is only one root (/ directory) for tree, this root of tree divided into several branches (Subdirectories) and branches have different flowers, fruits, leaves etc (Files).


Under Linux all files, directory, cd-rom, floppy drive are all based on tree structure with root at the top. In fact many of the directories in the tree are physical devices like cd rom , floppy disk, OR partition of hard-disk.(may be partition of different remote computer). When such disk (floppy,cdrom etc) OR partition is attached to the file tree at a directory know as mount point and all files below that are referred as file system.

/dev directory under Linux contains special files which are require to access hardware devices such as floppy disk, CD-ROM disk, Another partition, tape drive etc

For e.g.

IDE Devices (CD-ROM/RW or Hard Disk etc)

/dev/hdx -- Where x is the first IDE physical hard disk connected to your system. X can be a,b,c,d etc. hd means hard disk.

Where

/dev/hda means first IDE physical hard disk.

/dev/hdb means second IDE physical hard disk or cdrom drive.

Here /dev/hda1 refers to first partition of your disk i.e. C: in DOS.

SCSI Devices (CD-Rom/RW or Hard disk etc)

/dev/sdx -- Where x is the first SCSI physical hard disk connected to your system. X can be a,b,c,d etc. sd means SCSI disk.

Where

/dev/sda means first SCSI physical hard disk.

/dev/sdb means second SCSI physical hard disk or cdrom drive.

Here /dev/sd1 refers to first partition of your disk i.e. C:.

Floppy Disk

/dev/fdx -- Where x can be 0 or 1. Your first floppy disk drive (A:) is know as /dev/fd0, second floppy disk drive is know as /dev/fd1.