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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aplus-linux-fstab

Which Linux file describes the filesystems the system can mount?

/etc/fstab describes mountable filesystems.

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  1. /etc/fstab ✔
  2. /etc/resolv.conf
  3. /etc/shadow

Why: fstab contains descriptive information about the filesystems the system can mount. It is read by programs, and the admin maintains it.

Huh, didn't know that: Each filesystem gets its own line, and order matters because fsck, mount and umount read the file in sequence.

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References

Answer: /etc/fstab. fstab contains descriptive information about the filesystems the system can mount. It is read by programs, and the admin maintains it.

  1. fstab(5), Debian manpages manpages.debian.org/bookworm/mount/fstab.5.en.html
    The file fstab contains descriptive information about the filesystems the system can mount.
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. resolv.conf(5), Debian manpages manpages.debian.org/bookworm/manpages/resolv.conf.5.en.html
    resolv.conf - resolver configuration file
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  3. fstab(5), Debian manpages manpages.debian.org/bookworm/mount/fstab.5.en.html
    The order of records in fstab is important because fsck(8) , mount(8) , and umount(8) sequentially iterate through fstab doing their thing.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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