GNU Info

(am-utils.info)Volume Binding

---

Next: Operational Principles Prev: Volume Naming Up: Overview

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Volume Binding
==============

   Unix implements a namespace of hierarchically mounted filesystems.
Two forms of binding between names and files are provided.  A "hard
link" completes the binding when the name is added to the filesystem.  A
"soft link" delays the binding until the name is accessed.  An
"automounter" adds a further form in which the binding of name to
filesystem is delayed until the name is accessed.

   The target volume, in its general form, is a tuple (host, filesystem,
sublink) which can be used to name the physical location of any volume
in the network.

   When a target is referenced, Amd ignores the sublink element and
determines whether the required filesystem is already mounted.  This is
done by computing the local mount point for the filesystem and checking
for an existing filesystem mounted at the same place.  If such a
filesystem already exists then it is assumed to be functionally
identical to the target filesystem.  By default there is a one-to-one
mapping between the pair (host, filesystem) and the local mount point so
this assumption is valid.