> -----Original Message----- > From: Frank Schafer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 24 August 2005 09:59 > To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org > Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] newbie install - emerge: command not found > > > On Wed, 2005-08-24 at 10:32 +0200, Assaf Urieli wrote: > > Neil Bothwick wrote: > > > > >On Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:52:22 +0200, Assaf Urieli wrote: > > > > > > > > In fact, I'm not even quite sure that I understand the > > whole concept of > > mounting... > > When I type: > > # mount -t ext3 /dev/hda3 /mnt/gentoo > > Does the /mnt/gentoo directory already exist somewhere? If > > it didn't, I > > imagine this statement would throw an error. But where can > > it exist if > > it isn't yet associated with any partition (i.e. /dev/hda3)? > > First: it has to exist > Second: you imagine right > Third: A bolt hole can exist without a bolt in it, can't it?
Perhaps it would help if you for a minute try to break the assumed and transparent (from a M$Windoze user perspective) linkage between filesystem components (e.g. a directory like /mnt/gentoo) and device components (e.g. a partition like /dev/hda3). The physical device which contains actual data will only be connected to the software entity of a directory, after it is mounted (linked) to it by means of # mount <device> <path>. After that linkage (mounting) is established your OS can access and read the data stored on that device. > > > # mkdir /mnt/gentoo/boot > > Where am I making this directory? I would assume this > > statement creates the directory on /dev/hda3. Not as you understand it: directories are software entities, /dev/hda3 is a physical device (hardware). In other words, you are creating a subdirectory within your /mnt/gentoo directory - a software path in your filesystem. As long as your /mnt/gentoo directory has been linked to the physical device of /dev/hda3 then this <directory/subdirectory/.../files> structure and its contents will be stored (saved) in the mounted /dev/hda3. > > But then, in the next statement, I'm > > associating it with /dev/hda4! OK, if you were to mount your /dev/hda4 to your /mnt/gentoo/usr then any relevant data produced thereafter will no longer be stored on the previously mounted device (/dev/hda3), but on the newly mounted /dev/hda4. I hope this helps. -- Regards, Mick -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list