File System Questions Medium
A file system unmount refers to the process of detaching a file system from its mount point, making it inaccessible for reading or writing. When a file system is mounted, it is linked to a specific directory in the operating system's hierarchy, allowing users and applications to access the files and directories within that file system.
Unmounting a file system is necessary when it needs to be disconnected from the operating system, either temporarily or permanently. This can be done to perform maintenance tasks, such as checking and repairing the file system, or to safely remove external storage devices like USB drives or network shares.
During the unmount process, the operating system ensures that all pending read and write operations are completed, and any cached data is flushed to the storage device. Once the file system is unmounted, the mount point becomes empty, and the files and directories within that file system are no longer accessible until it is mounted again.
Unmounting a file system is typically done using specific commands or utilities provided by the operating system, such as the "umount" command in Unix-like systems or the "Unmount-Volume" cmdlet in Windows. It is important to properly unmount file systems to prevent data corruption and ensure the integrity of the file system.