8. Some definitions
Before going further it is better to understand the following terms to simplify explanation.
- Virtual directories
These directories do not exist on disk. Instead these are created and deleted on demand in memory. If system reboots all these directories vanish. In the previous figure, all directories under /home are virtual directories.
- Virtual base directory
This is the directory that holds all Virtual directories. This directory does exist on disk and therefore it remains even after reboot. In the previous figure /home is virtual base directory.
- Real directories
These are the directories that actually reside on the disk. Even after reboot, these remain intact. In the previous figure all directories created under /autohome are real directories.
- Real base directory
This is the directory that holds all real directories. In the above figure /autohome is real base directory.
Each virtual directory is mapped to real directory. Which means whatever written or modified to virtual directory is actually sent to real directory.
On reboot of the system real directories and their content remain intact. But virtual directories are again created on demand as exactly as they were before.
Virtual directories are removed if these are not used for a specified time period and created again if necessary. When Virtual directory is removed backup program is started on corresponding real directory if backup is configured.
 | Applications should access only virtual directories. Real directories are hidden from applications except for root. But there is one exception. Backup programs always access only real directories. |