Mounting on top of existing files

vayu · 06-16-2013, 04:47 PM

I've got a multiboot. They each mount each other's partitions. By accident I had existing files on one of the mount points that another partion mounts as home. When it's used as home on that one install you see its proper home directory data and you can't see the files that were originally there. When I boot back to the other install, you see the original files but not the home directory files from the other install. Nothing gets lost. Where is the data from one install when the other install is mounting its partition?

Doc CPU · 06-16-2013, 04:54 PM

Hi there,

Quote:

Originally Posted by vayu

Where is the data from one install when the other install is mounting its partition?

it's temporarily hidden. Once a directory is used as a mountpoint for something else, its original contents is simply ignored. Nothing happens to it, it's just inaccessible while something else is mounted on that directory.

That's nothing to be scared of, though it might be worrying for a moment when the contents of a directory seems to be gone. It's just like you can't see the painting on the wall when you place a wardrobe in front of it.
No problem, keep calm. Everything is fine. ;-)

[X] Doc CPU

vayu · 06-16-2013, 05:14 PM

Thanks, comforting to know. Amazing actually.