Linux Unmount: How It Works Explained

In the Linux system, the unmount command is used to detach (or unmount) a mounted file system. When the unmount command is executed, the operating system will detach the specified file system from its mount point. Detaching a file system will mark its mount point as free, making the data in that file system no longer accessible.

The working principle of the unmount command is as follows:

1. Check the designated mount point for emptiness; if it is not empty, an error message will appear and the unmount operation will stop.
2. The operating system will check if the specified file system is in use, if so, an error message will appear and the unmount operation will be stopped.
3. The operating system will unmount the specified file system from its mount point, making the mount point available for other uses.
4. If the uninstallation is successful, the system will release all resources related to the file system, including memory, cache, and file descriptors.
5. If the uninstallation process fails, the system will display an error message and may require manual intervention to successfully uninstall the file system.

In general, the unmount command works by detaching the specified file system from its mount point, making the data in the file system no longer accessible, and releasing the resources associated with that file system.