# btrfs(8) - man - phpman > **TLDR:** A filesystem based on the copy-on-write (COW) principle for Linux. > - Create subvolume: `sudo btrfs {{su|subvolume}} {{c|create}} {{path/to/subvolume}}` - List subvolumes: `sudo btrfs {{su|subvolume}} {{l|list}} {{path/to/mount_point}}` - Show space usage information: `sudo btrfs {{f|filesystem}} df {{path/to/mount_point}}` - Enable quota: `sudo btrfs {{qu|quota}} {{e|enable}} {{path/to/subvolume}}` - Show quota: `sudo btrfs {{qg|qgroup}} {{s|show}} {{path/to/subvolume}}` *Source: tldr-pages* --- [BTRFS(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/BTRFS/8/markdown) Btrfs Manual [BTRFS(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/BTRFS/8/markdown) ## NAME btrfs - a toolbox to manage btrfs filesystems ## SYNOPSIS **btrfs** __ [__] ## DESCRIPTION The **btrfs** utility is a toolbox for managing btrfs filesystems. There are command groups to work with subvolumes, devices, for whole filesystem or other specific actions. See section **COMMANDS**. There are also standalone tools for some tasks like **btrfs-convert** or **btrfstune** that were separate historically and/or haven’t been merged to the main utility. See section _STANDALONE_ _TOOLS_ for more details. For other topics (mount options, etc) please refer to the separate manual page [**btrfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs/5/markdown). ## COMMAND SYNTAX Any command name can be shortened so long as the shortened form is unambiguous, however, it is recommended to use full command names in scripts. All command groups have their manual page named **btrfs-**__. For example: it is possible to run **btrfs** **sub** **snaps** instead of **btrfs** **subvolume** **snapshot**. But **btrfs** **file** **s** is not allowed, because **file** **s** may be interpreted both as **filesystem** **show** and as **filesystem** **sync**. If the command name is ambiguous, the list of conflicting options is printed. For an overview of a given command use _btrfs_ _command_ _--help_ or _btrfs_ _[command...]_ _--help_ _--full_ to print all available options. ## COMMANDS ### balance Balance btrfs filesystem chunks across single or several devices. See [**btrfs-balance**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-balance/8/markdown) for details. ### check Do off-line check on a btrfs filesystem. See [**btrfs-check**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-check/8/markdown) for details. ### device Manage devices managed by btrfs, including add/delete/scan and so on. See [**btrfs-device**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-device/8/markdown) for details. ### filesystem Manage a btrfs filesystem, including label setting/sync and so on. See [**btrfs-filesystem**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-filesystem/8/markdown) for details. ### inspect-internal Debug tools for developers/hackers. See [**btrfs-inspect-internal**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-inspect-internal/8/markdown) for details. ### property Get/set a property from/to a btrfs object. See [**btrfs-property**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-property/8/markdown) for details. ### qgroup Manage quota group(qgroup) for btrfs filesystem. See [**btrfs-qgroup**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-qgroup/8/markdown) for details. ### quota Manage quota on btrfs filesystem like enabling/rescan and etc. See [**btrfs-quota**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-quota/8/markdown) and [**btrfs-qgroup**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-qgroup/8/markdown) for details. ### receive Receive subvolume data from stdin/file for restore and etc. See [**btrfs-receive**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-receive/8/markdown) for details. ### replace Replace btrfs devices. See [**btrfs-replace**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-replace/8/markdown) for details. ### rescue Try to rescue damaged btrfs filesystem. See [**btrfs-rescue**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-rescue/8/markdown) for details. ### restore Try to restore files from a damaged btrfs filesystem. See [**btrfs-restore**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-restore/8/markdown) for details. ### scrub Scrub a btrfs filesystem. See [**btrfs-scrub**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-scrub/8/markdown) for details. ### send Send subvolume data to stdout/file for backup and etc. See [**btrfs-send**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-send/8/markdown) for details. ### subvolume Create/delete/list/manage btrfs subvolume. See [**btrfs-subvolume**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-subvolume/8/markdown) for details. ## STANDALONE TOOLS New functionality could be provided using a standalone tool. If the functionality proves to be useful, then the standalone tool is declared obsolete and its functionality is copied to the main tool. Obsolete tools are removed after a long (years) depreciation period. Tools that are still in active use without an equivalent in **btrfs**: ### btrfs-convert in-place conversion from ext2/3/4 filesystems to btrfs ### btrfstune tweak some filesystem properties on a unmounted filesystem ### btrfs-select-super rescue tool to overwrite primary superblock from a spare copy ### btrfs-find-root rescue helper to find tree roots in a filesystem Deprecated and obsolete tools: ### btrfs-debug-tree moved to **btrfs** **inspect-internal** **dump-tree**. Removed from source distribution. ### btrfs-show-super moved to **btrfs** **inspect-internal** **dump-super**, standalone removed. ### btrfs-zero-log moved to **btrfs** **rescue** **zero-log**, standalone removed. For space-constrained environments, it’s possible to build a single binary with functionality of several standalone tools. This is following the concept of busybox where the file name selects the functionality. This works for symlinks or hardlinks. The full list can be obtained by **btrfs** **help** **--box**. ## EXIT STATUS **btrfs** returns a zero exit status if it succeeds. Non zero is returned in case of failure. ## AVAILABILITY **btrfs** is part of btrfs-progs. Please refer to the btrfs wiki **** for further details. ## SEE ALSO [**btrfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs/5/markdown), [**btrfs-balance**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-balance/8/markdown), [**btrfs-check**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-check/8/markdown), [**btrfs-convert**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-convert/8/markdown), [**btrfs-device**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-device/8/markdown), [**btrfs-filesystem**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-filesystem/8/markdown), [**btrfs-inspect-internal**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-inspect-internal/8/markdown), [**btrfs-property**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-property/8/markdown), [**btrfs-qgroup**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-qgroup/8/markdown), [**btrfs-quota**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-quota/8/markdown), [**btrfs-receive**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-receive/8/markdown), [**btrfs-replace**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-replace/8/markdown), [**btrfs-rescue**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-rescue/8/markdown), [**btrfs-restore**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-restore/8/markdown), [**btrfs-scrub**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-scrub/8/markdown), [**btrfs-send**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-send/8/markdown), [**btrfs-subvolume**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs-subvolume/8/markdown), [**btrfstune**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfstune/8/markdown), [**mkfs.btrfs**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkfs.btrfs/8/markdown) Btrfs v5.16.2 02/16/2022 [BTRFS(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/BTRFS/8/markdown)