vfs_get_tree(9)

💖 vfs_get_tree(9) 💖

okay bestie, so we're in the Kernel API Manual today (yes, that vfs_get_tree(9) energy, we're literally in the kernel API manual rn) and this one is short and sweet but it's kind of a big deal, no cap 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

vfs_get_tree — get the mountable root 🌸

like. the whole function is "bestie, hand me the root so we can mount this thing" and honestly? iconic.

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

int vfs_get_tree (struct fs_context *fc );

that's it. that's the whole vibe check. one arg, returns an int 💅

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🧚 ARGUMENTS 🧚

• fc — the superblock configuration context. that's the little bundle of setup info the filesystem needs to do its thing 🫶

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👑 DESCRIPTION 👑

so here's the tea ☕: this is where the filesystem itself gets invoked — yes, invoked — to either get or create a superblock, and that superblock is what's gonna be used later for mounting. it's giving "prep work before the main character moment" fr fr.

and then the filesystem does the cute part: it places a pointer to the root that's gonna be used for mounting into fc->root. literally just drops it right in there. so after this call, fc->root is where the root lives, iykyk ✨

ngl this is the moment where the filesystem is in charge, so whatever it puts in fc->root is what you're working with after 💀

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

we are not alone in the kernel file ./fs/super.c — it's a whole friend group in there, and here's the entire roster because we do not skip anyone in this house 🥰:

• super_lock(9)
• alloc_super(9)
• deactivate_locked_super(9)
• deactivate_super(9)
• grab_super(9)
• retire_super(9)
• generic_shutdown_super(9)
• sget_fc(9)
• iterate_supers_type(9)
• reconfigure_super(9)
• emergency_thaw_all(9)
• get_anon_bdev(9)
• sget_dev(9)
• fs_bdev_freeze(9)
• fs_bdev_thaw(9)
• fs_bdev_file_open_by_dev(9)
• fs_bdev_file_open_by_path(9)
• fs_bdev_unregister(9)
• fs_bdev_file_release(9)
• get_tree_bdev_flags(9)
• get_tree_bdev(9)
• sb_wait_write(9)
• freeze_super(9)
• thaw_super(9)

all of them. every single one. go read them, they're all serving 🧚‍♀️

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that's the whole page bestie, ily, go mount something responsibly 💜

this lil drop came straight out of <pink>./fs</pink> in the <purple>October 2026</purple> era, and yes the version tag says vfs_get_tree(9) — periodt. 🎀🦋