---
name: "deadfs"
section: "9"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/deadfs"
---

# deadfs(9)

pseudo-filesystem to own reclaimed vnodes

## NAME

**deadfs** – pseudo-filesystem to own reclaimed vnodes

## DESCRIPTION

The **deadfs** file system implements operations that do not modify any data and instead return indications of invalid IO. Its role is to provide a fallback vnode operations vector for reclaimed [vnode(9)](/vnode/9.md)'s.

It is a kernel-only pseudo-file system and so cannot be mounted from userspace.

## SEE ALSO

[insmntque(9)](/insmntque/9.md), [vnode(9)](/vnode/9.md), [VOP\_RECLAIM(9)](/VOP_RECLAIM/9.md)

## HISTORY

UNIX System Manager's Manual (SMM) for 4.4BSD described **deadfs** as a file system “where rejected vnodes go to die”.

## AUTHORS

The **deadfs** manual page was written by Mateusz Piotrowski ⟨*0mp@FreeBSD.org*⟩.