On most Linux hosts, the first field of the /etc/fstab file contains labels instead of disk partions. This simplifies file system management, since you don’t have to update the fstab file if you move a drive to a new controller, or add additional drives to a system. If you want to locate the partition that is associated with a label, you can use the findfs utility:
$ /sbin/findfs LABEL=/
/dev/hda1
You can also use the findfs utility to locate a partition by UUID
$ /sbin/findfs UUID=b4ce6d24-000c-45a3-8258-cbf9f826c0ce
/dev/hda1
The findfs utility is extremely useful, and is just one of a number of cool programs (others include blkid, e2label, partinfo and findsuper) in the e2fsprogs package! Giddie up!