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A Linux machine has typical location for the storage of most common things a system needs to run. Their contents:
- /
- the filesystem root, where all of the "directory tree" grows out of.
- /boot
- the kernel. This is usually a seperate Partition at the beginning of the hard drive.
- /bin
- system executable files for use by all users
- /dev
- device nodes which are files that represent your computer's periphery
- /etc
- configuration files for programs
- /home
- one subdirectory for each user has to store all their personal files. Commonly abbreviated as ____ (though this must be explicitly support by the program in question, as all shells do).
- /lib
- libraries needed to run the programs in /bin and /sbin
- /mnt
- 'mount points' for temporary filesystems (eg CDROM, floppy disk)
- /opt
- add on software. Usually StaticallyLinked? programs provided in binary form. Some people install TarBalls in here too, expecially beta software.
- /proc
- pseudo files with information about the hardware and kernel configuration and the running processes
- /root
- home directory of the root SuperUser
- /sbin
- executable files only of interest to the root SuperUser
- /usr
- files that can be shared across a whole site among multiple users
- /usr/local
- anything shared across the system but not supplied by the system vendor traditionally goes here - most commonly, packages compiled from TarBalls
- /var
- variable data files, such as logs, mail and printer spools
More information can be found at the filesystem hierarchy standard.
CategoryBeginners