Linux file structure files are grouped according to purpose. Ex: commands, data files, documentation. Parts of a Unix directory tree are listed below. All directories are grouped under the root entry “/”.
root – The home directory for the root user
home – Contains the user’s home directories along with directories for services
- ftp
- HTTP
- samba
- george
bin – Commands needed during bootup that might be needed by normal users
sbin – Like bin but commands are not intended for normal users. Commands run by LINUX.
proc – This filesystem is not on a disk. It is a virtual filesystem that exists in the kernels imagination which is memory.
- 1 – A directory with info about process number 1. Each process has a directory below proc.
usr – Contains all commands, libraries, man pages, games and static files for normal operation.
- bin – Almost all user commands. some commands are in /bin or /usr/local/bin.
- sbin – System admin commands not needed on the root filesystem. e.g., most server programs.
- include – Header files for the C programming language. Should be below /user/lib for consistency.
- lib – Unchanging data files for programs and subsystems
- local – The place for locally installed software and other files.
- man – Manual pages
- info – Info documents
- doc – Documentation
- tmp
- X11R6 – The X windows system files. There is a directory similar to usr below this directory.
- X386 – Like X11R6 but for X11 release 5
boot – Files used by the bootstrap loader, LILO. Kernel images are often kept here.
lib – Shared libraries needed by the programs on the root filesystem
- modules – Loadable kernel modules, especially those needed to boot the system after disasters.
dev – Device files
etc – Configuration files specific to the machine.
- skel – When a home directory is created it is initialized with files from this directory
- sysconfig – Files that configure the linux system for devices.
var – Contains files that change for mail, news, printers log files, man pages, temp files
file
- lib – Files that change while the system is running normally
- local – Variable data for programs installed in /usr/local.
- lock – Lock files. Used by a program to indicate it is using a particular device or file
- log – Log files from programs such as login and syslog which logs all logins and logouts.
- run – Files that contain information about the system that is valid until the system is next booted
- spool – Directories for mail, printer spools, news and other spooled work.
- tmp – Temporary files that are large or need to exist for longer than they should in /tmp.
- catman – A cache for man pages that are formatted on demand
mnt – Mount points for temporary mounts by the system administrator.
tmp – Temporary files. Programs running after bootup should use /var/tmp.