The descriptions of the Linux Directory Structure

linux_directory_struct.md

The Linux Directory Structure

Common Standard Structure

╔ /
╠════ bin -> usr/bin
╠════ sbin -> usr/sbin
╠════ etc
╠═══╤ dev
║   ├──── tty
║   ├──── sda
║   ├──── urandom
║   └──── null
╠════ proc
╠═══╤ var
║   ├──── log
║   ├──── lib
║   ├──── mail
║   ├──── spool
║   ├──── lock
║   └──── tmp
╠════ tmp
╠════ usr
╠════ home
╠════ boot
╠════ lib -> usr/lib
╠════ lib64 -> usr/lib64
╠════ opt
╠════ mnt
╠════ media
╚════ srv

• /bin/ - User Binaries

  • Contains Binary Executables
  • Common Linux commands you need to use in single-user modes
  • Commands used by all the users of the system
    • ps, ls, ping, grep, cp

• /sbin/ - System Binaries

  • Also contains binary executables
  • Linux Comands typically used by the system admin, for system maintenance purpose
    • iptables, reboot, fdisk, ifconfig, swapon

• /etc/ - Configuration Files

  • contains the configuration files required by all programs
  • Contains startup and shutdown shell scripts
    • /etc/logrotate.conf, /ete/resolv.conf

• /dev/ - Device Files

  • Contains Device Files.
  • Includes terminal devices, usb, or and device attached to the system.
    • /dev/tty1/ /dev/usbmon0

• /proc/ - Process Information

  • Contains information about the system process
  • Is a pseudo filesystem that contains information about running processes.
    • /proc/{pid} contains information about the process wuth that pid
  • Is also a virtual filesystem with text information about system resources
    • /proc/uptime

• /var/ - Variable Files

  • Content of the files that are expected to grow can be found here.
    • System log files, packages and database files, emails, pint queues, lock files, temp files needed across reboots.
      • /var/log, /var/lib, /var/mail, /var/spool, /var/lock, /var/tmp

• /tmp/ - Temporary Files

• /usr/ - User Programs

• /home/ - Home Directories

• /boot/ - Boot Loader Files

• /lib/ - System Libraries

• /opt/ - Optional Add-on Applications

• /mnt/ - Mount Directory

  • Temporary mount directory where admins can mount filesystems
    • mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/

• /media/ - Removable Media Devices

  • Temporary mount directory for mounting removable devices.
    • mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom

• /srv/ - Service Data

  • Contains Server specific service related data.
    • /srv/cvs contains CVS related data

• /root/ - Root User's Home Directory

Resources

Linux File System Structure