The way in which the Linux file system is laid out makes good sense. I have been utilizing Linux for therefore a few years that I can not think about one other file system making extra sense. After I contemplate how the Windows file system is laid out, my eyes gloss over and I can solely suppose, “What?” and “Why?”
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Nevertheless, for those who are new to Linux, these file system names won’t make any sense. That is okay as a result of I will clear up the confusion for you. Don’t be concerned, I will do that in a approach that anybody can perceive.
Let’s get began.
On the root of all issues
Root (aka “/”) is the place all different directories are discovered. For those who difficulty the command ls /, the output will embody directories like bin, boot, dev, house, and so on, media, mnt, decide, sbin, srv, and var. The basis listing is the father or mother of all directories on the system. Root is just like Home windows C: listing.
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One factor to recollect is that customary customers wouldn’t have full entry (together with write entry) to most directories below root. In reality, the one listing customers have full rights to is their house listing.
Let’s go house.
Dwelling
House is the listing that homes all person directories. For instance, you may need /house/olivia. That listing is the place all of person olivia’s information, folders, and distinctive configurations reside.
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In case you have a number of customers on the system, house will embody all person’s directories.
House is often known as ~/ and $HOME. Simply because all person directories are housed in house, it does not imply one person can entry one other person’s folders and information. To illustrate you will have person olivia and person nathan in your system. Person olivia won’t have entry to /house/nathan and person nathan won’t have entry to /house/olivia.
bin and sbin
Each of those directories comprise executable binaries for functions and instructions. The massive distinction is that bin comprises important binaries for the fundamental operation of the system (equivalent to instructions like ls, cp, mv, mkdir, and extra), and sbin comprises system binaries required for admin duties (equivalent to fdisk).
usr
The usr listing is the place issues can get complicated as a result of it additionally comprises executable binaries and libraries for the system. The distinction, nevertheless, is that this listing is the place executable binaries are added whenever you set up an software.
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For instance, when you set up LibreOffice, the executable file for Author might be /usr/bin/lowriter. For those who difficulty the command ls /usr/bin, you are working a command present in bin on the listing /usr/bin and the outcomes won’t solely embody the entire binaries for apps you have put in however all non-essential binaries. The usr listing additionally comprises system administration instruments and improvement libraries.
and so on
The and so on listing is the place you may discover configuration information for the system and its functions. Community configurations, person account data, and systemwide settings are discovered on this listing.
decide
The decide listing is used for elective software program that’s put in on the system. Whenever you set up third-party software program (equivalent to Chromium, Termius, Vivaldi, and MS Edge), you may discover directories for these functions.
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For instance, when you set up MS Edge, you may discover the listing /decide/microsoft, which homes all of the libraries and executables crucial for that software to run.
boot
That is the place all of the information required for the boot course of are housed, which incorporates the kernel, preliminary RAM disk, and the bootloader configuration information.
lib
The lib listing homes all important libraries which might be required by functions in your system.
media
The media listing is the place detachable media (equivalent to exterior drives and DVDs) are mounted and accessed.
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For those who connect a USB drive to your system, the contents will seem in a sub-folder inside /media.
mnt
That is just like media, solely it is used for mounting different file programs (equivalent to community file programs).
proc
The proc listing homes information that comprise details about processes. On this listing, you may discover a assortment of numbered sub-directories, every of which is related to a working course of.
root
That is proper, the foundation listing (known as “/”) additionally comprises a listing known as root. This listing serves as the house listing for the foundation person. However why not place it in /house/root? The reason being that the foundation person wants further system protections, so it will get its personal listing. Most fashionable distributions do not ship with the foundation person enabled (which is nice for safety), so this listing will not be used a lot.
run
This listing comprises runtime information, some system logs, course of IDs, and temp information. You’ll most definitely by no means contact this listing (nor must you).
srv
The srv listing homes information for companies, equivalent to internet and FTP servers. This listing is simply used when you have such companies put in.
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For those who’re utilizing a desktop distribution, srv will in all probability be empty. For those who have been to put in an FTP server, you may create a listing in /srv to accommodate the add and obtain directories.
tmp
Momentary information (created and utilized by functions) are held on this listing and are usually deleted.
var
The var listing homes system logs, mailboxes, spool information, and the doc root of your internet server (when you set up one). Ought to one thing go incorrect along with your system, /var/log is likely one of the first locations to begin troubleshooting.
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Of the above directories, the one one you may undoubtedly work together with is your person listing in /house. Past that, you may use /and so on, and /usr fairly a bit. In fact, when you connect exterior drives, /media might be necessary. The probabilities of you having to dive into the opposite directories are slim, however at the very least now what they comprise.