Linux File System and Structure
Rosetta, 2019
The Linux File System Structure Explained
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Linux File System and Structure
Rosetta, 2019
Windows File System Tree
Another thing to remember is that in Linux, everything is a file. Or, more accurately, everything is represented
as being a file, while in Windows it may be displayed as being a disk drive.
For example, in Windows the hard drive is typically represented as C:\ in the file explorer, and it will even
display a little icon of the hard drive and display how much space is being used. In Linux, on the other hand,
the hard drive as represented merely as /dev/sda, which is really just a folder/directory, which in Linux is really
just a file that points to other files.
So let’s take some other more practical examples. The Linux equivalent of your Documents folder in Windows
would be /home/username/Documents, whereas in Windows it’s typically C:\Users\UserName\Documents.
These are actually pretty similar, but you can see where the differences lie.
So using the above Linux file system chart, we need to explore what each folder in the Linux file system is for,
which will help us to better understand how Linux works in general. Note that not every folder listed here or
pictured above necessarily appears in every Linux distro, but most of them do.
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Linux File System and Structure
Rosetta, 2019
Linux Directory Structure (File System Structure) Explained with Examples
Have you wondered why certain programs are located under /bin, or /sbin, or /usr/bin, or
/usr/sbin?
For example, less command is located under /usr/bin directory. Why not /bin, or /sbin, or
/usr/sbin? What is the different between all these directories?
In this article, let us review the Linux file system structures and understand the meaning of
individual high-level directories.
1. / – Root
Every single file and directory starts from the root directory.
Only root user has write privilege under this directory.
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Linux File System and Structure
Rosetta, 2019
Please note that /root is root user’s home directory, which is not same as /.
2. /bin – User Binaries
Contains binary executables.
Common linux commands you need to use in single-user modes are located under this directory.
Commands used by all the users of the system are located here.
For example: ps, ls, ping, grep, cp.
3. /sbin – System Binaries
Just like /bin, /sbin also contains binary executables.
But, the linux commands located under this directory are used typically by system aministrator, for
system maintenance purpose.
For example: iptables, reboot, fdisk, ifconfig, swapon
4. /etc – Configuration Files
Contains configuration files required by all programs.
This also contains startup and shutdown shell scripts used to start/stop individual programs.
For example: /etc/resolv.conf, /etc/logrotate.conf
5. /dev – Device Files
Contains device files.
These include terminal devices, usb, or any device attached to the system.
For example: /dev/tty1, /dev/usbmon0
6. /proc – Process Information
Contains information about system process.
This is a pseudo filesystem contains information about running process. For example: /proc/{pid}
directory contains information about the process with that particular pid.
This is a virtual filesystem with text information about system resources. For example: /proc/uptime
7. /var – Variable Files
var stands for variable files.
Content of the files that are expected to grow can be found under this directory.
This includes — system log files (/var/log); packages and database files (/var/lib); emails (/var/mail);
print queues (/var/spool); lock files (/var/lock); temp files needed across reboots (/var/tmp);
8. /tmp – Temporary Files
Directory that contains temporary files created by system and users.
Files under this directory are deleted when system is rebooted.
9. /usr – User Programs
Contains binaries, libraries, documentation, and source-code for second level programs.
/usr/bin contains binary files for user programs. If you can’t find a user binary under /bin, look under
/usr/bin. For example: at, awk, cc, less, scp
/usr/sbin contains binary files for system administrators. If you can’t find a system binary under /sbin,
look under /usr/sbin. For example: atd, cron, sshd, useradd, userdel
/usr/lib contains libraries for /usr/bin and /usr/sbin
/usr/local contains users programs that you install from source. For example, when you install apache
from source, it goes under /usr/local/apache2
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Linux File System and Structure
Rosetta, 2019
10. /home – Home Directories
Home directories for all users to store their personal files.
For example: /home/john, /home/nikita
11. /boot – Boot Loader Files
Contains boot loader related files.
Kernel initrd, vmlinux, grub files are located under /boot
For example: initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic, vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
12. /lib – System Libraries
Contains library files that supports the binaries located under /bin and /sbin
Library filenames are either ld* or lib*.so.*
For example: ld-2.11.1.so, libncurses.so.5.7
13. /opt – Optional add-on Applications
opt stands for optional.
Contains add-on applications from individual vendors.
add-on applications should be installed under either /opt/ or /opt/ sub-directory.
14. /mnt – Mount Directory
Temporary mount directory where sysadmins can mount filesystems.
15. /media – Removable Media Devices
Temporary mount directory for removable devices.
For examples, /media/cdrom for CD-ROM; /media/floppy for floppy drives; /media/cdrecorder for CD
writer
16. /srv – Service Data
srv stands for service.
Contains server specific services related data.
For example, /srv/cvs contains CVS related data.
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