System Directories - Red Hat ENTERPRISE LINUX 3 - STEP BY STEP GUIDE Manual

This is a list of the primary Red Hat Enterprise Linux system directories. Each directory is described
briefly. For additional directory information, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux System Adminis-
tration Guide and the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Reference Guide.
— Used to store user commands. The directory
•
/bin/
— Location of many system commands, such as
• /sbin/
also contains many system commands.
— The home directory of root, the superuser.
•
/root/
— This directory is used for automatically mounting directories on removeable devices
• /misc/
(such as Zip drives) and remote directories (such as NFS shares) using
manual page (type
— This directory typically contains the mount points for file systems mounted after the
• /mnt/
system is booted. For example, the default CD-ROM mount point is
— Contains the kernel and other files used during system startup.
• /boot/
— Used by
• /lost+found/
— Contains many device modules and library files used by programs in
• /lib/
The directory
/usr/lib/
— Stores device files.
• /dev/
— Contains configuration files and directories.
•
/etc/
— For variable (or constantly changing) files, such as log files and the printer spool.
• /var/
— Contains files and directories directly relating to users of the system, such as programs
• /usr/
and supporting library files.
— A virtual file system (not actually stored on the disk) that contains system information
• /proc/
used by certain programs.
— A directory that is used to mount the
•
/initrd/
modules during bootup.
Warning
Do not delete the
directory and then reboot your Red Hat Enterprise Linux system.
— Contains files and applications needed for Preboot Execution Environment (PXE),
• /tftpboot/
a service that allows client machines and machines without hard drives to boot an operating system
from an image on a central PXE server.
— The temporary directory for users and programs.
• /tmp/
and write access.
— Default location of user home directories.
• /home/
— Directory where optional files and programs are stored. This directory is used mainly by
• /opt/
third-party developers for easy installation and uninstallation of their software packages.
at a shell prompt) for more information.
man autofs
to place orphaned files (files without names).
fsck
contains library files for user applications.
directory. You will be unable to boot your computer if you delete the
/initrd/

System Directories

also stores user commands.
/usr/bin/
. The directory
shutdown
autofs
/mnt/cdrom/
image file and load needed device
initrd.img
allows all users on a system read
/tmp/
Appendix E.
/usr/sbin/
. Refer to the
autofs
.
and
/bin/ /sbin/
.