From: khijol!khijol!erc
Subject: Linux file system standards document
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1993 19:26:52 +0200
I found this lurking over at sunsite - Michael Johnson was also kind enough to
send me a manpage version of the same thing. Thanks, Michael!
--------------------------------- cut here -----------------------------------
From: abc@banjo.concert.net (Alan B Clegg)
Subject: Linux File System Document Revision 1.0
Date: 9 Mar 92 14:33:45 GMT
Before I get a flamefull response, let me tell everyone that this document has
been through several revisions, and is currently at a point that has pleased
most people. Please note that it is a *GUIDELINE* and is not *REQUIRED*, but
if most people follow the guidelines, we all get along a lot better.
If you have comments/questions about this document, and you are not on the
linux-standards mailing list, I would ask that you join the list. The request
address is: linux-standards-request@banjo.concert.net. Please try to keep
debate off the news group, and on the mailing list.
For those of you on the linux-standards list, the verticle bars in column one
represent the only changes from draft 2.
==== SNIP HERE ====
The following is being submitted by Alan Clegg [abc@concert.net] on behalf
of the Linux-Standards list as the standard for directory file structure
under Linux.
Revision 1.0
Complete implementation of this file structure is completely voluntary,
and will not be enforced, but will be recommended. This specification
is released as guidelines for people porting and writing software for
the Linux Operating System to allow easy software installation, upgrade, and
tailoring on already installed systems.
Root Directory:
Files:
{none defined by spec}
Directories:
bin dev etc home lib mnt usr
Rationale:
The root directory should not be cluttered with files or
directories, and should contain no user programs.
/bin Directory:
Files:
sh init mount umount dd cat ls fsck {and as needed}
Directories:
{none defined by spec}
Rationale:
The /bin directory should contain programs that are vital
to the restoration of other file systems in the case of
a corrupting crash. No executable in /bin should require
any other file system to be mounted to execute correctly.
/dev Directory:
Files:
{device files}
Directories:
{none define by spec}
Rationale:
Standard UNIX device files. This directory should contain
device entries for all devices that are supported in the
standard kernel, even if the hardware device does not exist
on the system.
/etc Directory:
Files:
mtab passwd rc ttytab {and as needed}
Directories:
{none defined by spec}
Rationale:
Standard location of files required during system boot. Files
in this directory are usually system specific. Most will
| require human intervention during system upgrade. /etc will
| also contain administrative binaries that should not be in
| the normal users PATH.
/home Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
{one per user excepting root}
Rationale:
Standard location of users home directories. Will most likely
be a mounted file system once the system is up. root's home
directory should be /.
/lib Directory:
Files:
{libraries required for system initialization}
Directories:
{none defined by spec}
Rationale:
To keep the size of the root partition small (if separate from
/usr), the files in this directory should only be ones required
by files in the root partition.
/mnt Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
NONE
Rationale:
Standard mount point for external (transient) file systems.
Must be available for sub-system installation. Should remain
as an empty directory.
/tmp Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
NONE
Rationale:
Temporary file space available for general program use. May
become a mounted partition upon system boot.
/usr Directory:
Files:
{none defined by spec}
Directories:
adm bin spool local lib etc man include src tmp
Rationale:
/usr is the mount point for the second major (after root)
hierarchy of file structure and is discussed in the next
section.
/usr/adm Directory:
Files:
{none defined in spec}
Directories:
{none defined in spec}
Rationale:
Location of log files and accounting information.
/usr/bin Directory:
Files:
{all executable files from standard distribution not contined
in /bin}
Directories:
{none defined in spec}
Rationale:
contains 'drop-in' executables that are considered to be
standard to the UNIX system. These files should NOT be
Linux specific, but should have the same function as their
UNIX equivalents.
/usr/etc Directory:
Files:
{none defined in spec}
Directories:
{none defined in spec}
Rationale:
contains configuration files for any files in /usr/bin. helps
to keep /etc clean and small.
/usr/spool Directory:
Files:
{none defined in spec}
Directories:
uucp mail
Rationale:
containes spool files for mail, printing, uucp transfer, etc.
May be a mount point for another volume.
/usr/local Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
bin lib etc man src
Rationale:
contains files local to the specific system. will not be
modified by upgrade process.
/usr/lib Directory:
Files:
libc.a crt0.s {and as needed}
Directories:
{none defined in spec}
Rationale:
location for library files required for multi-user system
operation. This is the directory where program libraries
| should reside. /usr/lib will also contain binaries required
| to support programs residing in /usr/bin.
/usr/man Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
man1 man2 man3 man4 man5 man6 man7 man8
Rationale:
Contains manual pages for programs that are standard with
Linux.
/usr/include Directory:
Files:
{programmers include files}
Directories:
{as needed}
Rationale:
Standard place for system include files.
/usr/src Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
bin lib linux usr.bin usr.lib
Rationale:
Contains source code for all applications in the release.
/usr/src/linux contains directories required for kernel builds.
/usr/tmp Directory:
Files:
NONE
Directories:
NONE
Rationale:
Used as additional scratch space for programs. If /tmp is
a mounted file system, /usr/tmp may be a symbolic link to
/tmp.
--
abc@concert.net Alan Clegg - Network Programmer
KD4JML (just my luck!) MCNC -- Center for Communications
--
Ed Carp, N7EKG erc@apple.com, khijol!erc@saturn.upl.com 801/538-0177
"There is nothing to seek and nothing to find. You're already enlightened,
and all the words in the world won't give you what you already have. The wise
seeker, therefore, is concerned with one thing only: to become aware of what
he already is, of the True Self within." -- Zen maxim
|