Linux Directory Structure

Basics of Linux Directory Structure

In Linux OS, each file has its own importance. It means, every file is a part of a specific concern a user can set. This nature of Linux provides the higher flexibility for users like beginners, as well as provides more configurable options for advanced system administration users. In this paper, we are going to discuss shortly the directory structure of Linux. We will try to describe what a directory is used for, by reading this article, we can decide and assess the security fit falls according to different 
directories.

 

The Root Directory

Every other directory resides under the Root directory. You can call it the starting point of Linux directory structure. Please note that there is a difference between the System Root Directory and User Root Directory. The System Root Directory is one, under which you see all the other essential directory structure (simply speaking), and the User Root Directory is the one, which may exist under the User Home, or the User Username (speaking generally). At this point, it is enough to understand that the System Root Directory contains all the other essential directories under it.

The Bin Directory

This directory contains essential commands and utilities for all the users. The commands and utilities available here may contain different shells and commands like cp, ls, rm, cat, mv. For this reason, the placement of any executable binary will be usable by most general and non general users, so be aware if you want to place your private tool coded for the system, security matters.

The Boot Directory

This directory contains the requirements used in Boot process. This directory saves the data required for settings being applied before the kernel starts executing user mode programs. Thus, the modification of this directory without having proper knowledge of what you are doing, is dangerous and can sometimes results in system booting errors.

The Dev Directory

This is the directory contained files representing each device in your system. For example: Each partition is represented by a single file here, similarly your devices attached to the system has their separate files here. Interestingly, dealing with the device files present here, you can control how to use or behave a specific device.

The Etc Directory

This directory contains mostly plain text files about various configurations. These files control and configure different aspects of the system. This directory must protect and look after carefully, so that no one may have access to the text files (configurations).

The Home Directory

This is the directory which identifies the Home of a user, as Linux is a multi users OS. A user will have his prompt as: /home/username, under home directory, files belonging to user are kept. The user Home directory is accessible by the User himself and the System Administrator.

The Lib Directory

This directory contains the Kernel Modules and other packaged related files, for example the C Programming Library Files are present here. It is better to know just that, this directory mostly contains the things related to System Engineers (who know how to edit different system resources) and Programmers (who use their library related files with the language they use).

The Lost+Found Directory

This directory contains the data being recovered. It happens when the system crashes, or when you have back up the device according to your choice. Just remember at this position that, this directory contains the recovered data.

The Media Directory

This directory is created for mounting purposes, for more information and know how to use this directory, refer to your favorite article. At this point, mounting is a process by which you can make a file system available to use in Linux.

The Opt Directory

This directory is reserved for all the packages which are not present in your default Linux installation. According to better rules, all third party packages should be installed here.

The Proc Directory

This directory reacts as a virtual space. For example: There may be no solid files here, as this directory contains the on going processes regarding various things. Like Hardware, Processes or any other tasks currently going on in the system, like Printing.

The Root Directory

This is the Home Directory of the System Administrator. As the System Administrator is the king, so he has his Home named as Root.

The Sbin Directory

This directory mostly contains the System Binaries.

The Usr Directory

This directory contains the data belonging to users openly. For example you can use this directory to share files, or the important tools used by all users may found here.

The Var Directory

The directory which contains Variable Data mostly. For example the data used and important for all users (mostly some packages involved), like the Mail system as /var/mail/ or the Logs as /var/logs/.

The Srv Directory

This directory is used to keep files used for services of the system.

The Tmp Directory

This is the directory keeping files on short memory basis. All the files kept here (whether by system or user) are temporarily.

Finally, by reading, you may have the general concept of each directory present in Linux OS. By understanding these directories with their purpose properly, we can assess how can we make our system profitable and usable for ourselves.