A simple description of the UNIX system, also applicable to Linux, is this:
In Linux, everything is configured as a file. This includes not only text files, images and compiled programs (also referred to as executables), but also directories, partitions and hardware device drivers.
For better understanding, first go through file systems supported by linux.
Various directories in Linux are:
/bin – Essential user command binaries used for general operations: Copy, show directory, etc. (ls, cp, and cat – we'll get to these commands soon)
/boot – Static files of the boot loader. Files here are necessary for a Linux system to start (Kernel & GTUB information)
/dev – Where the device files are located
/home – Home directories for all the users to store personal files (i.e. /home/ravi) –Windows equivalent of Documents & Settings.
/lib – Essential shared libraries and kernel modules
/media – Mount point for removable media
/mnt – Temporary mounted file systems
/opt - Add on application software packages – (i.e. Program files for windows users)
/sbin - Essential system binaries
/tmp – Programs write their temporary files here.
/usr – Multi-user utilities & Applications. It contains application source codes, documentation, & config files they use. It's the largest directory on the system.
/var – Variable data on a system. Data that will change as the system is running (Log files, backups, cache, etc.)
/root – Home directory for root
/proc – Virtual directory containing process information (system memory, hardware configuration, devices mounted, etc.)
To know the conventions used in Linux file system click here.
On a UNIX system, everything is a file; if something is not a file, it is a process.
In Linux, everything is configured as a file. This includes not only text files, images and compiled programs (also referred to as executables), but also directories, partitions and hardware device drivers.
For better understanding, first go through file systems supported by linux.
Various directories in Linux are:
/bin – Essential user command binaries used for general operations: Copy, show directory, etc. (ls, cp, and cat – we'll get to these commands soon)
/boot – Static files of the boot loader. Files here are necessary for a Linux system to start (Kernel & GTUB information)
/dev – Where the device files are located
/etc – Configuration files for all programs. Things like an apache web server, users & groups on your system, or printer configuration. Think of this as a control panel for Windows users. We will edit these text files later (These files should remain static and text based).
/home – Home directories for all the users to store personal files (i.e. /home/ravi) –Windows equivalent of Documents & Settings.
/lib – Essential shared libraries and kernel modules
/media – Mount point for removable media
/mnt – Temporary mounted file systems
/opt - Add on application software packages – (i.e. Program files for windows users)
/sbin - Essential system binaries
/tmp – Programs write their temporary files here.
/usr – Multi-user utilities & Applications. It contains application source codes, documentation, & config files they use. It's the largest directory on the system.
/var – Variable data on a system. Data that will change as the system is running (Log files, backups, cache, etc.)
/root – Home directory for root
/proc – Virtual directory containing process information (system memory, hardware configuration, devices mounted, etc.)
To know the conventions used in Linux file system click here.
