Subject: Linux File System Document Revision 1.0
From: [email-masked] (Alan B Clegg)
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:  [email-masked].  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 [[email-masked]] 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.

-- 
[email-masked]                         Alan Clegg - Network Programmer
KD4JML (just my luck!)                  MCNC -- Center for Communications