File Locations

This list is based on Red Hat Linux version 9. Other variations of Linux will be slightly different.

Directory	Contents
/	The root directory.
/bin	The commands needed during bootup that might be needed by normal users.
/boot	Files used by the bootstrap loader. Kernel images are often kept here.
/boot/grub	The GRUB boot loader.
/boot/grub/grub.conf	The GRUB configuration file.
/dev	Device files for devices such as disk drives, serial ports, etc.
/etc	Configuration files specific to the machine.
/etc/skel	When a new user is added, their home directory is created and initialized with files from this directory.
/etc/sysconfig	Files that configure the linux system for networking, keyboard, time, and more.
/etc/X11/XF86Config	The X11 Config file.
/etc/profile	The Profile that gets executed before your profile when starting a terminal.
/home	Files for each user are in this directory.
/lib	Shared libraries needed by the programs on the root filesystem.
/lib/modules	Loadable kernel modules, especially those needed to boot the system after disasters.
/misc	Not Sure?
/mnt	Mount points for other devices.
/opt	Optional programs.
/proc	Cached system files.
/root	The home directory for the root (administrator) user.
/sbin	Like /bin but commands are not intended for normal users. (Commands run by Linux)
/tmp	Temporary files. Programs running after bootup should use /var/tmp.
/usr	Contains all commands, libraries, man pages, games and static files for normal operation.
/usr/bin	Almost all user commands. Some commands are in /bin or /usr/local/bin.
/usr/include	Header files for the C programming language.
/usr/lib	Unchanging data files for programs and subsystems.
/usr/local	Locally installed software and other files.
/usr/sbin	System admin commands not needed on the root filesystem. e.g., most server programs.
/usr/share	Shared location for programs to store common files, like artwork and sounds.
/usr/X11R6	The X windows system files. There is a directory similar to usr below this directory.
usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts	All the different types on fonts.
/var	Contains files that change, these include mail, news, printers/log files, man pages and temp files.
/var/lib	Files that change while the system is running normally.
/var/local	Variable data for programs installed in /usr/local.
/var/lock	Lock files. Used by a program to indicate when it is using a particular device or file.
/var/log	Log files from programs such as login and syslog which logs all logins, logouts, and other system messages.
/var/run	Files that contain information about the system that is valid until the system is next booted.
/var/spool	Directories for mail, printer spools, news and other spooled work.
/var/tmp	Temporary files that are large or need to exist for longer than they would in the /tmp directory.