Linked Questions
71 questions linked to/from How to understand the Ubuntu file system layout?
21
votes
1
answer
27k
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what is the difference between different 'lib' folder in ubuntu [duplicate]
In the root directory, we can find several 'lib' subfolder, for example, /lib, lib32, lib64, /usr/lib, /usr/lib32, /usr/local/lib.
What are their differences?
4
votes
3
answers
16k
views
What is the meaning of "usr"? [duplicate]
Does it mean "user"? I attempted to navigate to usr via cd however I received No such file or directory error.
I could only find in Russian the following information:
"/usr (от англ. User ...
2
votes
2
answers
45k
views
What is the purpose of the bin directory? [duplicate]
What is the purpose of the bin directory? What are some examples?
3
votes
3
answers
7k
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Default directories on any ubuntu [duplicate]
I have been using windows for a long time. And now I have moved on to ubuntu (13.04). I am just 2 to 3 weeks old for ubuntu. I don't understand about the directories like /var , /home, /media etc. . . ...
0
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Linux equivalents of Windows / DOS terms [duplicate]
I am trying to adjust to Linux terms after many years of DOS and Windows. I have been wanting to switch from Windows to Linux for years now, but couldn't decide on a flavor. Today I got fed up with ...
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
What does `ls /` do? [duplicate]
Running the ls / command some files are coming out;
What are those files?
They are not even directories.
Output of ls /:
bin dev boot etc cdrom media mnt home lib lib64 proc root
1
vote
1
answer
3k
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Using multiple hard drives [duplicate]
I moved recently (like, yesterday) from Windows to Ubuntu. My computer has one SSD and one HDD, and I installed the operating system on the SSD. Now, I would like to keep most of my things in the HDD, ...
1
vote
1
answer
917
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Understanding Linux Partition Table [duplicate]
In Windows OS I used to have 2 partitions:
partition #1: Windows OS
partition #2: WorkPlace
Please take a look at my current partition set up:
Partition | File system | Mount Point | Flags
===...
0
votes
1
answer
177
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Are all files of Ubuntu are stored in C drive? [duplicate]
In windows, we was having sites of storing as C,D,E but in Ubuntu, how and where the files are stored?,I am afraid that my Ubuntu files are stored with the main files of Ubuntu in C drive and this ...
-1
votes
2
answers
129
views
Where is everything I install stored? [duplicate]
I have Ubuntu 14.04 and I never made any disk partitions.I'm trying to ask that if a install a certain game or program from Ubuntu Software Center, where exactly does it go? I have this game that I ...
1
vote
1
answer
122
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The best way of learning linux directories and files [duplicate]
As a Linux user, I'd ask how to learn the Linux's directories and files, since everything in Linux is a file descriptor.
I've worked with some distribution of Linux so I think I did understand ...
0
votes
3
answers
78
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How is it decided/defined as to which file of an app will reside where? [duplicate]
most of the apps have their executables in /usr/bin and other files also in the generally defines folders..
But i found some apps keep their executeables elsewhere...Now as in linux any file can be ...
1
vote
0
answers
60
views
How to read the directories' names in / directory Ubuntu 18.10 [duplicate]
when I open / directory in Ubuntu 18.10,
some directories' names are as follows, I am confused how to read them in full.
bin = binaries ?
boot = boot
cdrom = -
dev = devices ?
etc = extras ?
home = ...
0
votes
1
answer
43
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What are the differences of "/" and "/home" separately [duplicate]
When i format my dekstop i use "/" and "/Home" as ext4 journaling file system.
What are the differences between "/" and "/home"
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
How does Ubuntu install .deb files? [duplicate]
I want to know how does Ubuntu install software. For instance I know that executables are moved in /usr/bin and .desktop files in /usr/share/applications but I want to know why and know more about it.
1
vote
0
answers
33
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What is the equivalent of the following directories in relation to windows for ubuntu? [duplicate]
I'm still learning the linux file system and understanding where everything is installed. I'm coming from windows mindset and would like to wrap my head around the following directory equivalents:
...
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Understanding the File System and memory allocation [duplicate]
Some confusion over a warning message saying my root directory is almost full.
What exactly is my root directory, is it synonymous with my home directory, or is it literally the 'root' folder which ...
0
votes
0
answers
18
views
Which part of the file system is data, which is programs, which is neither data nor programs [duplicate]
I tried to look for a full list, which shows, what belongs to which category in the file system. So far all articles I found seemed to be not complete. That's, what I have so far:
bin => programs
...
232
votes
10
answers
539k
views
What is the Linux equivalent to Windows' Program Files?
Under Windows, most applications and application data are stored in a special directory known as C:\Program Files (and occasionally C:\Program Files (x86)). What is the Ubuntu/Linux equivalent to this ...
276
votes
6
answers
196k
views
When installing user applications, where do "best practices" suggest they be located?
Occasionally I install applications manually, rather than using apt or another package manager.
What location (/usr/, /usr/local/, /opt/, /home/, etc.) is suggested by "best practices" for the ...
477
votes
2
answers
379k
views
Differences between /bin, /sbin, /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /usr/local/bin, /usr/local/sbin
I have six directories with command files. These are /bin, /sbin, /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /usr/local/bin and /usr/local/sbin.
What are the differences between these? If I'm writing my own scripts, where ...
158
votes
5
answers
118k
views
Why have both /mnt and /media?
It seems to me that having both /mnt and /media is a little redundant. Is there any tangible difference between the two that I'm not aware of?
Is there a standard that most people follow for where to ...
82
votes
3
answers
124k
views
Where should I put my script so that I can run it by a direct command? [duplicate]
Where can (should) I put my (bash) script so that it can be used (forever) by terminal or by a direct command: Alt+F2?
I know there is /usr/bin and /sbin & /bindirectories but when should I use ...
124
votes
2
answers
270k
views
After doing a sudo apt-get install <app>, where does the application get stored to? [duplicate]
After installing apps via apt-get install -app name-. Where does the files get copied to? Are the copied to just one location or multiple locations? And if so how do I find this out?
Here's an ...
58
votes
7
answers
392k
views
What is the equivalent for switching drives in terminal on Linux?
In DOS, I switch between different drives by typing c:, d:, e: and so forth. But it doesn't work that way in Linux.
Could anyone please tell me how to switch between different drives?
51
votes
6
answers
51k
views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mounting various directories on separate partitions?
While installing Ubuntu with the "something else" option, I found out that there are many folders that can be mounted on separate partitions, as you can see in the image below.
So what are the ...
12
votes
7
answers
30k
views
Difference between / and /root in Ubuntu?
I have created 100 GB for /. When I opened Nautilus I have found the root folder. So what is difference between / and /root?
My username is enigma, and I have a folder named enigma in the /home ...
17
votes
7
answers
32k
views
How do I boot an ISO file from my drive using grub2 on UEFI machines?
I have a bunch of live ISO files like GParted, CloneZilla, Boot-Repair, Ubuntu 14.04 32 bit, ... downloaded in /opt and on my old BIOS machine, I used to be able to just add them to the grub menu and ...
12
votes
3
answers
10k
views
What are the files in /dev/input/ and what they do?
I'm fairly new to ubuntu and I've started to search around everywhere and check everything!
Recently I saw these files at /dev/input/eventX, js0, mice, mouseX. By printing the output using "cat" I ...
7
votes
3
answers
7k
views
What is the difference between local and .local in ubuntu?
Echoing path in ubuntu returns following colon separated paths,
/home/stack/bin:/home/stack/.local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/...