Installation guide

Chapter 1. File System Structure 21
|- named
|- nis
|- opt
|- preserve
|- run
+- spool
|- anacron
|- at
|- cron
|- fax
|- lpd
|- mail
|- mqueue
|- news
|- rwho
|- samba
|- slrnpull
|- squid
|- up2date
|- uucp
|- uucppublic
|- vbox
|- voice
|- tmp
|- tux
|- www
|- yp
System log files such as messages and lastlog go in /var/log. The /var/lib/rpm directory also
contains the RPM system databases. Lock files go in /var/lock, usually in directories particular for
the program using the file. The /var/spool directory has subdirectories for various systems that
need to store data files.
1.2.2. /usr/local in Red Hat Linux
In Red Hat Linux, the intended use for /usr/local is slightly different from that specified by the
FHS. The FHS says that /usr/local should be where you store software that is to remain safe
from system software upgrades. Since system upgrades from Red Hat are done safely with the rpm
command and graphical Package Management Tool application, you do not need to protect files by
putting them in /usr/local. Instead, we recommend you use /usr/local for software that is local
to your machine.
For instance, say you have mounted /usr via read-only NFS from a host named jake. If there is a
package or program you would like to install, but you are not allowed to write to jake, you should
install it under /usr/local. Later perhaps, if you have managed to convince the system administrator
of jake to install the program on /usr, you can uninstall it from /usr/local.
1.3. Special File Locations
Red Hat extends the FHS structure slightly to accommodate special files used by Red Hat Linux.
Most files pertaining to the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) are kept in the /var/lib/rpm/ di-
rectory. For more information on RPM see the chapter titled Package Management with RPM in the
Official Red Hat Linux Customization Guide.