HIER(7) BSD Miscellaneous Information Manual HIER(7)
NAME
hier -- layout of filesystems
DESCRIPTION
An outline of the filesystem hierarchy.
Naming is very important. The UNIX System relies on filename conventions for much of its power as a system. The following file system lay-
out describes generally where things are and what they are, with references to other man pages for more detailed documentation.
Not all files will be in every system.
/ root directory of the system
/COPYRIGHT
system copyright notice, most often put on CD-ROM distributions.
/[a-z]/ user filesystems
/altroot/ alternate root filesystem, in case of disaster
/bin/ utilities used in both single and multi-user environments
/boot* second-stage boot loader(s) for some platforms; see installboot(8)
/cdrom/ empty directory commonly used by system administrators as a temporary mount point for CD devices for ISO-9660 file systems
/dev/ block, character and other special device files
MAKEDEV script for creating device files; see makedev(8)
console the computer's console device
drum system swap space; see drum(4)
fd/ file descriptor files; see fd(4)
klog kernel logging device; see syslog(3)
kmem kernel virtual memory device; see mem(4)
log UNIX domain datagram log socket; see syslogd(8)
mem kernel physical memory device; see mem(4)
null the null device; see null(4)
pts/ mount point for the pseudo-terminal device file system; see mount_ptyfs(8)
stderr
stdin
stdout file descriptor files; see fd(4)
tty process' controlling terminal device; see tty(4)
zero the zero device; see zero(4)
/etc/ system configuration files and scripts
amd* configuration files for amd(8)
changelist files backed up by the security script
crontab schedule used by the cron(8) daemon
csh.cshrc
csh.login
csh.logout system-wide scripts for csh(1)
daily script run each day by cron(8)
daily.conf configuration file for daily; see daily.conf(5)
defaults/ default configuration files read by various /etc/*.conf files
disktab disk description file, see disktab(5)
dm.conf dungeon master configuration; see dm.conf(5)
dumpdates dump history; see dump(8)
exports filesystem export information; see mountd(8)
fstab filesystem information; see fstab(5) and mount(8)
ftpusers users denied ftp(1) access; see ftpd(8)
ftpwelcome ftp(1) initial message; see ftpd(8)
gettytab terminal configuration database; see gettytab(5)
group group permissions file; see group(5)
hosts host name database backup for named(8); see hosts(5)
hosts.equiv trusted machines with equivalent user ID's
hosts.lpd trusted machines with printing privileges
inetd.conf Internet server configuration file; see inetd(8)
kerberosV/ configuration files for the kerberos version V; see kerberos(8)
localtime local timezone information; see ctime(3)
mail/ configuration files for sendmail(8)
aliases* name alias files
sendmail.* sendmail(8) configuration information
mail.rc system-wide initialization script for mail(1)
man.conf configuration file for man(1); see man.conf(5)
master.passwd Main password file, readable only by root; see passwd(5)
mk.conf optional file containing make(1) variables, read by pkgsrc and the system sources.
monthly script run each month by cron(8)
monthly.conf configuration file for monthly; see monthly.conf(5)
motd system message of the day
mtree/ mtree configuration files; see mtree(8)
named.*
namedb/ named configuration files and databases; see named(8)
netgroup network groups; see netgroup(5)
netstart network startup script
networks network name data base; see networks(5)
passwd World readable password file generated from master.passwd; see passwd(5), pwd_mkdb(8)
phones remote host phone number data base; see phones(5)
printcap system printer configuration; see printcap(5)
protocols protocol name database; see protocols(5)
pwd.db database form of passwd file; see pwd_mkdb(8)
rc master system startup script invoked by init(8); see rc(8)
rc.conf configuration file for system startup and shutdown scripts; see rc.conf(5)
rc.d/ directory containing per-subsystem startup and shutdown scripts; see rc(8)
rc.local locally editable system startup script
rc.shutdown master system shutdown script invoked by shutdown(8); see rc(8)
remote remote host description file; see remote(5)
security daily (in)security script run by cron(8)
security.conf configuration file for security; see security.conf(5)
services service name data base; see services(5)
shells list of permitted shells; see shells(5)
sliphome/ SLIP login/logout scripts; see sliplogin(8)
spwd.db database form of master.passwd file; see pwd_mkdb(8)
syslog.conf syslogd(8) configuration file; see syslog.conf(5)
termcap terminal type database; see termcap(3)
ttys terminal initialization information; see ttys(5)
weekly script run each week by cron(8)
weekly.conf configuration file for weekly; see weekly.conf(5)
/home/ mount point for the automounter; see amd(8)
/kern/ mount point for the kern file system; see mount_kernfs(8)
/lib/ dynamic linked libraries used by dynamic linked programs (such as those in /bin/ and /sbin/) that cannot rely upon /usr/lib/ being
available.
/libexec/ system utilities (such as the dynamic linker) required by programs and libraries that cannot rely upon /usr/libexec/ being avail-
able.
/mnt/ empty directory commonly used by system administrators as a temporary mount point
/netbsd pure kernel executable (the operating system loaded into memory at boot time).
/proc/ mount point for the process file system; see mount_procfs(8)
/rescue/ statically linked rescue tools, for use in system recovery
/root/ home directory for the super-user
.cshrc super-user start-up file
.login super-user start-up file
.profile super-user start-up file
.rhosts super-user id mapping between machines
/sbin/ system programs and administration utilities used in both single-user and multi-user environments
/stand/ programs used in a standalone environment
/tmp/ temporary files, usually a mfs(8) memory-based filesystem (the contents of /tmp are usually not preserved across a system reboot)
/usr/ contains the majority of the system utilities and files
X11R6/ X11 files
X11R7/ X11 files
bin/ X11 binaries
include/ X11 include files
lib/ X11 libraries
bin/ common utilities, programming tools, and applications
games/ the important stuff
include/ standard C include files
arpa/ include files for Internet service protocols
atf/ include files for the Automated Testing Framework; see atf(7)
g++/ include files for the C++ compiler
machine/ machine specific include files
net/
netatalk/ C include files for AppleTalk protocols miscellaneous network include files; see atalk(4)
netinet/ include files for Internet standard protocols; see inet(4)
netinet6/ include files for Internet protocol version 6; see inet6(4)
netiso/ include files for ISO standard protocols; see iso(4)
netkey/ include files for secret key management, used for security protocols; see ipsec(4)
netnatm/ C include files for native mode ATM
nfs/ C include files for NFS (Network File System)
protocols/ C include files for Berkeley service protocols
sys/ system C include files (kernel data structures)
ufs/ C include files for UFS (The U-word File System)
lib/ archive, profiled, position independent archive, and shared libraries
lua/
5.1/ Lua 5.1 modules
libdata/ miscellaneous utility data files
libexec/ system daemons & system utilities (executed by other programs)
mdec/ boot blocks, etc.
obj/ architecture-specific target tree produced by building the /usr/src tree; normally a symbolic link or mounted filesystem
pkg/ packages maintained by groups other than the NetBSD Project.
bin/ contributed binaries
include/ contributed include files
lib/ contributed libraries
libdata/ contributed data files
libexec/ contributed daemons
sbin/ contributed system utilities
pkgsrc/ build descriptions ("packages") for the NetBSD packages system.
distfiles/ Where unchanged source archives are fetched to/stored
packages/ Where compiled binary packages are stored
There are also several other subdirectories which contain packages of a certain category, e.g., archivers, graphics, ...
sbin/ system daemons and system utilities (normally executed by the super-user)
share/ architecture-independent text files
calendar/ a variety of calendar files; see calendar(1)
dict/ word lists; see look(1) and spell(1)
words common words
web2 words of Webster's 2nd International
papers/ reference databases; see refer(1)
special/ custom word lists; see spell(1)
doc/ miscellaneous documentation; source for most of the printed 4.3BSD manuals (available from the USENIX associ-
ation)
games/ text files used by various games
i18n/ internationalization databases; see iconv(3)
locale/ locale databases and gettext message catalogs; see setlocale(3) and gettext(3)
man/ formatted manual pages
me/ macros for use with the me(7) macro package
misc/ miscellaneous system-wide text files
<<<<<<< hier.7
termcap =======
terminfo >>>>>>> 1.101 terminal characteristics database; see <<<<<<< hier.7 termcap(5) =======
terminfo(5)
terminfo.cdb database form of terminfo file; see tic(1) >>>>>>> 1.101
mk/ include files for make(1)
ms/ macros for use with the ms(7) macro package
nls/ message catalogs; see catgets(3)
skel/ sample initialization files for new user accounts
tabset/ tab description files for a variety of terminals, used in the termcap file; see termcap(5)
tmac/ text processing macros; see nroff(1) and troff(1)
zoneinfo/
timezone configuration information; see tzfile(5)
tests/ test programs; see atf-run(1) for information on how to run them
/usr/src/
NetBSD and local source files
bin/ source for utilities/files in /bin
common/ sources shared between kernel and userland
crypto/ cryptographic source, which may have import or export restrictions
dist/ third-party 'virgin' source code, referenced by other parts of the source tree (deprecated, use external/
instead)
distrib/ tools and data-files for making distributions
doc/ documentation about the source tree (i.e., about the tree, not about how to use the built software.)
etc/ source (usually example files) for files in /etc
external/ source for programs from external third parties (where NetBSD is the not the primary maintainer), grouped by
license, and then products per license
apache2/ Apache 2.0 license.
bsd/ BSD (or equivalent) licensed software, possibly with the ``advertising clause''.
cddl/ Common Development and Distribution License (the Sun license which is based on the Mozilla
Public License version 1.1).
gpl2/ GNU Public License, version 2 (or earlier).
gpl3/ GNU Public License, version 3.
historical/ Lucent's old license.
ibm-public/ IBM's public license.
intel-fw-eula/ Intel firmware license with redistribution restricted to OEM.
intel-fw-public/ Intel firmware license permitting redistribution with terms similar to BSD licensed soft-
ware.
intel-public/ Intel license permitting redistribution with terms similar to BSD licensed software.
mit/ MIT (X11) style license.
zlib/ BSD-like zlib license.
games/ source for utilities/files in /usr/games
gnu/ source for programs covered by the GNU license (or similar) (deprecated; use external/gpl2/ or external/gpl3/
as appropriate)
include/ source for files in /usr/include
lib/ source for libraries in /usr/lib
libexec/ source for utilities/files in /usr/libexec
regress/ various regression tests
rescue/ source/makefiles for /rescue
sbin/ source for utilities/files in /sbin
share/ source for files in /usr/share
doc/
papers/ source for various Berkeley technical papers
psd/ source for Programmer's Supplementary Documents
smm/ source for System Manager's Manual
usd/ source for User's Supplementary Documents
sys/ kernel source files
arch/ architecture-specific support
acorn26/ Acorn Archimedes, A-series and R-series systems
acorn32/ Acorn RiscPC/A7000 and VLSI RC7500
algor/ Algorithmics Ltd. MIPS evaluations boards
alpha/ Digital/Compaq Alpha
amd64/ Computers with x86_64 capable CPUs
amiga/ Commodore Amiga and MacroSystem DraCo
amigappc/ PowerPC based Amiga boards
arc/ MIPS-based machines following the Advanced RISC Computing spec
arm/ ARM processor general support
atari/ Atari TT030, Falcon and Hades
bebox/ Be Inc. BeBox
cats/ Chalice Technology's CATS and Intel's EBSA-285 evaluation boards
cesfic/ CES FIC8234 VME processor board
cobalt/ Cobalt Networks' MIPS-based Microserver
dreamcast/ Sega Dreamcast game console
emips/ Machines based on Extensible MIPS
evbarm/ ARM based evaluation boards
evbmips/ MIPS based evaluation boards
evbppc/ PowerPC based evaluation boards and appliances
evbsh3/ SH3/SH4 based evaluation boards
ews4800mips/ NEC's MIPS based EWS4800 workstations
hp300/ Hewlett-Packard 9000/300 and 400 680x0-based workstations
hp700/ Hewlett-Packard 9000/700 HPPA based workstations
hpcarm/ StrongARM based WinCE PDA machines
hpcmips/ MIPS based WinCE PDA machines
hpcsh/ Hitachi SH3/4 based WinCE PDA machines
hppa/ HPPA processor general support
i386/ 80x86-based IBM PCs and clones
ibmnws/ IBM Network Station 1000
iyonix/ Castle Technology's Iyonix ARM based PCs
luna68k/ Omron Tateishi Electric's 680x0-based LUNA workstations
m68k/ 680x0 processor general support
mac68k/ Apple Macintosh with 68k CPU
macppc/ Apple Power Macintosh and clones
mips/ MIPS processor general support
mipsco/ MIPS Computer Systems Inc. family of workstations and servers
mmeye/ Brains Inc. SH3 based mmEye multimedia server
mvme68k/ Motorola MVME 680x0-based SBCs
mvmeppc/ Motorola PowerPC VME SBCs
netwinder/ StrongARM based NetWinder machines
news68k/ Sony's 680x0-based NEWS workstations
newsmips/ Sony's MIPS-based NEWS workstations
next68k/ NeXT 68k "black" hardware
ofppc/ Open Firmware PowerPC workstations
pmax/ Digital MIPS-based DECstations and DECsystems
powerpc/ PowerPC processor support
prep/ PReP (PowerPC Reference Platform) and CHRP machines
sandpoint/ Motorola Sandpoint reference platform
sbmips/ Broadcom/SiByte evaluation boards
sgimips/ Silicon Graphics' MIPS-based workstations
sh3/ SH3/SH4 processor general support
shark/ Digital DNARD ("Shark")
sparc/ Sun Microsystems SPARC (32-bit) and UltraSPARC (in 32-bit mode)
sparc64/ Sun Microsystems UltraSPARC (in native 64-bit mode)
sun2/ Sun Microsystems 68010-based Sun 2 architecture
sun3/ Sun Microsystems 68020/68030-based Sun 3/3x architecture
sun68k/ 680x0-based Sun architecture general support
vax/ Digital VAX
x68k/ Sharp X680x0 680x0-based workstations
x86/ General support for PC/AT compatibles with ia32 or x86_64 CPUs
xen/ The Xen virtual machine monitor
zaurus/ Sharp C3x00 Arm based PDA
compat/ kernel compatibility modules directory
common/ common compatibility routines, old 4BSD and NetBSD routines.
freebsd/ support for FreeBSD binaries; see compat_freebsd(8)
hpux/ support for 68000 HP-UX binaries
ibcs2/ support for Intel Binary binaries
linux/ support for Linux binaries; see compat_linux(8)
m68k4k/ support for 4KB page 68000 binaries
netbsd32/ support for NetBSD 32-bit binaries on 64 bit platforms with compatible CPU families
osf1/ support for Digital UNIX (formerly OSF/1) binaries
ossaudio/ support for OSS audio
sunos/ support for SunOS 4.x binaries; see compat_sunos(8)
svr4/ support for System V Release 4 binaries; see compat_svr4(8)
ultrix/ support for ULTRIX binaries
vax1k/ support for older VAX binaries that started on a 1 KB boundary
conf/ architecture independent configuration directory
crypto/ cryptographic kernel source, which may have import or export restrictions
ddb/ in kernel debugger
dev/ architecture independent device support
fs/ miscellaneous file systems
adosfs/ AmigaDOS file-system support; see mount_ados(8)
cd9660/ support for the ISO-9660 filesystem; see mount_cd9660(8)
filecorefs/ support for the Acorn RISC OS filecore filesystem; see mount_filecore(8)
msdosfs/ MS-DOS file system; see mount_msdos(8)
ntfs/ NTFS filesystem support; see mount_ntfs(8)
ptyfs/ pseudo-terminal device filesystem; see mount_ptyfs(8)
smbfs/ SMB/CIFS filesystem support; see mount_smbfs(8)
union/ union file system; see mount_union(8)
gdbscripts/ support for accessing kernel structures from within the debugger gdb(1).
ipkdb/ support for kernel debugging over the network
kern/ support for the high kernel (system calls)
lib/ kernel libraries
libkern/ C library routines used in the kernel
libsa/ machine independent stand alone kernel library
libz/ compression library
miscfs/ miscellaneous file systems
deadfs/ kernel only dead file system
fdesc/ file descriptor file system; see mount_fdesc(8)
fifofs/ POSIX FIFO support
genfs/ kernel only generic file system
kernfs/ kernel namespace file system; see mount_kernfs(8)
nullfs/ loop back file system; see mount_null(8)
overlay/
overlay file system; see mount_overlay(8)
procfs/ process file system; see mount_procfs(8)
specfs/ kernel only special file system
syncfs/ kernel trickle sync algorithm
umapfs/ user and group re-mapping file system; see mount_umap(8)
net/ miscellaneous networking support
netatalk/ AppleTalk networking support
netinet/ IP networking support
netinet6/ IPv6 networking support
netiso/ ISO networking support
netkey/ Key database for IPsec networking support
netnatm/ ATM networking support
nfs/ NFS support
stand/ kernel standalone support
sys/ kernel (and system) include files
ufs/ local filesystem support
ffs/ the Berkeley Fast File System
lfs/ the log-structured file system
mfs/ the in-memory file system
ufs/ shared UNIX file system support
uvm/ UVM virtual memory system
tests/ source for test programs in /usr/tests
usr.bin/ source for utilities/files in /usr/bin
usr.sbin/ source for utilities/files in /usr/sbin
/var/ multi-purpose log, temporary, transient, and spool files
account/ system accounting files
acct execution accounting file; see acct(5)
at/ timed command scheduling files; see at(1)
backups/ miscellaneous backup files, largely of files found in /etc
chroot/ home directories of applications which are run in a chroot(8) ``cage''.
crash/ system crash dumps; see savecore(8)
cron/ scheduled commands configuration files; see cron(8)
db/ miscellaneous automatically generated system-specific database files, and persistent files used in the main-
tenance of third party software.
pkg default location for metadata related to third party software packages. See pkg_add(1) for more
details of the NetBSD Packages Collection, or pkgsrc.
games/ miscellaneous game status and log files
heimdal/ Kerberos 5 KDC database; see kdc(8)
log/ miscellaneous system log files
amd.* amd(8) logs
daily.out output of the last run of the /etc/daily script
ftp.* ftp(1) logs
kerberos.* kerberos(8) logs
lastlog system last time logged in log; see utmp(5)
lpd-errs.* printer daemon error logs; see lpd(8)
maillog.* sendmail(8) log files
messages.* general system information log
monthly.out output of the last run of the /etc/monthly script
secure sensitive security information log
sendmail.st sendmail(8) statistics
timed.* timed(8) logs
weekly.out output of the last run of the /etc/weekly script
wtmp login/logout log; see utmp(5)
mail/ user system mailboxes
msgs/ system messages; see msgs(1)
preserve/ temporary home of files preserved after an accidental death of ex(1) or vi(1)
quotas/ filesystem quota information
run/ system information files, rebuilt after each reboot
utmp database of current users; see utmp(5)
rwho/ rwho data files; see rwhod(8), rwho(1), and ruptime(1)
spool/ miscellaneous printer and mail system spooling directories
ftp/ commonly ``~ftp'', the anonymous ftp root directory; see ftpd(8)
mqueue/ sendmail mail queue; see sendmail(8)
news/ Network news archival and spooling directories
output/ printer spooling directories
postfix/ postfix mail queue; see postfix(1)
uucp/ uucp spool directory
uucppublic/ commonly ``~uucp'', the uucp public temporary directory; see uucp(1)
tmp/ temporary files that are not discarded between system reboots
vi.recover/ recovery directory for new vi(1)
yp/ Databases and configuration for the NIS (YP) system; see nis(8).
SEE ALSO
apropos(1), ls(1), whatis(1), whereis(1), which(1), paths(3)
HISTORY
A hier manual page appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.
BSD
June 3, 2012 BSD