Name

hier − file system hierarchy

Description

The following is a brief description of the root file system.  The major directory hierarchy and representative files are listed. 

Symbolic links can be included in the files to provide backward compatibility. To display the links, type:

% ls −l

See the Guide to Disk Maintenance for more detailed information. 

/Directory for root file system. This file system is separated into nonsharable data (root (/)) and sharable data (/usr).  These two file systems are each divided into the following types: static data, variable data, and executable data. 

/binDirectory for the single user executable data files. 

/bin/initParent of all processes, init(.).

/bin/mount
Mount program, mount(.).

/devDirectory for devices. 

MAKEDEV
Shell script to create special files

MAKEDEV.local
Site-specific part of MAKEDEV

consoleMain console, tty()

hp*disks, hp()

rhp*Raw disks, hp()

ra*UNIBUS disks, ra()

tty*Terminals, tty()

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/etcDirectory for the machine-specific static data files and shell scripts for booting. 

crontabSystem clock daemon table, crontab()

disktabDisk characteristics and partition tables, disktab()

fstabFile system configuration table, fstab()

groupGroup file, group()

hostsHost name-to-network address mapping file, hosts()

motdMessage-of-the-day file, login()

networksNetwork name-to-network number mapping file, networks()

passwdPassword file, passwd()

protocolsName-to-number mapping file, protocols()

rcShell script to bring the system to multiuser mode

rc.localSite-dependent portion of rc

remoteNames and description of remote hosts for tip() and remote()

servicesNetwork services definition file, services()

termcapDescription of terminal capabilities, termcap()

ttysProperties of terminals, ttys()

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/libSymbolic link to /usr/lib.

/lost+found
Directory for connecting detached files for fsck(.).

/sysSymbolic link, normally to /usr/sys.

/tmpDirectory for temporary files (see also /usr/tmp).

e*Used by ed()

ctm*Used by cc()

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/usrGeneral purpose directory, on which the /usr file system is normally mounted (see description that follows).

/varDirectory for variable length files, such as spool, administrative, and temporary files. These files can also be located in /usr/var. See the Guide to Disk Maintenance. 

/vmunixKernel image

The /usr directory contains the sharable data. The following is a brief description of the /usr file system. The major directory hierarchy and representative files are listed.

/usrRoot directory for /usr file system.

/usr/admDirectory for administrative information, which is now a symbolic link to /var/adm.

crashDirectory for crash dumps

vmcore.?,vmunix.?Crash dump files

lpacctLine printer accounting, lpr()

tracctPhototypesetter accounting, troff()

vaacct, vpacct
Varian and Versatec accounting for vpr(,), vtroff(,), pac()

wtmpLogin history, utmp()

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/usr/binDirectory for the shared executable data files, including utility programs and Shell scripts. 

asassembler

ccC compiler executive (see also /lib/ccom, /lib/cpp, and /lib/c2)

cshC shell

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/usr/dictDirectory for word lists. 

spellhistHistory file, spell()

wordsWord list, look()

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/usr/docDirectories containing files for the Vol.2 documentation. 

asAssembler manual

cC manual

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/usr/etcDirectory for utility programs and shell scripts. 

/usr/etc/cron
Clock daemon, cron(.).

/usr/etc/dump
Dump program, dump(8).

/usr/examples
A directory where components of the base system and Digital’s separately licensed products can locate code examples, scripts, and demos for customers to use.  A typical use is to complement printed documentation.

/usr/games
Directory for games.

hangmanHangman game

libLibrary directory for games

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/usr/etc/getty
Part of login, getty(.).

/usr/include
Directory for standard #include files.

a.out.hObject file layout, a.out()

math.hmatherr()

stdio.hStandard I/O, intro()

sysSymbolic link to /sys/h (system generation #include files)

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/usr/libDirectory for the shared static data files, such as object libraries. 

atrunSystem scheduler, at()

ccomC compiler proper

cppC preprocessor

c2C code improver

libc.aSystem calls and standard I/O (2,3,3S)

fontDirectory for *roff() fonts

lintDirectory for utility files for lint()

tmacDirectory for nroff() and *roff() macros

unitsData file of conversion tables for units()

uucpDirectory for uucp() programs and data

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/usr/manDirectory for unformatted and preformatted reference (manual) pages. 

cat1Section 1 (preformatted)

cat2Section 2 (preformatted)

cat3Section 3 (preformatted)

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man1Section 1 (unformatted)

man2Section 2 (unformatted)

man3Section 3 (unformatted)

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/usr/mdecDirectory for ULTRIX boot files. 

/usr/msgsDirectory for messages, msgs(.).

/usr/newDirectory for binaries of new versions of programs. 

/usr/preserve
Directory for editor temp files preserved after crashes or hangups.

/usr/skelDirectory for sample user startup files

.cshrcStartup file for csh()

.loginLogin startup file for csh()

.mailrcStartup file for mail()

.profileStartup file for sh()

.projectLists information used by finger()

/usr/spoolDirectory for delayed execution files, which is now a symbolic link to /var/spool.

atDirectory used by at()

lpdDirectory used by lpr()

lockPresent when line printer is active

cf*Copy of file to be printed, if necessary

df*Daemon control file, lpd()

tf*Transient control file (exists while lpr is working)

mailMailboxes for mail()

nameMail file for user name

name.lockLock file (exists while name is receiving mail)

uucpWork files and staging area for uucp()

LOGFILESummary log

/usr/srcGeneric sources. 

usr.binUser sources

troffnroff and troff sources

termDirectory of description files for new printers

/usr/sysDirectory for system files. 

BINARYSystem object files, make()

cassetteFiles for boot cassette

confConfiguration files, config()

dataDrive partition tables

floppyFiles for floppy disk

h#include files

mdecHeaders for 11/750 boot blocks

netGeneral network files

netimpIMP network files

netinetDARPA internet network files

netpupPUP network files

standStandalone boot binaries

sysMachine-dependent system files

vaxVAX-specific system files

vaxifNetwork interface drivers for the VAX

vaxmbaDrivers for devices on the MASSBUS

vaxubaDrivers for devices on the UNIBUS

/usr/tmpSymbolic link to /var/tmp.

See Also

apropos(1), find(1), finger(1), grep(1), ls(1), whatis(1), whereis(1), which(1), crontab(5), ncheck(8)
Guide to Disk Maintenance