Linux Dummies 9th

Chapter 6: Getting to Know the Linux Filesystem
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Where the computer is the /usr
The /usr directory is often referred to as its own miniature filesystem tree.
This directory has lots of important or interesting subdirectories, as shown in
Table 6-2. An asterisk (*) at the end of a description indicates that you need to
leave that directory alone unless you have good reason to mess with it — after
you gain lots of experience with Linux and know exactly what changes you
need to make — so that you don’t accidentally alter something your system
needs in order to function correctly. An interesting thing to remember about
this section of the filesystem is that many advanced Linux users often use /
usr to store programs that can be shared with other Linux machines.
Table 6-2
Subdirectory
/usr/X11R6
/usr/bin
/usr/games
/usr/include
Standard /usr Subdirectories
Contents
The files that manage the X Window System (the wireframe
underneath your GUI).*
The commands that aren’t essential for users but are
useful.*
The games that you install on your system, except for those
that you can choose to place in /opt.
The files that the C programming language needs for the
system and its programs.*
/usr/lib The shared code used by many of the programs in this /
usr subhierarchy.*
/usr/local The programs and other items that you want to keep locally,
even if you’re sharing everything else in /usr.
/usr/sbin The commands that aren’t essential for Administrators but
are useful.*
/usr/share The information that you can use on any Linux machine,
even if it’s running incredibly different hardware.*
Managing Your Filesystem without
a Net (Or Mouse)
Chapter 7 covers how to use the point-and-click file managers. In this section,
we look at how to use the command-line tools to find your way around the
filesystem. It isn’t vital for you to know how to use the command line, but it
could certainly prove useful someday!