UNIX - File System

UNIX - File System

The Unix file system includes directories containing files and directories, each directory of which can contain yet more files and directories. Our own home directory, how ever , probably doesn't contain any directories(except . and .. of course) which prevents us from exploiting what call the virtual file cabinet of the file system.

Managing files system is one of the important task of the system Administrator.
Unix file system when originally designed to favor its users. Unix file systems look like an inverted tree, So that a root is at top and then branches underneath it.

Major tasks for the system administrator's are:
->Making files available to the users.
->Managing and monitoring the system's disk resources.
->Protecting against file corruption, hardware failures, user errors through backup.
->Security of these file systems, what users need and have access to which files.
->Adding more disks when needed.
->Configuring the printers.


When Unix OS is installed , some directories depending upon the Unix being installed are created under / (or Root), such as /usr /bin /etc /tmp / home /var.

We will have a look on each and every file or directory in this hierarchy:

etc -> Contains all the system configuration files and the files which maintain information about users and groups.
bin -> Contains all binary executables files(command that can be used by normal user also).
usr -> Default directory provided by Unix OS to create users home directories and contains manual pages.
tmp -> System or users create temporary files which will be removed when the server reboots.
dev -> Contains all devices files i,e Logical file names to physical devices.
devices -> Contains all device files i,e physical names to physical devices.
home -> Default directory allocated for the home directories of normal users when the administrator don't specify any other directory.
var -> Contains all system log files and message files.
sbin -> Contains all system administrator executable files (Command which generally normal users don't have the privileges)


(Please visit my blog for the next post on the Unix File Types)