Linux equivalents to windows directories
 

I'm looking for a decent comparison chart for linux equivalents to windows' system directory.

I know that it's not a one-to-one scenario. Many linux folders house much more than it's windows equivalent and vice versa.

But, there are many folders that should have relatively the same purpose.

Does such a beast exist? I've turned up nothing on google.

Hi -

There are standard conventions (rules? guidelines?) for Linux system directories.

For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesys...archy_Standard

http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html

'Hope that helps .. PSM

I don't think there's a good one to one at all (by design). Here's a link that explains the linux folders and you can try to create your own map.

The only difference I know of is the way the user is presented with the directory structure.

Or do you mean something like /system32 relates to /bin sort of question?

Linux system directories tend to be similar to UNIX

directories that can be said to be similar to windows

/etc (default/global,configurations, kind of like the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive)
/lib, /usr/lib, /usr/local/lib - libraries (equivalent of the dlls in system and system32
/bin, /usr/bin, /usr/local/bin - installed binaries (equivalent of program files)
/sbin, /usr/sbin, /usr/local/sbin - administrative binaries (sort of like the applications in system32)
/home, similar to 'documents and settings'

not a complete list but what i could think of off hand

Nothing even close.

In Windows, the system information is all in C:\Documents and Settings and in C:\Windows.

In Linux, the /home/[user name] directories are roughly equivalent to C:\Documents and Settings\[user name].

Executable files are in /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin and sometimes /opt. Libraries (sort of like DLLs) and files shared among applications are in /usr/lib and /usr/share.

Logs and temporary files are in /var.

Configuration scripts and boot scripts are in /etc.

Devices are in /dev and mountpoints for those devices are in /mnt or /media.

And so on.

For day to day use, users are most likely to have to deal with /home, /etc (to change configuration settings), and /usr. They may also have to manipulate /media or /mnt to create mountpoints for new devices or edit fstab.

The Slackbook has a good summary of the Linux file structure:

http://www.slackbook.org/html/book.h...URATION-LAYOUT

It's so different, that you can't really do a comparison like that.

For example, programs in Linux are not stored in one directory. Different parts of it are stored in completely different hierarchies!

I was thinking about the answer, but this is nice, couldn't have done better!
closest answer to the question of the OP.
(i'll give you a vote)

why thank you

oh, and unlike windows, Linux doesn't put games in any of the sbin directories :p (e.g. solitaire, pinball,minesweeper and hearts), nothing against bundling games with an OS but games belong in the 'program files' directory no matter how you slice it, that and its nearly impossible to erase those default games especially in windows XP since they are restored automatically from a backup copy elsewhere in the windows directory that is protected from all but a deliberate attempt to remove them or change them

one more thought I had after posting was that the .directories/files (hidden files) in user's home directories could be compared in some ways to a mish of the HKEY_CURRENT_USER registry hive and the hidden 'application data' folder in 'documents and settings\{user}'

also, /usr/share and /usr/local/share have some other components that would be found in \windows \windows\system or \windows\system32 (icons, some data files, scree saver data etc..)

Hi -
No - the "closest answers" were the (multiple citations) to the "Filesystem Hierarchy Standard" (FHS).

Windows is a hodgepodge. Think ".ini files" vs "registry". Or "registry vs. side by side" (application manifests). Or "\Documents and Settings" vs "\Users". How about "\windows" vs "windows\system32" vs "\winnt" vs "windows\system32" again?

There is no simalarity between windows and linux. I have used windows since 101 and a dos shell before that. Windows is setup in a logical o9rder but linux doe not seem that simalar even comaring linux distros.That is why the advise to pick one linux flavor and use that is probly some of the best advise tha can be given. but if you ever do manage to create some type of map. please post it. heck if you even do it with linux flavors, that would help diehard windows users like me.

To know more about Linux Filesystem architecture you can go through with these two links,

1. Important RHEL Directories & their usage
2. Important configuration files in RHEL

Hope it'll help you,

thanks I will download it and check it out. Everything helps.