Yum vs Compile Directory Tree
 

On my server, I have two copies of httpd apache. one installed by yum and the other compiles from source. But I am only using the one that's been installed by yum. The yum installed directories of httpd is spread out in the whole system for example the binaries are in /usr/sbin, libraries are in /usr/lib64/httpd (its 64-bit environment). but all the directories of the compiled version is under /usr/local/apache2. My friend installed them both. I don't think he knew what was he doing.

I must say that I am only using the yum installed httpd but my question is that how come the directory structure is different and what determines the directory structure. Why sometimes the directories of an application in linux gets scattered in the systems and why sometimes they stay in one place.

Thanks

Hi and welcome to LQ.

There is logic to where files are placed in Linux and Unix OSes. The FHS explains what each directory does in great detail.