linux filesystem question
 

Hi Guys,

I am using Mandriva 10.1....

1) Actually HOW & WHAT, decides where linux rpm or .tar files will be installed in ? ( What particular script in e program//make )

2) Example::::where does default rpm stores in?

As sometimes, certain tar files stores in: /usr/local/etc,
other in: /etc,
while some in: /usr/lib/.

As with WINDOW, all are just "defaulted" to C" drive "Programs" file.

pls advise ??? thanks :newbie:

Hi,

Unix programs, in general, are not installed in a single location. It's common that a package wrote some configuration files at /etc, libraries at /lib, docs at /usr/share and executables at /usr/bin.

rpm packages have the installation directory set by the packager, the guy who built the rpm file. There is a SPEC file in this process. The paths of several files are described there. After a rpm package is installed, you can list all files that belongs to it, by "rpm -ql package-name". You can query the rpm database for what package a file belongs to, using "rpm -qf /path/to/file".

tar packages in source form, have a Makefile or a configure script that builds up the program and auxiliary files. For theses, read the README file or INSTALL file. Sometimes there is a command line option to configure/make so you can install at /usr or /usr/local.

Uninstalling a rpm package will remove all files, no matter how sparse they was installed. Packages installed with make does not have such feature. You need to remove yourself every file that belongs to a program and it can be a problem. So, prefer the rpm format when available.

thanks so much,

1) juz wondering for tar files, since e packager set it's storage path, its there a way where we can edit DIRECTLY in e Makefile script so it goes to our desired path?

INstead of choosing only e "2 or 3" options that e packager offers? As does it really matters ?, since
/binary are e only important files.....e rest we can set it 2 other paths......so we can hv better control over while uninstallation of tar files.

Marozsas, do u have any website in particular which describe in better details what each files-sys does example;
/etc........./sbin.........../bin.......

As all my books & website that i found juz covers very briefly.

Thanks......:newbie:

SPo2,
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard http://www.pathname.com/fhs/ - it should explain everything about the to you;)

There is two ways to deal with installation paths in Makefiles. Those that use the configure script to build the Makefile, you can pass in the cmd line the installation path. This is a standard feature in configure program and should work always.

The hard way is looking at Makefile, the install section, and changing the destination path manually.

regards,