Difference between /usr/ and /usr/local/ ?
 

Serious newbie question :) I checked out the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard document, but I still don't quite get what /usr/local is all about. It says:

What does that mean, "installing software locally"? As opposed to what..? Installing it remotely? :confused:

Could someone explain this in dummy terms? Thanks!

What I know is:

The /usr directory is where the app installed by the distribution stands.

The /usr/local directory is where the app installed (compiled?) by the system admin stands.

For ex. if you download mplayer and do a ./configure - make - make install it comes to the /usr/local.

Could someone confirm if this is correct?

Seriously, looks like a copy from a thread earlier today: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=198892

Read that thread.

hi
I m little cofused,when i extract the tar file with the command of (tar xvf filename).After this i did't know how i apply ./configure,make and makeinstall file.please give me some guidelines.
thanks

I dunno, LinuxPackages.net tells you that apps tend to want to install into /usr/local, but this is bad.

Actually, that other thread doesn't seem related to mine.. I'm not talking about networking machines. I'm just not clear on the difference between /usr and /usr/local. Here's what LinuxPackages says about /usr/local, with regards to creating slackpacks:

muhmmadaasim,

This is the second time I've seen you do this today. Please don't ask an unrelated question in an existing thread. Create a new thread. You are much more likely to get help that way. :)

Also you should try the search feature by clicking "search" at the top of the page or available on the menu at the right-side of the page.

well, all you have to do when compiling a prog is to put this into the terminal

./configure --prefix=/usr

this will eliminate the prog from installing into /usr/local
/usr/local can cause problems with depenancies if your not careful.

Yesterday I was looking for a better answer, and I found this good HowTo:
http://howtos.linux.com/guides/Linux...hy/index.shtml

quote:
/usr/local

The original idea behind '/usr/local' was to have a separate ('local') '/usr' directory on every machine besides '/usr', which might be just mounted read-only from somewhere else. It copies the structure of '/usr'. These days, '/usr/local' is widely regarded as a good place in which to keep self-compiled or third-party programs. The /usr/local hierarchy is for use by the system administrator when installing software locally. It needs to be safe from being overwritten when the system software is updated. It may be used for programs and data that are shareable amongst a group of hosts, but not found in /usr. Locally installed software must be placed within /usr/local rather than /usr unless it is being installed to replace or upgrade software in /usr.