Hello,
I have been working with redhat teaching myself linux and using linux.
My problem is with organizing files, applications and such.
If I download a new app in the rpm format where should I file the rpm? or the tar.gz?
where should I file(install) the program? assume two choices: for all users, for single user.
for individual users should I create folders called, for example, text files, archives, reasearch or notes?

I'm just a little confused about how admins organise their filesystems after the installs are done and new things come along.

TIA
eddacker

Keep them in a certain place in case you want to install them again. Install RPMs with whatever package manager you use, and install *.tar.gz by decompressing them (tar -xvzf) and reading it's README for instructions.

There is a standard for this, It's called the FHS that stands for Filesystem Hierarchy standard.

However, I can give you the basics.

/etc is where most systemwide configuration files go
/proc is a funny directory... it's actually a virtual directory... you don't want to mess there (probably can't as user).
/home is where the home direcotries of the users are stored.
/root is the home directory of root
/usr is where most user programs go (like OpenOffice). There are also libraries here and man pages too.
/dev is a virtual direcotry that points to hardware (don't know much abut this one)

Normally programs are installed in /usr (systemwide) or in the user's home directory (for single user).

/bin and /sbin contain binary (executable) files, /sbin is a directory that only root can execute... it has admin binaries (like ifconfig, drakconf/linuxconf/whatever, etc)

/var has the logs and spool of the system (also the sendmail storage).

Ok, here is how I organize my FS: /home/alan is where I have EVERYTHING. downloaded software (rpm, tgz, tar.bz2) goes in /home/alan/downloads, documentation (man pages, pdf books, html tgz, etc) go in /home/alan/download/documentacion. I use the default direcotry for installs (/usr). I try to stick to the FSH as much as I can...

from the FHS TOC
give it a look... it's interesting reading...