Difference in cd /etc and cd etc ?

gardenair · 03-24-2011, 02:13 AM

hi,
I am using red hat Linux 4. I uninstall my my old squid and install new squid 2.6. The thing which I want to clear is the location where squid is installed is

[root@myserver squid-2.6.STABLE22]#ls usr/local/squid/
bin etc libexec man sbin sahre var

if I use # cd /etc and take the list then it will show all things in the etc (configuration files) but If I take it with out slash # cd etc then it show me squid.conf file.

Kindly guide me the logic in it .With cd /etc and cd etc what is the difference ?

thanks
garden

Nylex · 03-24-2011, 02:46 AM

/etc is an absolute path.
etc is a relative one.

The first example changes to etc under the directory / (i.e. the top of the filesystem tree), while the second changes to etc under the current directory.