Can I install to /usr/local as a normal user?

Jongi · 12-15-2005, 03:54 PM

Basically what the thread title says. If possible how can I go about doing that?

reddazz · 12-15-2005, 04:21 PM

You need to be root to write to /usr/local so installing as a normal user won't work.

Jongi · 12-19-2005, 06:31 AM

Is it possible to share this directory between distros?

ghight · 12-19-2005, 11:38 AM

Do you mean in a dual boot situation? If so, then you can share that particular directory only if it's on it's own partition. You can only mount full partitions, not particular directories.

Jongi · 12-19-2005, 12:36 PM

I meant if I am running more than one Linux distro, would it be advisable to have them share the /usr location?

muddywaters · 12-20-2005, 11:51 AM

I'm no expert on this, but I think distros use the /usr directory in different ways. For instance Suse places some things in /opt that other distros would put in /usr. Traditionally Slack likes the user to place software in /usr/local. Other distros seem to have their own variations.
I suspect sharing a /usr partition would cause headaches. Your mileage may vary.

edited for clarity (I hope)

ghight · 12-20-2005, 02:54 PM

Distros do use /usr is different ways and some not at all. I guess to really recommend I would need to see specifically what you wanted to do. If it is some type of work directory for software compiles or user compiled binaries to run as as type of application service, I'd say give it a try and see what happens.

Jongi · 12-20-2005, 11:28 PM

Essentially I am thinking of installing more than 1 Linux distro. Probably 2 to 5. Now when I install non distro specific programs like the Cedega Time demo, I would like for all the distros to share it. Instead of having to install under each distro.

Jongi · 12-20-2005, 11:45 PM

Come to think of it is likely only to be games I look to share across distros. So I suppose I'll just create a games partition. The other stuff even if duplicated is not really gonna cause that much waste as a result of duplication.