Default Solaris File Systems
The Solaris UFS file system is hierarchical, starting with the root
directory (/) and continuing downwards through a number
of directories. The Solaris installation process enables you to install a
default set of directories and uses a set of conventions to group similar
types of files together.
For a description of the contents of Solaris file systems and directories,
see filesystem(5).
The following table provides a summary of the default Solaris file systems.
Table 17–2 The Default Solaris
File Systems
|
File System or Directory
|
File System Type
|
Description
|
|
root
(/)
|
UFS
|
The top of the hierarchical file tree. The root (/)
directory contains the directories and files that are critical for system
operation, such as the kernel, the device drivers, and the programs used to
boot the system. The root (/) directory also contains
the mount point directories where local and remote file systems can be attached
to the file tree.
|
|
/usr
|
UFS
|
System files and directories that can be shared with other users. Files
that run only on certain types of systems are in the /usr file
system (for example, SPARC executables). Files that can be used on all types
of systems, such as the man pages, are in the /usr/share directory.
|
|
/export/home or /home
|
NFS, UFS
|
The mount point for user home directories, which store user work files.
By default, the /home directory is an automounted file
system. On stand-alone systems, the /home directory might
be a UFS file system on a local disk slice.
|
|
/var
|
UFS
|
System files and directories that are likely to change or grow over
the life of the local system. These include system logs, vi and ex backup files, and uucp files.
|
|
/opt
|
NFS, UFS
|
Optional mount point for third-party software. On some systems, the /opt directory might be a UFS file system on a local disk slice.
|
|
/tmp
|
TMPFS
|
Temporary files, which are removed each time the system is booted or
the /tmp file system is unmounted.
|
|
/proc
|
PROCFS
|
A list of active processes, by process number.
|
|
/etc/mnttab
|
MNTFS
|
A virtual
file system that provides read-only access to the table of mounted file systems
for the local system.
|
|
/var/run
|
TMPFS
|
A memory-based file system for storing temporary files that are not
needed after the system is booted.
|
|
/system/contract
|
CTFS
|
A virtual file system that maintains contract information.
|
|
/system/object
|
OBJFS
|
A virtual file system that is used by debuggers to access information
about kernel symbols without having to access the kernel directly.
|
The root (/) and /usr file
systems are required to run a system. Some of the most basic commands in the /usr file system (like mount) are also included
in the root (/) file system. As such, they are available
when the system boots or is in single-user mode, and /usr is
not mounted. For more detailed information on the default directories for
the root (/) and /usr file systems,
see Chapter 23, UFS File System (Reference).
