010-100 · Question #40
After installing a new package, in which directory are you most likely find its configuration file?
The correct answer is C. /etc. On Linux systems, /etc is the conventional directory for system-wide and application configuration files.
Question
After installing a new package, in which directory are you most likely find its configuration file?
Options
- A/lib
- B/conf
- C/etc
- D/usr
- E/opt
How the community answered
(28 responses)- A11% (3)
- B4% (1)
- C82% (23)
- E4% (1)
Why each option
On Linux systems, `/etc` is the conventional directory for system-wide and application configuration files.
`/lib` is designated for essential shared libraries and kernel modules, not configuration files.
`/conf` is not a standard directory in the Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard and does not conventionally exist on Linux systems.
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) designates `/etc` as the directory for host-specific, system-wide configuration files. When a package is installed, its configuration files are almost always placed in `/etc` or a subdirectory of it (for example, `/etc/nginx/` or `/etc/ssh/`). This convention is followed consistently across virtually all Linux distributions and package managers.
`/usr` contains user-land programs, libraries, and documentation, but application configuration belongs in `/etc`, not `/usr`.
`/opt` is for self-contained optional or add-on software packages, and while some may include config locally, the FHS-standard location for configuration remains `/etc`.
Concept tested: Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard configuration directory
Source: https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs/ch03s07.html
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