Linux layout for Windows users

For the Windows users I will attempt to describe a comparison of where files are stored on a Linux system. This wont be exact equivelents because the operating systems are very different, but they are an approximation.

If you can remember these three golden rules it will make your life easier.

1. Everything in Linux is under the root directory, ‘/’. No more A: C: D: stuff.
2. Everything is part of the directory, even devices.
3. Everything in Linux is case sensitive.

My Documents

The equivalent place in Linux would be /home/yourusername.

Where is my C: drive?

Your “C: drive” is now called root, or ‘/’. It is a representation of your entire system, even other hard drives are under this directory.

Where is my X: drive?

Linux actually doesn’t used the driveletter: technique like other operating systems. With Linux you make a directory and “mount” the drive to that directory. Any time you manipulate something inside that directory you are making changes to that particular hard drive.

The great thing about Linux is that you can mount your drive anywhere you like (good places would be /media, /mnt or /home).

Where is program X?

Most likely in /usr you can find out for sure by doing, ‘whereis X‘. Most programs will run by simply typing it’s name in the command prompt.

Windows/System32

The guts of the linux system can be found in /lib.