Very Computer

Could somebody give me a reason why I shouldn't create one directory for binaries say /usr/bin, move all files from /bin and /usr/local/bin to /usr/bin and make /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin symlinks to /usr/bin (and the same thing for the /sbin /usr/sbin and /usr/local/sbin)?

I'm building my own 'distribution' from sources and it made me wonder why I should have three bin dirs in my case (there's no need for system dependant/independant seperation since this box  isn't on any network (other than Internet) and no other people besides me login to this box).

I'm sure there are several good reasons, but I wonder if they would apply to me in this case.

Thanks for any answer and if it's not a problem for you, i'd like to receive a response via email.

--
Thanks,
Gerard  Beekmans

I'd _strongly_ suggest to (1) have a good look at the FHS v2.0 (Filesystem
Hierarchy Standard) at <http://www.pathname.com/fhs/>, and (2) fix your
line length (come on, I'm sure Pan can do better than this ;-).

HTH,
Thomas
--
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
- Thomas Zajic  <thomasDOTzajicATtelewebDOTat>  Linux-2.0.38/slrn-0.9.5.7 -
-  "It is not easy to cut through a human head with a hacksaw."  (M. C.)  -
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=

[Posted and mailed, per req]

Quote:> Could somebody give me a reason why I shouldn't create one directory
> for binaries say /usr/bin, move all files from /bin and
> /usr/local/bin to /usr/bin and make /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin
> symlinks to /usr/bin (and the same thing for the /sbin /usr/sbin and
> /usr/local/sbin)?

He also gave the primary reason: long Unix tradition separates out the
"/" filesytem from the "/usr" filesystem, and programs deemed essential
for system maintenance and so forth are usually put in /bin or /sbin so
that they will work without /usr being mounted.  (Exactly the same
applies to /lib and /usr/lib.)  Interestingly, AIX has only /lib and
/sbin, with /bin -> usr/bin.

If you read the FHS, you will note that it puts all directories which
need to be read-write in normal system operations outside the /usr
hierarchy; this makes it possible to mount /usr read-only, reducing
risk of filesystem corruption.  This is one good reason to separate /
and /usr.  There are others.

--
Peter Samuelson
<sampo.creighton.edu!psamuels>

Urgh.

--
`If both of these are true, Unix98 ptys are fully operational, and
 ready to destroy unarmed planets.' --- Richard Gooch