CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006)System ManagementEasy

According to the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), a vendor is installing a self-contained third-party application suite that includes its own directory structure and should not be mixed with the distribution's package-managed files. Which directory is the standard location for this software?

  1. A/usr/local
  2. B/opt
  3. C/srv
  4. D/var/opt
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B. /opt

/opt is the FHS-designated location for add-on/third-party application software packages, each typically in its own subdirectory. /usr/local is for locally compiled software, /srv holds site-served data, and /var/opt holds variable data belonging to packages in /opt.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Reserved for software compiled/installed locally by the sysadmin.
  • C. Holds data served by the system, such as web or FTP content.
  • D. Holds variable data for /opt packages, not the static application files.

/opt directory

FHS location for optional/add-on third-party software packages, each typically in its own subdirectory.

  • Each package gets /opt/<package_name>
  • /var/opt holds variable data for those packages
  • Differs from /usr/local, which is for locally built software

Memory trick: OPTional extras live in /opt

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