Proposed /opt addition to the FSSTND. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /etc/opt -- Machine-specific configuration files for /opt Machine-specific configuration files for add-on application software packages shall be installed within the directory /etc/opt/, where is the name of the subtree in /opt where the static data from that package is stored. No structure is imposed on the internal arrangement of /etc/opt/. If a configuration file must reside in a different location in order for the package or system to function properly, it may be placed in a location other than /etc/opt/. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /opt -- Add-on application software packages | +-bin Executable files invoked directly by users +-man Package manual pages +- Static package objects /opt is reserved for the installation of add-on application software packages. A package to be installed in /opt shall install its static files in a separate /opt/ directory tree, where is the name of the software package. The possible exceptions are user-executable files and user-readable manual pages (accessed via `man'), which may optionally be installed in /opt/bin and /opt/man, respectively. User-executable files that are not installed in the /opt/bin directory shall be installed in the directory /opt//bin. User-readable manual pages that are not installed in the /opt/man directory tree shall be installed in /opt//man. /opt/man shall have the same substructure as /usr/man. If /opt//man is present, the same substructure as /usr/man shall be used. Package files that are variable (change in normal operation) should be installed in /var/opt. See the section on /var/opt for more information. Machine-specific configuration files should be installed in /etc/opt. See the section on /etc for more information. No other package files should exist outside the /opt, /var/opt, and /etc/opt hierarchies except for those package files that must reside in specific locations within the filesystem tree in order to function properly. For example, device lock files must be placed in /var/lock and devices must be located in /dev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /var/opt -- Variable data for /opt Variable data should be installed in /var/opt/, where is the name of the subtree in /opt where the static data from an add-on software package is stored, except where superseded by another file in /etc. No structure is imposed on the internal arrangement of /var/opt/. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Reference: These extracts are taken from "System V Application Binary Interface" [ (c) 1990 AT&T ] and is based on System C Interface Definition, Third Edition. This books contains the guidelines for System V Release 4.0 and as such are probably "current". Thanks to Stephen Harris for posting the excerpts. +++++ Page 2-16 "File tree for add-on software" /opt, /var/opt and /etc/opt are reserved in the file tree for the installation of application software packages. Each add-on software package should adhere to the following rules: o Static package objects should be installed in /opt/pkg, where pkg is the package abberviation or instance. o Package objects that change in normal operations (for example, log and spool files) should be installed in /var/opt/pkg. o machine-specific configuration files should be installed in /etc/opt/pkg o Executables that are directly invoked by users should be installed in /opt/pkg/bin o Only package objects that must reside in specific locations within the system file tree in order to function properly (for example, special files in /dev) should be installed in those locations. ------ Further on page 9-4 of the "System V ABI" we find +++++ The /opt subtree The directoy /opt of the / file system is the point of access to the /opt subtree. This directory subtree contains files installed by add-on packages. The following describes the structure of the /opt subtree: /opt The top directory of the /opt subtree /opt/bin Executable files provided by application packages and invoked directly by users /opt/pkg Where pkg is the abbreviated name of an add-on software package, contains all the static files installed on the system as part of that package