Fedora considers moving all binaries to /usr/bin/


Recommended Posts

Fedora Project developers are proposing to move all executable files and libraries used by them to the /usr/ directory from Fedora 17 onwards and essentially dispensing with /bin/, /lib/, /lib64/ and /sbin/. Fedora 17 is due for release in May 2012. The change would mean that virtually all operating system components would be stored on one volume/partition, optionally mounted as read-only, which could be used by multiple computers simultaneously. It would also simplify the creation of snapshots. Snapshots allow the restoration of a previous file system state following installation of an update which proves problematic.

As part of the proposal, the distinction between /bin/ and /sbin/ and between /usr/bin/ and /usr/sbin/ would be dissolved and all executable files would be stored in /usr/bin/. The sbin directories have traditionally been reserved for tools aimed at system administrators. In many distributions, however, this directory has long contained programs which perform tasks which are also of use to normal users. As a result, Fedora and some other distributions have added /sbin/ and /usr/sbin/ to the default path, with the result that many users are no longer aware of the distinction.

The feeling is that the division of binaries and libraries between directories in / and /usr/ is also now unnecessary and confusing, since programs residing in directories such as /bin/ and /sbin/ were located there in order to mount a /usr/ directory offering greater capacity ? including where required remotely. Initramfs is, however, now in a position to take care of mounting /usr/ from a local disk or remotely. Symbolic links in /bin/ and /sbin/ ensure backwards compatibility.

The proposal aims to make the traditional Unix file system structure simpler and more flexible. The idea was discussed extensively on the Fedora mailing list last week. One of the developers behind the proposal has since posted a further summary of the major arguments in favour of the change. Whether or not the proposal will be acted upon will be decided by the relevant Fedora committee at some time in the next few weeks.

Source: The H Online
Link to comment
Share on other sites

wouldn't this kill the ability if you are replicating your servers to another drive and if such server dies you just move the HDDs to the another server and it'll just boot pretty much "as normal"?

(been a while since i've done some serious red hat server administration....)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wouldn't this kill the ability if you are replicating your servers to another drive and if such server dies you just move the HDDs to the another server and it'll just boot pretty much "as normal"?

(been a while since i've done some serious red hat server administration....)

It shouldn't have any effect on putting a hard drive into another physical machine and booting it successfully.

My 2c on the topic: I'm surprised I didn't see anything on Fedora Planet about it. I never understood some of the reasoning behind the directory structure, but it makes sense to me to have all binaries in the binary folder.

Being able to mount it read-only (+1 security)? Sounds good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.