- /var/cache/man
A cache for man pages that are formatted on
demand. The source for manual pages is usually stored in
/usr/share/man/man?/
(where ? is the manual section. See the manual page for
man
in section 7); some manual pages
might come with a pre-formatted version, which might be
stored in /usr/share/man/cat*
. Other
manual pages need to be formatted when they are first
viewed; the formatted version is then stored in
/var/cache/man so that the next person
to view the same page won't have to wait for it to be
formatted.
- /var/games
Any variable data belonging to games in
/usr should be placed here. This is in
case /usr is mounted read only.
- /var/lib
Files that change while the system is
running normally.
- /var/local
Variable data for programs that are
installed in /usr/local
(i.e.,
programs that have been installed by the system
administrator). Note that even locally installed
programs should use the other /var
directories if they are appropriate, e.g.,
/var/lock.
- /var/lock
Lock files. Many programs
follow a convention to create a lock file in
/var/lock to indicate that they
are using a particular device or file. Other programs
will notice the lock file and won't attempt to use the
device or file.
- /var/log
Log files from various programs, especially
login(/var/log/wtmp, which logs all logins and logouts into the system) and
syslog(/var/log/messages, where all kernel
and system program message are usually stored). Files in
/var/log can often grow indefinitely,
and may require cleaning at regular
intervals.
- /var/mail
This is the FHS approved location for user
mailbox files. Depending on how far your distribution has
gone towards FHS compliance, these files may still be held
in /var/spool/mail.
- /var/run
Files that contain information about the
system that is valid until the system is next booted.
For example, /var/run/utmp
contains information about people currently logged
in.
- /var/spool
Directories for news, printer queues, and
other queued work. Each different spool has its own
subdirectory below /var/spool, e.g.,
the news spool is in /var/spool/news
.
Note that some installations which are not fully compliant
with the latest version of the FHS may have user mailboxes
under /var/spool/mail.
- /var/tmp
Temporary files that are large
or that need to exist for a longer time than
what is allowed for /tmp
.
(Although the system administrator might not allow
very old files in /var/tmp
either.)
