Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04, Tenth Edition

Accessing Variable Data Files in the /var Directory

The /var directory contains subdirectories used by various system services for spooling and logging. Many of these variable data files, such as print spooler queues, are temporary, whereas others, such as system and kernel logs, are renamed and rotated in use. Incoming email is usually directed to files under /var/spool/mail.

Linux also uses /var for other important system services, such as the topmost File Transfer Protocol (FTP) directory under /var/ftp (see Chapter 26, “Remote File Serving with FTP”), and the Apache web server’s initial home page directory for the system, /var/www/html. (See Chapter 23, “Apache Web Server Management,” for more information about using Apache.)

Note

There ...