/etc

/etc is the home of most core configuration files in linux. It has details and preferences related to hardware, run levels and just about everything that comes with a barebones kernel install.

Important files in /etc:
 * fstab
 * group
 * hosts
 * modules.conf
 * network/interfaces
 * passwd
 * shadow

Obsolete and not likely to be seen any more (as of 2011)
 * grub.conf (legacy GRUB only)
 * hostname
 * inittab  (SYSV init)
 * lilo.conf (LILO only)