Etc files

The /etc directory is the location on a UNIX system where system-wide configuration files and scripts are stored. Some common files in the /etc directory are:

/etc

 * /etc/fstab : Contains filesystem configuration information.


 * /etc/hosts : Configures names and aliases of IP-addresses. Fields should be separated with Tab or white space. The functionality of this file has been almost entirely replaced by the DNS protocol so a hosts file is rarely used.


 * /etc/inittab : Controls process dispatching. Basically the key system initialization file, since it's used by process 1, init.


 * /etc/lilo.conf : Is the configuration file used by the Linux Loader while booting.


 * /etc/modules.conf : Loads modules specific options at startup.


 * /etc/nologin : Is a text file that, if it exists in /etc/, will prevent non-root users from logging in. If a user attempts to login, it will be shown the contents of the file, and then be disconnected.


 * /etc/nsswitch.conf : Specifies how the lookup for different databases are performed and in what order. Lookups are done left to right.


 * /etc/printcap : Describes printers and allows dynamic addition and deletion of printers by the spooling system.


 * /etc/resolv.conf : Configures DNS name servers to use for hostname lookups.


 * /etc/shadow : stores passwords and expiry dates in encrypted form.


 * /etc/sysctl.conf : stores Linux system parameters to set on boot.


 * /etc/xinetd.conf : Contains the configuration for the extended internet services started by the xinetd command.

/etc/sysconfig

 * /etc/sysconfig/network : Configures the system's network. Specifies hostname and gateway.

Descriptions of all of these files are in Chapter 9 of the Universal Command Guide for Operating Systems but are not found in all distributions.