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  • 1.  Best practice for root's home directory

    Posted Fri November 16, 2007 11:07 AM

    Originally posted by: SystemAdmin


    What is the best practice for the location of the root user's home directory? I asked this on Google and wasn't really satisfied with the responses I got. For instance, it seems the predominant reason for moving the root home directory to /root for instance was in case some process being run by root went wild and filled up the root ('/') directory. At the same time it was recommended NOT to make /root its own filesystem due to the /root filesystem not getting mounted in maintenance mode. However, without making root its own filesystem any 'runaway" process writing to the /root directory would fill up the root filesystem anyway.

    What I really need to know is if there is any reason specific to AIX not to move the root user's home directory out of '/'? If there is not, are there special considerations that need to be taken into account different from moving a regular users home directory.

    Gary G.
    #AIX-Forum


  • 2.  Re: Best practice for root's home directory

    Posted Mon November 19, 2007 05:51 AM

    Originally posted by: MarkTaylor


    I asked this on Google and wasn't really satisfied with the responses I got

    I have read and posted on this thread, and the responses looked pretty good to me ..

    predominant reason for moving the root home directory to /root for instance was in case
    some process being run by root went wild and filled up the root ('/') directory

    yup, sounds fair ..

    At the same time it was recommended NOT to make /root its own filesystem due to the
    /root filesystem not getting mounted in maintenance mode.

    Not really an issue tho is it ? "mount /dev/rootlv /root" while in maint ?? or why even bother, what are you going to store in roots home dir that you will nee in main mode ? fsck, bootlist, bosboot, logform are all in /usr/bin and /usr/sbin

    What I really need to know is if there is any reason specific to AIX not to move the
    root user's home directory out of '/'?

    No, move it .. and IBM AIX developers .. come on, get with it and move it in the release code.

    If there is not, are there special considerations that need to be taken into account
    different from moving a regular users home directory.

    Not really apart from it should still be in rootvg :)

    There are also some other considerations tho .. set the core path with syscorepath to stop core files filling up roots home dir .. whether this be / or /root

    Rgds
    Mark Taylor
    #AIX-Forum


  • 3.  Re: Best practice for root's home directory

    Posted Mon November 19, 2007 04:12 PM

    Originally posted by: nagger


    As you have found these is no perfect solution.

    Yes / and /root are usually the same filesystem.
    I have not come across /root as a different file system - you may as well use /home and save the time and space by not having a new filesystem.

    If you use /root it keeps the / directory clean and simple - it is easier to see file screated there by accident. Also it keeps roots files private by hiding it from other users with permissions on /root.

    Putting roots home directory in, for example, /home is not a good idea as if there is a problem with mountng /home then you lose the files and may have problems login in as root. But the chances of this happening is low.

    Basically, do whatever you like.
    I use /root.

    Hope this helps, N
    #AIX-Forum


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