Re: Bug#2703: apache: wrong location of icons and cgi-bins

[Mark Shuttleworth <marks@thawte.com>]

Lars Wirzenius wrote:
> 
> Brian C. White wrote (discussing where Apache's cgi-bins and other stuff
> should go):
> > I believe that these should be in /var which is, after all, the
> > variable part of /usr.
> 
> Installation of new cgi-bins is similar to installing new binaries,
> is it not?  Even if /usr is mounted read-only, it will have to change
> when new software is installed.  /var is for stuff that changes during
> normal operation -- installation of new software is not.
> 
> Anyway, I don't think a web server should create its own directory
> directly below /var.  Instead, create one below /var/lib.  And, unless
> the files can actually be shared by several packages, the directory
> name should reflect the package name.
> 
> Do we have an FSSTND/FHS interpreter available?

As the maintainer of Apache,  I think I should comment
on this discussion ;-).  To be frank,  I did my best to
work out the appropriate positions from FSSTND1.2.  I
am waiting for some clear statement from the FSSTND group
as to the appropriate places for these files,  and will then
modify apache.deb.

Both /var and /usr have strong arguments in their favour:  where
one falls depends on how strictly one inteprest the "/usr is
read-only" mandate.  "ALWAYS read-only" means we should use /var.
"GENERALLY read-only" means we should use /usr.  I chose to be
strict ;-).

Regards,
Mark

--
Mark Shuttleworth
Thawte Consulting cc.