Chapter 1. Introduction
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# Chapter 1. Introduction

## 1.1. General

This document serves two purposes. The first is to document the installed directory structure and the format and purpose of each file. The second purpose is to document how APT views the Debian archive and deals with multiple package files.

The var directory structure is as follows:

      /var/lib/apt/
    		lists/
    		       partial/
    		periodic/
    		extended_states
    		cdroms.list
      /var/cache/apt/
    		  archives/
    		          partial/
    		  pkgcache.bin
    		  srcpkgcache.bin
      /etc/apt/
    	    sources.list.d/
    	    apt.conf.d/
    	    preferences.d/
    	    trusted.gpg.d/
    	    sources.list
    	    apt.conf
    	    apt_preferences
    	    trusted.gpg
      /usr/lib/apt/
    	        methods/
    			 bzip2
    			 cdrom
    			 copy
    			 file
    			 gpgv
    			 gzip
    			 http
    			 https
    			 lzma
    			 rred

As is specified in the FHS 2.1 /var/lib/apt is used for application data that is not expected to be user modified. /var/cache/apt is used for regeneratable data and is where the package cache and downloaded .debs go. /etc/apt is the place where configuration should happen and /usr/lib/apt is the place where the apt and other packages can place binaries which can be used by the acquire system of APT.

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