Problem Statement
What is stored in the /etc directory in Linux?
Explanation
The /etc directory contains system-wide configuration files and scripts used by the operating system and applications. Important files include /etc/passwd (user accounts), /etc/shadow (encrypted passwords), /etc/group (group information), /etc/hosts (hostname to IP mapping), and /etc/fstab (filesystem mount points).
Configuration files in /etc are typically plain text files that can be edited with text editors like vi, nano, or vim. Changes to files in /etc usually require root privileges since they affect system-wide behavior. Many applications store their configuration in subdirectories under /etc.
Understanding /etc is crucial for system administration as it's where you configure network settings, user permissions, system services, and application behavior. Common tasks include editing /etc/ssh/sshd_config for SSH settings, /etc/network/interfaces for networking, or /etc/crontab for scheduled tasks.
