Understanding the /var File System

System Management Concepts: Operating System and Devices

Understanding the /var File System

Attention: The /var file system tends to grow because it contains subdirectories and data files that are used by busy applications such as accounting, mail, and the print spooler. If applications on your system use the /var file system extensively, you will have to increase the file system size beyond the 4MB /var default.

Specific /var files that warrant periodic monitoring are /var/adm/wtmp and /var/adm/ras/errlog.

Other /var files to monitor are:

/var/adm/ras/trcfile	If the trace facility is turned on.
/var/tmp/snmpd.log	If the snmpd command is running on your system.

The /var directory diagram shows some of the directories in the /var file system.

/var/adm	Contains system logging and accounting files.
/var/news	Contains system news.
/var/preserve	Contains preserved data from interrupted edit sessions; similar to the /usr/preserve directory in previous releases.
/var/spool	Contains files being processed by programs such as electronic mail; similar to the /usr/spool directory in previous releases.
/var/tmp	Contains temporary files; similar to the /usr/tmp directory in previous releases. The /usr/tmp directory is now a symbolic link to /var/temp.