Linux: What is opt directory used for? Know how to open opt file in Ubuntu terminal and how to change permission of opt folder in Ubuntu. The /opt is for “the installation of add-on application software packages”. /opt is reserved for the installation of such software packages.
/opt Directory
Note that the directories /opt/bin, /opt/doc, /opt/include, /opt/info, /opt/lib, and /opt/man are reserved for local system administrator use. Also note that the package files that are variable must be installed in /var/opt. Whereas the host-specific configuration files must be installed in /etc/opt.
In general terms, the /opt directory is reserved for all the software and add-on packages that are not part of the default installation. For example, all third party applications should be installed in this directory. Any package to be installed here must locate its static files in a separate /opt/’package’ or /opt/’provider’ directory tree. Under no circumstances are other package files to exist outside the /opt, /var/opt, and /etc/opt hierarchies except for those package files that must reside in specific locations within the filesystem tree in order to function properly.
Generally, all data required to support a package on a system must be present within /opt/’package’, including files intended to be copied into /etc/opt/’package’ and /var/opt/’package’ as well as reserved directories in /opt. The minor restrictions on distributions using /opt are necessary because conflicts are possible between distribution installed and locally installed software, especially in the case of fixed pathnames found in some binary software.
Permissions for /opt Directory
The default permissions for /opt are drwxr-xr-x with ownership root:root. Users can manually set this ownership and permissions:
sudo chown root:root /opt
sudo chmod 0755 /opt
Open /opt in Ubuntu
Ubuntu users can easily open /opt in Ubuntu. To open it via Terminal, use CD and navigate to the opt folder and simply use ls command to see the contents of the directory. Users can also access the /opt directory graphically. Open files tab and select the opt folder.