Where does my web server serve files from?

Question

I want to put files on my Arch Linux file server so that others can download them via HTTP. Where under /var should they be placed?

Did you have any particular idea about how you wanted others to download them?
By using Dyndns.org I a have a URL (My Server name).dyndns.org. This URL is how others would download my files.
So then did you mean your answer to be "Via a web server running on my machine"?

Rainer Bendig · Answer 1 · 2011-10-30 05:49:37Z

up vote 2 down vote

Mostly it's /var/www but it depends on your webserver and the configuration.

answered Oct 30 '11 at 5:49

Rainer Bendig
57116

Shadur · Answer 2 · 2011-10-30 07:40:00Z

Check what web server software you have installed. The default on most distros will be apache, but again like most distributions ArchLinux also supplies lighttpd and nginx so it depends on which one you picked.
Check the config files of the installed server software. This will likely be in /etc/<softwarename>/, so /etc/apache/ or /etc/nginx or /etc/lighttpd depending on 1).
Somewhere in said configuration there will be a header stating the default document root for the default host. As @Rainer pointed out, /var/www is the most commonly used standard location, but it never hurts to make sure. Homework for this step: Lighttpd docs, NginX docs, Apache docs depending on which software you installed
...
Profit!

I don't mind being downvoted, but if whoever did so would please leave some constructive criticism as to why my answer was inaccurate, poorly worded or factually incorrect I'd appreciate it.

2 Answers