Which directory typically contains system-wide configuration files in Linux?

• A. /etc
• B. /usr
• C. /bin
• D. /var

Answer: (A)

System-wide configuration files live in /etc. This directory, per the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, is designed to hold host-specific settings for the operating system and installed services. You’ll find files like /etc/passwd, /etc/ssh/sshd_config, and service-specific configs under subdirectories, all intended to configure how the system behaves for all users. Other directories have different roles: /bin holds essential binaries, /usr contains userland programs and data, and /var stores variable data such as logs and caches. So, /etc is the canonical place for system-wide configuration.