UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out the best location to deploy an application on Tomcat over Linux server.

The application structure is as follows:

1. WAR - the app itself.
2. conf - configuration files that are part of the product, not to be changed in deployment
3. local_conf - overriding conf in deployment
4. logs
5. data - user data (e.g. stuff users uploads to the server)
6. admin tools - a set of scripts and other tools used by system administrators (e.g. tools to maintain user data)
7. Tomcat

Option 1 - Classic
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Put everything where it is supposed to be according to Linux classic structure the way I understand it (comments are welcome):

- Tomcat goes to /usr/local/tomcat, WAR deployed inside it.
- conf and local_conf go to /etc/conf/myapp/conf and /etc/conf/myapp/local_conf
- logs go to /var/log/myapp
- data to somewhere under /var, maybe /var/data/myapp
- admin tools - not completely sure where these should go, maybe /usr/sbin/myapp

Option 2 - User home directory
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Put everything under the home directory of the user that runs the service.

Is the classic approach the preferred one, or is it considered obsolete? Is option 2 a good alternative?

There may also be mixed approaches, e.g. option 2 with logs in /var/log.

Any input is appreciated.