---
title: InfluxDB file system layout
description: The InfluxDB file system layout depends on the operating system, package manager, or containerization platform used to install InfluxDB.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/v1/concepts/file-system-layout/
estimated_tokens: 2767
product: InfluxDB OSS v1
version: v1
---

# InfluxDB file system layout

This page documents an earlier version of InfluxDB OSS. [InfluxDB 3 Core](/influxdb3/core/) is the latest stable version.

The InfluxDB file system layout depends on the operating system, installation method, or containerization platform used to install InfluxDB.

-   [InfluxDB file structure](#influxdb-file-structure)
-   [File system layout](#file-system-layout)

## InfluxDB file structure

The InfluxDB file structure includes of the following:

### Data directory

Directory path where InfluxDB stores time series data (TSM files). To customize this path, use the [`[data].dir`](/influxdb/v1/administration/config/#dir-1) configuration option.

### WAL directory

Directory path where InfluxDB stores Write Ahead Log (WAL) files. To customize this path, use the [`[data].wal-dir`](/influxdb/v1/administration/config/#wal-dir) configuration option.

### Metastore directory

Directory path of the InfluxDB metastore, which stores information about users, databases, retention policies, shards, and continuous queries. To customize this path, use the [`[meta].dir`](/influxdb/v1/administration/config/#dir) configuration option.

## InfluxDB configuration files

Some operating systems and package managers store a default InfluxDB configuration file on disk. For more information about using InfluxDB configuration files, see [Configure InfluxDB](/influxdb/v1/administration/config/).

## File system layout

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**macOS:**

#### macOS default directories

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | ~/.influxdb/data/ |
| WAL directory | ~/.influxdb/wal/ |
| Metastore directory | ~/.influxdb/meta/ |

#### Homebrew default directories

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | /opt/homebrew/var/influxdb/data/ |
| WAL directory | /opt/homebrew/var/influxdb/wal/ |
| Metastore directory | /opt/homebrew/var/meta/ |

#### macOS file system overview

-   ~/.influxdb/
    -   data/
        -   *TSM directories and files*
    -   wal/
        -   *WAL directories and files*
    -   meta/
        -   meta.db

**Linux:**

When installing InfluxDB on Linux, you can download and install the `influxd` binary, or you can use a package manager. Which installation method you use determines the file system layout.

-   [Installed as a standalone binary](#installed-as-a-standalone-binary)
-   [Installed as a package](#installed-as-a-package)

### Installed as a standalone binary

#### Linux default directories (standalone binary)

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | ~/.influxdb/data/ |
| WAL directory | ~/.influxdb/wal/ |
| Metastore directory | ~/.influxdb/meta/ |

#### Linux file system overview (standalone binary)

-   ~/.influxdb/
    -   data/
        -   *TSM directories and files*
    -   wal/
        -   *WAL directories and files*
    -   meta/
        -   meta.db

### Installed as a package

InfluxDB 2.0 supports **.deb-** and **.rpm-based** Linux package managers. The file system layout is the same with each.

#### Linux default directories (package)

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | /var/lib/influxdb/data/ |
| WAL directory | /var/lib/influxdb/wal/ |
| Metastore directory | /var/lib/influxdb/meta/ |
| Default config file path | /etc/influxdb/influxdb.conf |

#### Linux file system overview (package)

-   /var/lib/influxdb/
    -   data/
        -   *TSM directories and files*
    -   wal/
        -   *WAL directories and files*
    -   meta/
        -   meta.db
-   /etc/influxdb/
    -   influxdb.conf *(influxd configuration file)*

**Windows:**

#### Windows default paths

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | %USERPROFILE%\.influxdb\data\ |
| WAL directory | %USERPROFILE%\.influxdb\wal\ |
| Metastore directory | %USERPROFILE%\.influxdb\meta\ |

#### Windows file system overview

-   %USERPROFILE%\\.influxdb\\
    -   data/
        -   *TSM directories and files*
    -   wal/
        -   *WAL directories and files*
    -   meta/
        -   meta.db

**Docker:**

#### Docker default directories

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | /var/lib/influxdb/data/ |
| WAL directory | /var/lib/influxdb/wal/ |
| Metastore directory | /var/lib/influxdb/meta/ |

#### Docker Hub file system overview

-   /var/lib/influxdb/
    -   data/
        -   *TSM directories and files*
    -   wal/
        -   *WAL directories and files*
    -   meta/
        -   meta.db

**Kubernetes:**

#### Kubernetes default paths

| Path | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Data directory | /var/lib/influxdb/data/ |
| WAL directory | /var/lib/influxdb/wal/ |
| Metastore directory | /var/lib/influxdb/meta/ |

#### Kubernetes file system overview

-   /var/lib/influxdb/
    -   data/
        -   *TSM directories and files*
    -   wal/
        -   *WAL directories and files*
    -   meta/
        -   meta.db

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## Directory permissions

The user running the `influxd` process should have the following permissions for directories in the [InfluxDB file system](#file-system-layout):

| Directory path | Permission |
| --- | --- |
| .../influxdb/ | 755 |
| .../influxdb/data/ | 755 |
| .../influxdb/meta/ | 755 |
| .../influxdb/wal/ | 700 |