Default disk locations

Linux
Windows

The tables below show you where you'll find the Firebird files and directories after a standard installation. Please notice that the listings are not exhaustive.

Linux

The following table shows the default component locations of a Firebird installation on Linux. Some of the locations may be different on other Unix-like systems, or on certain Linux distributions.

Table 1. Firebird 3.0 component locations on Linux

Component	File Name	Default Location
Installation directory (referred to hereafter as `$(install)`)	—	`/opt/firebird` (may vary per distribution)
Configuration files	`firebird.conf`, `databases.conf`, etc.	`$(install)`
Release Notes and other documentation	Various files	`$(install)/doc`
Firebird server	`firebird`	`$(install)/bin`
Command-line tools	`isql`, `gbak`, `nbackup`, `gfix`, `gstat`, etc.	`$(install)/bin`
Plugins (new in Firebird 3)	`libEngine12.so`, `libSrp.so`, `libudr_engine.so`, etc.	`$(install)/plugins`
Sample database	`employee.fdb`	`$(install)/examples/empbuild`
UDF libraries	`ib_udf.so`, `fbudf.so`	`$(install)/UDF`
Additional server-side libraries	`libib_util.so`	`$(install)/lib`
Client libraries	`libfbclient.so.3.0.n` The usual symlinks (`.so.2`, `.so`) are created. Legacy `libgds.*` symlinks are also installed.	`/usr/lib[64]` (actually, the real stuff is in `$(install)/lib`, but you should use the links in `/usr/lib[64]`)

Windows

In the table below, <ProgramDir> refers to the Windows programs folder. This is usually “C:\Program Files” but may also be a different path, e.g. “D:\Programmi”. Likewise, <SystemDir> refers to the Windows system directory. Be sure to read the notes below the table, especially if you're running Firebird on a 64-bit Windows system.

Table 2. Firebird 3.0 component locations on Windows

Component	File Name	Default Location
Installation directory (referred to hereafter as `$(install)`)	—	`<ProgramDir>\Firebird\Firebird_3_0`
Configuration files	`firebird.conf`, `databases.conf`, etc.	`$(install)`
Release Notes and other documentation	Various files	`$(install)\doc`
Firebird server	`firebird.exe`	`$(install)`
Command-line tools	`isql.exe`, `gbak.exe`, `nbackup.exe`, `gfix.exe`, `gstat.exe`, etc.	`$(install)`
Plugins (new in Firebird 3)	`engine12.dll`, `srp.dll`, `udr_engine.dll`, etc.	`$(install)\plugins`
Sample database	`employee.fdb`	`$(install)\examples\empbuild`
Internationalisation	`fbintl.conf`, `fbintl.dll`	`$(install)\intl`
User-defined function (UDF) libraries	`ib_udf.dll`, `fbudf.dll`	`$(install)\UDF`
Additional server-side libraries	`icu*.dll`, `ib_util.dll`	`$(install)`
Client connection libraries	`fbclient.dll` (with an optional `gds32.dll`, to support legacy apps)	`$(install)` (with an optional copy in `<SystemDir>` – see note below table)
Some necessary Microsoft runtime libs	`msvcp100.dll`, `msvcr100.dll`	`$(install)`
32-bit library versions for use with 64-bit Firebird	`fbclient.dll`, `msvcp100.dll`, `msvcr100.dll`	`$(install)\WOW64` (with an optional copy in `SysWOW64` – see second note below table)

The Windows system directory

A typical location for the Windows system directory – on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems – is C:\Windows\System32

If you run Firebird on a 64-bit system, make sure to also read the next note.

Important notice for 64-bit Windows users

On 64-bit Windows systems, the “Program Files” directory is reserved for 64-bit programs. If you try to install a 32-bit application into that folder, it will be auto-redirected to a directory which – in English versions – is called “Program Files (x86)”. In other language versions the name may be different.

In the same vein, the System32 directory is reserved for 64-bit libraries. 32-bit libraries go into SysWOW64. That's right: 64-bit libraries are in System32, 32-bit libraries in SysWOW64.

If you're not aware of this, you may have a hard time locating your 32-bit Firebird components on a 64-bit Windows system.

(Incidentally, WOW stands for Windows on Windows. Now you can work out for yourself what LOL means.)