Create a Helix Server root directory
This topic assumes that you have download the p4 and p4d binaries and have made p4 and p4d executable.
The Perforce service stores all user-submitted files and system-generated metadata in files and subdirectories beneath its own root directory. This directory is called the server root.
To specify a server root, either set the environment variable
P4ROOT to point to the server root, or use the -r
server_root flag when invoking
p4d.
p4d is the only process that uses the
P4ROOT variable. Helix Core client applications never use the P4ROOT directory or environment
variable.
Because all Helix Server files are stored by default beneath the server root, the contents of the server root can grow over time. See Disk space allocation for information about disk space requirements.
Do not run p4d as root
The
Perforce
service requires no privileged access. Do NOT run
p4d as root or any other privileged
user. See
Run the Helix Server (p4d) as an unprivileged user.
The server root can be located anywhere, but the account that runs
p4d must have read, write,
and execute permissions on the server root and all
directories beneath it. For security purposes, set the
umask(1) file-creation-mode mask of the account that runs
p4d to a value that denies other users access to the
server root directory.
