Data directory default location

If GeoServer is running in standalone mode (via an installer or a binary) the data directory is located at <installation root>/data_dir.

Standalone platform

Default/typical location

Windows (except XP)

C:\Program Files (x86)\GeoServer 2.21.x\data_dir

Windows XP

C:Program Files\GeoServer 2.21.x\data_dir

Mac OS X

/Applications/GeoServer.app/Contents/Resources/Java/data_dir

Linux (Tomcat)

/var/lib/tomcat7/webapps/geoserver/data

If GeoServer is running as a web archive inside of a custom-deployed application server, the data directory is by default located at <web application root>/data.

Creating a new data directory

The easiest way to create a new data directory is to copy an existing one.

Once the data directory has been located, copy it to a new location. To point a GeoServer instance at the new data directory proceed to the next section Setting the data directory location.

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