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P4 Server Administration Documentation | 2026.1

# Installed files

Installation adds three types of files to the P4 Server host:

- Database files
- The Journal file
- The P4 Server binary

By default, the database files and the Journal file are placed in the server root directory (`P4ROOT`) of the P4 Server.

Eventually, as users and administrators work with P4 Server, other files are added to the root directory: archived files (also called depot files), checkpoint and rotated journal files, and log P4 Server supports the standard log, which is human-readable, as well as structured logs in a comma-separated value (CSV) format. The P4LOG environment variable specifies the log file for events, including errors. The human-readable P4AUDIT environment variable specifies the log file that records file transfers to users. Structured log files are typically processed by external tools. To learn more, see 'Logging" in P4 Server Administration Documentation. files (P4LOG).

Operating system | Location of P4 Server binary
--- | ---
Linux | Where the administrator puts it. Usually `/usr/local/bin/p4d` or, if installed via packages, `/opt/perforce/bin/p4d`.
macOS | Where the administrator puts it. Usually `/usr/bin/p4d` or `/user/local/bin/p4d`.
Windows | Where the administrator puts it. By default `C:\Program Files\Perforce\Server\p4d`.

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