By default the dynamic loader searches a few default paths for dynamic libraries, so there normally isn't a need for the /etc/ld.so.conf file unless the system has extra directories in which a user wants the system to search for paths. The /usr/local/lib directory isn't searched through for dynamic libraries by default, so we want to add this path so when a user installs software he won't be suprised by them not running for some reason. Create a new file /etc/ld.so.conf by running the following: cat > /etc/ld.so.conf << "EOF" # Begin /etc/ld.so.conf /lib /usr/lib /usr/local/lib # End /etc/ld.so.conf EOF Although it's not necessary to add the /lib and /usr/lib directories it doesn't hurt. This way it can be seen right away what's being searched and a user doesn't have to remeber the default search paths if he doesn't want to.