Final answer:
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) provides consistency, portability, and ease of maintenance across various Unix-like operating systems, enabling better interoperability and reliability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) is a set of guidelines and standards that dictates the directory structure and directory contents in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. The benefits of adhering to the FHS include: Consistency across different distributions, which simplifies user navigation, system administration, and software development. Portability of applications, since a standardized filesystem structure ensures that software expects files and directories to be in expected locations. Maintenance and Support are made easier for system administrators as they can quickly understand the file structure of an unfamiliar system following the FHS guidelines.
Brief Explanation of Key Directories: bin contains essential command binaries. etc houses configuration files. var holds variable data like logs and databases. home is meant for user home directories. By utilizing the FHS, developers and administrators can ensure a higher degree of interoperability and reliability in multi-user, multi-tasking environments.