Freeswitch has long used a common parent directory for all its files typically "/usr/local/freeswitch".

A global variable $${base_dir} exists that configuration files have used to define paths relative to this common parent.

Freeswitch installs from Debian and RPM packages do not install files relative to a common parent making $${base_dir} irrelevant.

Since 2014-09-04 Freeswitch exposes discrete directory variables.

The example configuration files have been changed to use these new variables instead of $${base_dir}

If you build from source these variables are automatically configured but can also be set explicitly via the ./configure script.

Whether you build from source or install from a distribution package these variables can be overridden via arguments to the "freeswitch" executable.

Compatibility is expected because ${base_dir} has not changed.

To see the available configuration options "./configure -h".

To see the available runtime options "./freeswitch -h".

To see the values of the directory variables "./fs_cli -x global_getvar".