diff --git a/pillar/devserver/datacubes.sls b/pillar/devserver/datacubes.sls
--- a/pillar/devserver/datacubes.sls
+++ b/pillar/devserver/datacubes.sls
@@ -24,3 +24,18 @@
     user: xcombelle
     zfs_user: xcombelle
     zfs_auto_snapshot: True
+
+#   -------------------------------------------------------------
+#   Other directories needed by development work
+#   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+
+devserver_directories:
+  /var/dataroot:
+    user: root
+    group: ops
+    mode: 775
+
+  /var/dataroot/mediawiki.dereckson.be:
+    user: web-be-dereckson-mw
+    group: dereckson
+    mode: 771
diff --git a/roles/devserver/datacube/init.sls b/roles/devserver/datacube/init.sls
--- a/roles/devserver/datacube/init.sls
+++ b/roles/devserver/datacube/init.sls
@@ -63,3 +63,20 @@
 
 {% endfor %}
 {% endif %}
+
+#   -------------------------------------------------------------
+#   Misc directories
+#   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+
+{% for dir, args in pillar.get("devserver_directories", {}).items() %}
+
+{{ dir }}:
+  file.directory:
+    - makedirs: True
+    {% for key in ["user", "group", "mode"] %}
+    {% if key in args %}
+    - {{ key }}: {{ args[key] }}
+    {% endif %}
+    {% endfor %}
+
+{% endfor %}