Linux Essentials

Compiled vs. an Interpreted Language 69Identifying Common Programming Languages 70The Essentials and Beyond 72Chapter 5 Managing Hardware 75Learning About Your CPU 75Understanding CPU Families 76Identifying Your CPU 78Identifying Motherboard Capabilities 78Sizing Your Power Supply 80Understanding Disk Issues 81Disk Interfaces 81Partitioning a Disk 81Understanding Filesystem Issues 85Using Removable and Optical Disks 88Managing Displays 89Understanding the Role of X 89Using Common Display Hardware 90Handling USB Devices 92Managing Drivers 93Understanding Types of Drivers 93Locating and Installing Drivers 94The Essentials and Beyond 95Chapter 6 Get ting to Know the Command Line 99Starting a Command Line 99Launching a Terminal 100Logging Into a Text-Mode Console 102Logging In Remotely 103Running Programs 103Running Text-Mode Programs 104Running GUI Programs 105Running Programs in the Background 105Manipulating Files 106Obtaining File Listings 106Changing Directories 108Using Absolute and Relative File References 108Using Common File Manipulation Commands 110Using Shell Features 111Using Command Completion 111Using Command History 112The Essentials and Beyond 114Chapter 7 Managing Files 117Manipulating Files 117Creating Files 118Copying Files 118Moving and Renaming Files 120Using Links 121Deleting Files 122Using Wildcards 123Understanding Case Sensitivity 123Manipulating Directories 124Creating Directories 125Deleting Directories 125Managing Directories 127The Essentials and Beyond 127Chapter 8 Getting Help 131Using man Pages 131Understanding the Purpose of man Pages 131Locating man Pages by Section Number 132Searching for a man Page 133Reading man Pages 134Using less 135Using info Pages 138Understanding the Purpose of info Pages 138Reading info Pages 139Finding Additional Documentation 140Locating Program Documentation on Your Computer 141Locating Program Documentation Online 144Consulting Experts 145The Essentials and Beyond 146Chapter 9 Using Programs and Processes 149Understanding Package Management 149Linux Package Management Principles 149Understanding Package Systems 150Managing RPM Systems 152Managing Debian Systems 153Understanding the Process Hierarchy 154Identifying Running Processes 155Using ps to Identify Processes 155Using top to Identify Processes 157Measuring Memory Use 159Using Log Files 160Locating Log Files 160Producing More Verbose Log File Entries 162Examining the Kernel Ring Buffer 162The Essentials and Beyond 163Chapter 10 Searching, Extracting, and Archiving Data 165Using Regular Expressions 165Searching for and Extracting Data 167Using grep 168Using find 170Using wc 171Redirecting Input and Output 172Using Basic Redirection Operators 173Using Pipes 175Generating Command Lines 175Archiving Data 176Using tar 176Using Compression 179Using zip 180The Essentials and Beyond 183Chapter 11 Editing Files 185Understanding the Role of Text Files 185Choosing an Editor 187Launching an Editor 189Editing Files with pico or nano 189Using Text Editor Conventions 190Exploring Basic nano Text-Editing Procedures 190Saving Your Changes from nano 193Editing Files with Vi 193Understanding Vi Modes 193Exploring Basic Vi Text-Editing Procedures 194Saving Your Changes from Vi 197Using Configuration File Conventions 197Editing Formatted Text Files 199The Essentials and Beyond 200Chapter 12 Creating Scripts 203Beginning a Shell Script 204Using Commands 204Using Arguments 207Using Variables 208Using Conditional Expressions 210Using Loops 212Using Functions 213Setting the Script's Exit Value 214The Essentials and Beyond 215Chapter 13 Understanding Users and Groups 217Understanding Accounts 217Understanding Account Features 218Identifying Accounts 220Understanding Groups 222Using Account Tools 223Discovering Your Own Identity 224Learning Who's Online 225Working as root 226Why Work as root? 227Acquiring root Privileges 227Using root Privileges Safely 230The Essentials and Beyond 232Chapter 14 Creating Users and Groups 235Creating New Accounts. 235Deciding on a Group Strategy 235Selecting a Good Password 236Creating Accounts Using GUI Tools 239Creating Accounts from the Shell 241Modifying Accounts 244Deciding When to Modify Accounts 244Checking for Logged-in Users 245Modifying Accounts Using GUI Tools 245Modifying Accounts from the Shell 247Deleting Accounts 250Avoiding Account-Deletion Pitfalls 250Deleting Accounts Using GUI Tools 251Deleting Accounts from the Shell 251Managing Groups 252Managing Groups Using GUI Tools 252Managing Groups from the Shell 253The Essentials and Beyond 255Chapter 15 Set ting Ownership and Permissions 257Setting Ownership 257Understanding Ownership 258Setting Ownership in a File Manager 259Setting Ownership in a Shell 260Setting Permissions 261Understanding Permissions 261Setting Permissions in a File Manager 266Setting Permissions in a Shell 266Setting the umask 267The Essentials and Beyond 268Chapter 16 Navigating the Linux Filesystem 271Understanding Where Things Go 271User Files vs. System Files 271The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard 273Important Directories and Their Contents 274Using Special Permission Bits and File Features 277Using Sticky Bits 277Using Special Execute Permissions 279Hiding Files from View 280Viewing Directories 281The Essentials and Beyond 282Chapter 17 Managing Network Connections 285Understanding Network Features 285Configuring a Network Connection 287Deciding Whether to Use DHCP 288Creating a Wi-Fi Connection 289Using a Network Configuration GUI 293Using Text-Based Tools 295Testing Your Network Connection 299Checking Your Routing Table 299Testing Basic Connectivity 299Finding Breaks in Connectivity 300Testing DNS 302Checking Your Network Status 302Protecting Your System from the Bad Guys 303The Essentials and Beyond 304Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 307Chapter 1 307Chapter 2 308Chapter 3 309Chapter 4 310Chapter 5 311Chapter 6 312Chapter 7 313Chapter 8 314Chapter 9 315Chapter 10 316Chapter 11 317Chapter 12 318Chapter 13 319Chapter 14 320Chapter 15 321Chapter 16 322Chapter 17 323Appendix B LPI's Certification Program 325The Linux Essentials Certification 325Certification Objectives Map 326Index 329