Linux Essentials

LINUX® ESSENTIALS......Page 3
Acknowledgments......Page 7
About the Authors......Page 8
Contents at a Glance......Page 9
Contents......Page 10
 What Is Linux?......Page 13
 Who Should Read This Book?......Page 14
  System Requirements......Page 15
 How This Book Is Organized......Page 16
 Conventions Used in This Book......Page 18
 What Is an OS?......Page 21
  What Else Identifies an OS?......Page 22
  Using a Text-Mode User Interface......Page 24
  Using a Graphical User Interface......Page 26
  Comparing Linux to Unix......Page 28
  Comparing Linux to Mac OS X......Page 29
  Comparing Linux to Windows......Page 31
  Creating a Complete Linux-Based OS......Page 33
  Exploring Common Linux Distributions......Page 34
  Understanding Release Cycles......Page 37
 Investigating Software Licenses......Page 41
  Using Licenses to Modify Copyright Terms......Page 42
  Understanding the FSF Philosophy......Page 44
  Examining Free Software and the GPL......Page 45
  Understanding the Open Source Philosophy......Page 46
  Defining Open Source Software......Page 48
 Looking at the Creative Commons......Page 49
  Understanding Open Source Licenses......Page 50
  Understanding Open Source Business Models......Page 52
 Exploring Linux through the Ages......Page 55
  Understanding Linux’s Origins......Page 56
  Understanding Basic Open Source Principles......Page 58
  Linux as a Software Integrator......Page 60
  Embedded Computers......Page 61
  Desktop and Laptop Computers......Page 62
  Server Computers......Page 63
 Using a Linux Desktop Environment......Page 67
  Choosing a Desktop Environment......Page 68
  Launching Programs......Page 70
  Using a File Manager......Page 72
  Finding the Right Tool for the Job......Page 75
  Using a Web Browser......Page 76
  Using Office Tools......Page 78
  Using Multimedia Applications......Page 79
  Using Linux for Cloud Computing......Page 80
  Using Mobile Applications......Page 81
  Identifying Common Server Protocols and Programs......Page 82
  Focusing on Web Servers......Page 85
  Installing and Launching Servers......Page 86
  Securing Servers......Page 87
  Choosing a Compiled vs. an Interpreted Language......Page 88
  Identifying Common Programming Languages......Page 90
  Understanding Software Packages......Page 91
  Identifying Common Package Tools......Page 92
 Learning about Your CPU......Page 95
  Understanding CPU Families......Page 96
 Identifying Motherboard Capabilities......Page 98
 Sizing Your Power Supply......Page 100
  Understanding Disk Interfaces......Page 101
  Partitioning a Disk......Page 102
  Understanding Filesystem Issues......Page 105
  Using Removable and Optical Disks......Page 108
 Managing Displays......Page 109
  Understanding the Role of X......Page 110
  Using Common Display Hardware......Page 111
 Handling USB Devices......Page 113
  Understanding Types of Drivers......Page 114
  Locating and Installing Drivers......Page 115
 Starting a Command Line......Page 119
  Launching a Terminal......Page 120
  Logging into a Text-Mode Console......Page 123
  Running Text-Mode Programs......Page 124
  Running Programs in the Background......Page 126
  Using Command Completion......Page 127
  Using Command History......Page 128
  Understanding the Purpose of man Pages......Page 130
  Locating man Pages by Section Number......Page 131
  Reading man Pages......Page 132
  Using less......Page 134
  Understanding the Purpose of info Pages......Page 137
  Reading info Pages......Page 138
  Locating Program Documentation on Your Computer......Page 140
  Consulting Experts......Page 143
 Understanding Where Things Go......Page 147
  User Files vs. System Files......Page 148
  The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard......Page 149
  Important Directories and Their Contents......Page 150
  Obtaining File Listings......Page 153
  Changing Directories......Page 155
  Using Absolute and Relative File References......Page 156
 Manipulating Files......Page 157
  Creating Files......Page 158
  Copying Files......Page 159
  Moving and Renaming Files......Page 160
  Using Links......Page 161
  Using Wildcards......Page 163
  Understanding Case Sensitivity......Page 164
  Deleting Directories......Page 165
  Managing Directories......Page 167
 Using Regular Expressions......Page 171
 Searching for and Extracting Data......Page 173
  Using grep......Page 174
  Using find......Page 175
  Using wc......Page 177
  Using sort......Page 178
  Using cat......Page 180
  Using Basic Redirection Operators......Page 181
  Using Pipes......Page 183
  Generating Command Lines......Page 184
  Using tar......Page 186
  Using Compression......Page 189
  Using zip......Page 190
  Linux Package Management Principles......Page 195
  Understanding Package Systems......Page 196
  Managing Red Hat Systems......Page 198
  Managing Debian Systems......Page 199
 Understanding the Process Hierarchy......Page 201
  Using ps to Identify Processes......Page 202
  Using top to Identify Processes......Page 203
  Measuring Memory Use......Page 205
  Locating Log Files......Page 207
  Examining the Kernel Ring Buffer......Page 209
 Understanding the Role of Text Files......Page 213
 Choosing an Editor......Page 215
 Launching an Editor......Page 216
  Exploring Basic nano Text-Editing Procedures......Page 218
  Saving Your Changes from nano......Page 221
  Understanding vi Modes......Page 222
  Exploring Basic vi Text-Editing Procedures......Page 224
  Saving Your Changes from vi......Page 227
CHAPTER 11 Creating Scripts......Page 231
 Using Commands......Page 232
 Using Arguments......Page 235
 Using Variables......Page 236
 Using Conditional Expressions......Page 239
 Using Loops......Page 240
 Using Functions......Page 241
 Setting the Script’s Exit Value......Page 243
 Understanding Accounts......Page 247
  Understanding Account Features......Page 248
  Identifying Accounts......Page 251
  Understanding Groups......Page 253
  Discovering Your Own Identity......Page 254
  Learning Who’s Online......Page 255
 Working as root......Page 257
  Acquiring root Privileges......Page 258
  Using root Privileges Safely......Page 261
  Deciding on a Group Strategy......Page 265
  Selecting a Good Password......Page 266
  Creating Accounts Using GUI Tools......Page 269
  Creating Accounts from the Shell......Page 271
  Deciding When to Modify Accounts......Page 273
  Checking for Logged-in Users......Page 274
  Modifying Accounts Using GUI Tools......Page 275
  Modifying Accounts from the Shell......Page 277
  Avoiding Account-Deletion Pitfalls......Page 279
  Deleting Accounts Using GUI Tools......Page 280
  Deleting Accounts from the Shell......Page 281
  Managing Groups Using GUI Tools......Page 282
  Managing Groups from the Shell......Page 283
 Setting Ownership......Page 287
  Understanding Ownership......Page 288
  Setting Ownership in a File Manager......Page 289
  Setting Ownership in a Shell......Page 290
 Setting Permissions......Page 291
  Understanding Permissions......Page 292
  Setting Permissions in a Shell......Page 296
  Setting the umask......Page 297
  Using Sticky Bits......Page 298
  Using Special Execute Permissions......Page 300
  Hiding Files from View......Page 301
  Viewing Directories......Page 302
 Understanding Network Features......Page 305
 Configuring a Network Connection......Page 307
  Deciding Whether to Use DHCP......Page 308
  Creating a Wi-Fi Connection......Page 309
  Using a Network Configuration GUI......Page 313
  Using Text-Based Tools......Page 315
  Testing Basic Connectivity......Page 319
  Finding Breaks in Connectivity......Page 320
  Checking Your Network Status......Page 322
 Protecting Your System from the Bad Guys......Page 323
APPENDIX A Answers to Review Questions......Page 327
 The Linux Essentials Certification......Page 347
 Certification Objectives Map......Page 348
Index......Page 351
EULA......Page 363