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Linux Basics

  • Dec 12, 2000

Workshop

The Workshop contains quiz questions and exercises to help reinforce what you've learned in this hour.

Q&A

  1. I'm still really confused. Where can I get more information about Linux basics?

  1. Learning how to use Linux takes more than one hour of study. Here are some resources for you to continue studying the basics:

  1. Q I don't see my floppy drive or CD-ROM drive in the root directory. Where are they?

  1. Linux treats different drives and other devices differently than MS-DOS or Windows. Other drive devices, including floppy drives, ZIP drives, tape drives, and CD-ROMs are usually found in the /mnt directory. You will learn more in the next hour.

Quiz

  1. What is X?

  2. In which environment do you use the command line?

  3. What is the first thing that happens when you turn on your computer?

  4. What is the login program called, and what starts it?

  5. Which login sequence is runlevel 3, and which is runlevel 5?

  6. What is a virtual terminal?

  7. When is it okay to log in as root?

  8. How do you leave superuser status?

Quiz Answers

  1. What is X?

    The Linux (actually also the Unix) graphical interface.

  2. In which environment do you use the command line?

    The shell environment.

  3. What is the first thing that happens when you turn on your computer?

    The BIOS copies the boot loader into memory.

  4. What is the login program called, and what starts it?

    5. The kernel starts the getty program, which makes it possible to login.

  5. Which login sequence is runlevel 3, and which is runlevel 5?

    Runlevel 3 starts the text login, and runlevel 5 starts the graphical login.

  6. What is a virtual terminal?

    A virtual terminal is like another monitor attached to your system. It enables you to start a completely different session with a new login.

  7. When is it okay to log in as root?

    You should log in as root only when you need to, in order to perform an administrative task.

  8. How do you leave superuser status?

    Type exit at the command prompt.

Exercises

  1. Log into your Linux system using the account you created during installation.

  2. Enter the command pwd. What is the output?

  3. If you know the root password, assume superuser status and then exit.

  4. Type ls /etc. What command would you use to display only one screenful of information at a time?

  5. Type pwd again. What directory are you in? How would you go to the /etc directory?

  6. Copy the termcap file from the /etc directory to your home directory.

  7. Make a new directory in your home directory called "play." Put the termcap file in the play directory.

  8. Rename the termcap file to this_file. Hint: use the mv command.

  9. Delete this_file. Remove the play directory.

Exercise Answers

  1. Log into your Linux system using the account you created during installation.

    Enter your user name and press Enter, then enter your password and press Enter.

  2. Enter the command pwd. What is the output?

    Normally, you log in to your home directory. The output should be something like /home/your_user_name.

  3. If you know the root password, assume superuser status and then exit.

    Type su, then enter the root password at the prompt. Type exit to exit back to your own user identity.

  4. Type ls /etc. What command would you use to display only one screenful of information at a time?

    The /etc directory is probably too long for the entire output to appear in one screen. Type ls /etc | more to display one screenful of output at a time.

  5. Type pwd again. What directory are you in? How would you go to the /etc directory?

    You are still in your home directory. To go to the /etc directory, type cd /etc.

  6. Copy the termcap file from the /etc directory to your home directory.

    cp /etc/termcap /home/username

  7. Make a new directory in your home directory called "play." Put the termcap file in the play directory.

    mkdir play
cp termcap play

  8. Rename the termcap file to this_file. Hint: use the mv command.

    cd play
mv termcap this_file

  9. Delete this_file. Remove the play directory.

    rm this_file
cd ..
rmdir play

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