Introduction to Linux

Duration: 2 days 

Audience 

System and application end-users who have little or no experience with the Unix/Linux operating system. Application support personnel, such as database administrators and 4GL programmers, who need a functional familiarity with basic system tools and commands. 

Course Objectives 

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: 

• Use commands to manipulate files (including using the editor), 
• Navigate through the file system, 
• View and edit text files, 
• Write simple shell scripts, and 
• Customize their shell environment. 

Instructional Technique 

Students are invited to bring their current ideas and questions to the classroom for discussion. Case studies, lecture, group problem solving, and online laboratories will be used. Students will be encouraged to enhance their skills utilizing the techniques presented through classroom problem solving and controlled online workshops. 

Prerequisites 

None. 

Course Contents 

1. Concepts 

1. What is Unix? 
2. What is Linux? 
3. Open Source vs. Free Software vs. Public Domain 
4. Linux Components 
5. A Historical Overview 
6. Linux Features 
7. Linux Programming Support 
8. Summary 

2. Unix Basics 

1. Accessing the System 
2. Issuing Commands 
3. Control Keys 
4. Command Syntax 
5. Online Documentation 
6. Changing Your Password 
7. Logging Out 
8. Summary 

3. Using Files and Directories 

1. Characteristics of Linux Files 
2. File System Hierarchy 
3. Directories 
4. Working With Directories 
5. Listing Directory Contents 
6. More Directory Listing Examples 
7. Linux System Directories 
8. Special Files 
9. Manipulating Files 
10. Managing Files 
11. Permissions 
12. Permission Examples 
13. Permission-setting Shorthand 
14. The umask Command 
15. Summary 

4. Bash Shell Basics 

1. Linux Components 
2. I/O Redirection 
3. Examples of Redirection 
4. Using Pipes 
5. Wildcards For Filenames 
6. Command Substitution 
7. Variable Substitution 
8. Introducing Shell Scripts 
9. Quoting To Prevent Interpretation 
10. Examples of Quoting 
11. Command Parsing Order 
12. Special Shell Scripts 
13. Summary 

5. The vi (or vim) Editor 

1. Characteristics of vi 
2. Starting vi 
3. Command Structure 
4. Shortcuts (macros) 
5. Inserting Text 
6. Moving the Cursor 
7. Deleting Text 
8. Changing Text 
9. Screen Control Keys 
10. Global Search and Replace 
11. Loading, Saving, and Exiting 
12. Settable Options in vi 
13. Examples of Options 
14. Miscellaneous Commands (only for vim) 
15. Copy and Paste 
16. Startup File(s) 
17. Summary 

6. Regular Expressions 

1. Background 
2. The grep Command 
3. Simple metacharacters 
4. Advanced Metacharacters 
5. Extended metacharacters 
6. The sed Command 
7. Greedy Matching 
8. An Example Using awk 
9. Summary 

7. Data Tools, Part 1 

1. tee 
2. The cat Command 
3. head and tail 
4. expand and unexpand 
5. cut and paste 
6. find 
7. Summary 

8. Appendix: Data Tools, Part 2 

1. Using xargs for Efficiency 
2. Finding Differences Using diff and sdiff 
3. Character Translation Using tr 
4. Sorting Text Files Using sort 
5. Relational Joins Using join 
6. Summary 

9. Appendix: Using bash 

1. Bash Shell Background 
2. Automatic Configuration 
3. Command History 
4. Command Prompt Customization 
5. Command Line Editing 
6. Other Set Options 
7. Aliases (Command Macros) 
8. Environment Variables 
9. Example Startup Scripts 
10. Summary