Linux Essentials

About the AuthorsChristine Bresnahan has worked in the IT industry for more than 30 years and is currently an adjunct professor of Python programming and Linux system administration classes at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. She is coauthor of Linux Bible, 8th Edition, and Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible. Richard Blum has more than 25 years as a network and systems administrator, currently managing Microsoft, Unix, Linux, and Novell servers for a network with more than 3,500 users. He has developed online programming and Linux courses that he teaches to students worldwide.

• Introduction xiChapter 1 Selecting an Operating System 1What Is an OS? 1Investigating User Interfaces 4Where Does Linux Fit in the OS World? 8What Is a Distribution? 13Chapter 2 Understanding Software Licensing 21Investigating Software Licenses 21Looking at the Free Software Foundation 24Looking at the Open Source Initiative 26Looking at the Creative Commons 29Using Open Source Licenses 30Chapter 3 Investigating Linux’s Principles and Philosophy 35Exploring Linux through the Ages 35Using Open Source Software 38Understanding OS Roles 41Chapter 4 Using Common Linux Programs 47Using a Linux Desktop Environment 47Working with Productivity Software 55Using Server Programs 62Managing Programming Languages 68Handling Software Packages 71Chapter 5 Managing Hardware 75Learning about Your CPU 75Identifying Motherboard Capabilities 78Sizing Your Power Supply 80Understanding Disk Issues 81Managing Displays 89Handling USB Devices 93Managing Drivers 94Chapter 6 Getting to Know the Command Line 99Starting a Command Line 99Running Programs 104Using Shell Features 107Getting Help Using man Pages 110Getting Help Using info Pages 117Finding Additional Documentation 120Chapter 7 Managing Files 127Understanding Where Things Go 127Navigating Files and Directories 133Manipulating Files 137Manipulating Directories 145Chapter 8 Searching, Extracting, and Archiving Data 151Using Regular Expressions 151Searching for and Extracting Data 153Redirecting Input and Output 161Archiving Data 166Chapter 9 Exploring Processes and Process Data 175Understanding Package Management 175Understanding the Process Hierarchy 181Identifying Running Processes 182Using Log Files 187Chapter 10 Editing Files 193Understanding the Role of Text Files 193Choosing an Editor 195Launching an Editor 196Editing Files with pico or nano 198Editing Files with vi 202Chapter 11 Creating Scripts 211Beginning a Shell Script 212Using Commands 212Using Arguments 215Using Variables 216Using Conditional Expressions 219Using Loops 220Using Functions 221Setting the Script’s Exit Value 223Chapter 12 Understanding Basic Security 227Understanding Accounts 227Using Account Tools 234Working as root 237Chapter 13 Creating Users and Groups 245Creating New Accounts 245Modifying Accounts 253Deleting Accounts 259Managing Groups 262Chapter 14 Setting Ownership and Permissions 267Setting Ownership 267Setting Permissions 271Using Special Permission Bits and File Features 278Chapter 15 Managing Network Connections 285Understanding Network Features 285Configuring a Network Connection 287Testing Your Network Connection 299Protecting Your System from the Bad Guys 303Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 307Appendix B LPI ’s Certification Program 327Index 331