Linux Essentials practice labs

Open source concepts, hardware, the command line, files, and basic security concepts. Every objective below has a lab that runs a real Linux shell in your browser, so you practise the command rather than memorise the syntax.

Objectives covered

The skill areas these labs rehearse for Linux Essentials, written as plain descriptions of what you need to be able to do.

1Open source software and how Linux distributions differ
2Hardware: the parts of a machine and what they do
3The command line: finding help and reading man pages
4Files and directories: creating, moving and finding them
5Basic security: accounts, permissions and why they matter
6Simple scripting and automation concepts
7System administration: what an administrator actually does

Practice these labs

Creating FilesMake the folders you actually want, then write down what you did so you remember it tomorrow.
The FilesystemExplore the filesystem and learn what each top level folder is for.
Finding FilesYou have lost a download somewhere under /home/student.
First ContactOpen a shell on the practice machine and run your first commands.
Listing FilesA practice folder full of files, including one you have to look closely to see.
Reading LogsEvery machine keeps a diary.
Moving AroundMove between folders and read a file to find the configuration.
Ports and ConnectionsRun a web server for a day and you meet four ports before lunch.
Who Can Open WhatLinux decides who can open a file using nine characters.
PermissionsUnderstand how rwx works before you change anything.
Running ProcessesEverything on Linux is a process, including the ones you never see.
Reading FilesA configuration file is sitting in your home folder.
Writing to FilesSend command output into files.
Searching a Whole TreeA whole tree of files, and you need three things from it.
System InformationGet to know the machine you are sitting at: kernel, architecture, disk usage and uptime.
Searching Textgrep is the tool you will reach for most often.
Users and GroupsRead /etc/passwd and sort real user accounts from system ones.
Where Am I?You are logged in.

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