Linux Essentials

A unique, full-color introduction to Linux fundamentals Serving as a low-cost, secure alternative to expensive operating systems, Linux is a UNIX-based, open source operating system. Full-color and concise, this beginner's guide takes a learning-by-doing approach to understanding the essentials of Linux. Each chapter begins by clearly identifying what you will learn in the chapter, followed by a straightforward discussion of concepts that leads you right into hands-on tutorials. Chapters conclude with additional exercises and review questions, allowing you to reinforce and measure your understanding. Offers a hands-on approach to acquiring a foundation of Linux skills, aiming to ensure Linux beginners gain a solid understanding Uses the leading Linux distribution Fedora to demonstrate tutorials and examples Addresses Linux installation, desktop configuration, management of files and filesystems, remote administration, security, and more This book is essential reading for anyone entering the world of Linux!

Table of Contents:
Introduction xvii Chapter 1 Selecting an Operating System 1 What Is an OS?  1 What Is a Kernel? 1 What Else Identifies an OS? 2 Investigating User Interfaces  4 Using a Text-Mode User Interface  4 Using a Graphical User Interface 6 Where Does Linux Fit in the OS World?  8 Comparing Linux to Unix  8 Comparing Linux to Mac OS X  10 Comparing Linux to Windows 11 What Is a Distribution? 13 Creating a Complete Linux-Based OS 13 A Summary of Common Linux Distributions  14 Understanding Release Cycles 17 The Essentials and Beyond 18 Chapter 2 Investigating Linux’s Principles and Philosophy 21 Linux through the Ages  21 Understanding Linux’s Origins  22 Seeing Today’s Linux World 24 Using Open Source Software  24 Understanding Basic Open Source Principles  24 Linux as a Software Integrator  27 Understanding OS Roles 27 Understanding Embedded Computers  27 Understanding Desktop and Laptop Computers 28 Understanding Server Computers 29 The Essentials and Beyond 30 Chapter 3 Understanding Sof tware Licensing 33 Investigating Software Licenses 33 Copyright and Software 34 Using Licenses to Modify Copyright Terms  36 The Free Software Foundation 36 Understanding the FSF Philosophy 37 Free Software and the GPL  38 The Open Source Initiative 39 Understanding the Open Source Philosophy  39 Defining Open Source Software  40 The Creative Commons  41 Using Open Source Licenses  42 Understanding Open Source Licenses 42 Understanding Open Source Business Models  44 The Essentials and Beyond 45 Chapter 4 Using Common Linux Programs 49 Using a Linux Desktop Environment 49 Choosing a Desktop Environment 50 Launching Programs 52 Using a File Manager  54 Working with Productivity Software 56 Finding the Right Tool for the Job  57 Using a Web Browser  58 Using Email Clients  59 Using Office Tools 60 Using Multimedia Applications  61 Using Linux for Cloud Computing  62 Using Mobile Applications  62 Using Server Programs 63 Identifying Common Server Protocols and Programs 63 Installing and Launching Servers 67 Securing Servers  68 Managing Programming Languages 69 Choosing a Compiled vs. an Interpreted Language  69 Identifying Common Programming Languages  70 The Essentials and Beyond 72 Chapter 5 Managing Hardware 75 Learning About Your CPU  75 Understanding CPU Families 76 Identifying Your CPU 78 Identifying Motherboard Capabilities  78 Sizing Your Power Supply 80 Understanding Disk Issues 81 Disk Interfaces  81 Partitioning a Disk 81 Understanding Filesystem Issues  85 Using Removable and Optical Disks  88 Managing Displays  89 Understanding the Role of X  89 Using Common Display Hardware 90 Handling USB Devices  92 Managing Drivers  93 Understanding Types of Drivers 93 Locating and Installing Drivers  94 The Essentials and Beyond 95 Chapter 6 Get ting to Know the Command Line 99 Starting a Command Line  99 Launching a Terminal  100 Logging Into a Text-Mode Console  102 Logging In Remotely  103 Running Programs 103 Running Text-Mode Programs  104 Running GUI Programs 105 Running Programs in the Background 105 Manipulating Files  106 Obtaining File Listings  106 Changing Directories 108 Using Absolute and Relative File References 108 Using Common File Manipulation Commands  110 Using Shell Features 111 Using Command Completion  111 Using Command History 112 The Essentials and Beyond 114 Chapter 7 Managing Files 117 Manipulating Files  117 Creating Files 118 Copying Files  118 Moving and Renaming Files  120 Using Links 121 Deleting Files 122 Using Wildcards  123 Understanding Case Sensitivity 123 Manipulating Directories  124 Creating Directories 125 Deleting Directories 125 Managing Directories 127 The Essentials and Beyond 127 Chapter 8 Getting Help 131 Using man Pages 131 Understanding the Purpose of man Pages  131 Locating man Pages by Section Number  132 Searching for a man Page  133 Reading man Pages  134 Using less  135 Using info Pages  138 Understanding the Purpose of info Pages 138 Reading info Pages 139 Finding Additional Documentation 140 Locating Program Documentation on Your Computer 141 Locating Program Documentation Online 144 Consulting Experts  145 The Essentials and Beyond 146 Chapter 9 Using Programs and Processes 149 Understanding Package Management  149 Linux Package Management Principles  149 Understanding Package Systems 150 Managing RPM Systems  152 Managing Debian Systems 153 Understanding the Process Hierarchy 154 Identifying Running Processes  155 Using ps to Identify Processes 155 Using top to Identify Processes  157 Measuring Memory Use 159 Using Log Files  160 Locating Log Files 160 Producing More Verbose Log File Entries  162 Examining the Kernel Ring Buffer 162 The Essentials and Beyond 163 Chapter 10 Searching, Extracting, and Archiving Data 165 Using Regular Expressions 165 Searching for and Extracting Data  167 Using grep 168 Using find  170 Using wc  171 Redirecting Input and Output  172 Using Basic Redirection Operators  173 Using Pipes 175 Generating Command Lines  175 Archiving Data  176 Using tar 176 Using Compression 179 Using zip 180 The Essentials and Beyond 183 Chapter 11 Editing Files 185 Understanding the Role of Text Files 185 Choosing an Editor 187 Launching an Editor 189 Editing Files with pico or nano  189 Using Text Editor Conventions  190 Exploring Basic nano Text-Editing Procedures  190 Saving Your Changes from nano 193 Editing Files with Vi 193 Understanding Vi Modes  193 Exploring Basic Vi Text-Editing Procedures 194 Saving Your Changes from Vi  197 Using Configuration File Conventions 197 Editing Formatted Text Files  199 The Essentials and Beyond 200 Chapter 12 Creating Scripts 203 Beginning a Shell Script 204 Using Commands  204 Using Arguments  207 Using Variables  208 Using Conditional Expressions 210 Using Loops 212 Using Functions  213 Setting the Script’s Exit Value 214 The Essentials and Beyond 215 Chapter 13 Understanding Users and Groups 217 Understanding Accounts  217 Understanding Account Features  218 Identifying Accounts  220 Understanding Groups 222 Using Account Tools  223 Discovering Your Own Identity 224 Learning Who’s Online  225 Working as root 226 Why Work as root? 227 Acquiring root Privileges 227 Using root Privileges Safely 230 The Essentials and Beyond 232 Chapter 14 Creating Users and Groups 235 Creating New Accounts. 235 Deciding on a Group Strategy 235 Selecting a Good Password  236 Creating Accounts Using GUI Tools  239 Creating Accounts from the Shell 241 Modifying Accounts  244 Deciding When to Modify Accounts  244 Checking for Logged-in Users 245 Modifying Accounts Using GUI Tools  245 Modifying Accounts from the Shell 247 Deleting Accounts 250 Avoiding Account-Deletion Pitfalls  250 Deleting Accounts Using GUI Tools 251 Deleting Accounts from the Shell 251 Managing Groups  252 Managing Groups Using GUI Tools 252 Managing Groups from the Shell  253 The Essentials and Beyond 255 Chapter 15 Set ting Ownership and Permissions 257 Setting Ownership  257 Understanding Ownership 258 Setting Ownership in a File Manager  259 Setting Ownership in a Shell 260 Setting Permissions  261 Understanding Permissions 261 Setting Permissions in a File Manager 266 Setting Permissions in a Shell 266 Setting the umask  267 The Essentials and Beyond 268 Chapter 16 Navigating the Linux Filesystem 271 Understanding Where Things Go 271 User Files vs. System Files 271 The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard  273 Important Directories and Their Contents 274 Using Special Permission Bits and File Features 277 Using Sticky Bits  277 Using Special Execute Permissions 279 Hiding Files from View  280 Viewing Directories  281 The Essentials and Beyond 282 Chapter 17 Managing Network Connections 285 Understanding Network Features  285 Configuring a Network Connection 287 Deciding Whether to Use DHCP  288 Creating a Wi-Fi Connection 289 Using a Network Configuration GUI 293 Using Text-Based Tools  295 Testing Your Network Connection 299 Checking Your Routing Table  299 Testing Basic Connectivity  299 Finding Breaks in Connectivity 300 Testing DNS  302 Checking Your Network Status 302 Protecting Your System from the Bad Guys  303 The Essentials and Beyond 304 Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 307 Chapter 1 307 Chapter 2 308 Chapter 3 309 Chapter 4 310 Chapter 5 311 Chapter 6 312 Chapter 7 313 Chapter 8 314 Chapter 9 315 Chapter 10 316 Chapter 11 317 Chapter 12 318 Chapter 13 319 Chapter 14 320 Chapter 15 321 Chapter 16 322 Chapter 17 323 Appendix B LPI’s Certification Program 325 The Linux Essentials Certification 325 Certification Objectives Map  326 Index 329

About the Author :
Roderick W. Smith, Linux+, LPIC-1, LPIC-2, is a recognized Linux open source programmer and networking expert. He is the author of over a dozen books on open source technologies. His books include CompTIA Linux+ Complete Study Guide; LPIC-1: Linux Professional Institute Certification Study Guide, 2nd Edition; LPIC-2: Linux Professional Institute Certification Study Guide, and Linux Administrator Street Smarts, all from Sybex.