MAMLAKA YA HALI YA HEWA

MAWASILIANO YA NDANI
KUTOKA: SYSTEM ANALYST
KUMB. NA. TMA/1109
KWENDA: DTS
K.K: MICT

TAREHE: 27/06/2014
Linux Notes
1) What is Linux?
Linux is an operating system base on !N"#$ an %as &rst introu'e by Linus Tor(a)s* "t is
base on t+e Linux ,erne)$ an 'an run on i-erent +ar%are p)at.orms manu.a'ture by
"nte)$ M"/S$ 0/$ "1M$ S/A23 an Motoro)a* Anot+er popu)ar e)ement in Linux is its mas'ot$ a
penguin &gure name Tux*
2) What is the diference between UNIX and LINUX?
!nix origina))y began as a propriety operating system .rom 1e)) Laboratories$ %+i'+ )ater on
spa%ne into i-erent 'ommer'ia) (ersions* 4n t+e ot+er +an$ Linux is .ree$ open sour'e
an intene as a non5propriety operating system .or t+e masses*
3) What is BASH?
1AS0 is s+ort .or 1ourne Again S0e))* "t %as %ritten by Ste(e 1ourne as a rep)a'ement to t+e
origina) 1ourne S+e)) 6represente by /bin/s+7* "t 'ombines a)) t+e .eatures .rom t+e origina)
(ersion o. 1ourne S+e))$ p)us aitiona) .un'tions to ma8e it easier an more 'on(enient to
use* "t +as sin'e been aapte as t+e e.au)t s+e)) .or most systems running Linux*
) What is Linux !erne"?
T+e Linux ,erne) is a )o%5)e(e) systems so.t%are %+ose main ro)e is to manage +ar%are
resour'es .or t+e user* "t is a)so use to pro(ie an inter.a'e .or user5)e(e) intera'tion*
#) What is LIL$?
L"L4 is a boot )oaer .or Linux* "t is use main)y to )oa t+e Linux operating system into main
memory so t+at it 'an begin its operations*
%) What is a swa& s&ace?
A s%ap spa'e is a 'ertain amount o. spa'e use by Linux to temporari)y +o) some programs
t+at are running 'on'urrent)y* T+is +appens %+en 2AM oes not +a(e enoug+ memory to
+o) a)) programs t+at are exe'uting*
') What is the ad(anta)e *+ *&en s*urce?
4pen sour'e a))o%s you to istribute your so.t%are$ in')uing sour'e 'oes .ree)y to anyone
%+o is intereste* /eop)e %ou) t+en be ab)e to a .eatures an e(en ebug an 'orre't
errors t+at are in t+e sour'e 'oe* T+ey 'an e(en ma8e it run better$ an t+en reistribute
t+ese en+an'e sour'e 'oe .ree)y again* T+is e(entua))y bene&ts e(eryone in t+e
'ommunity*
, ) What are the basic c*-&*nents *+ Linux?
9ust )i8e any ot+er typi'a) operating system$ Linux +as a)) o. t+ese 'omponents: 8erne)$ s+e))s
an ;!"s$ system uti)ities$ an app)i'ation program* <+at ma8es Linux a(antageous o(er
ot+er operating system is t+at e(ery aspe't 'omes %it+ aitiona) .eatures an a)) 'oes .or
t+ese are o%n)oaab)e .or .ree*
.) /*es it he"& +*r a Linux s0ste- t* ha(e -u"ti&"e des1t*& en(ir*n-ents
insta""ed?
"n genera)$ one es8top en(ironment$ )i8e ,=E or ;nome$ is goo enoug+ to operate %it+out
issues* "t>s a)) a matter o. pre.eren'e .or t+e user$ a)t+oug+ t+e system a))o%s s%it'+ing .rom
one en(ironment to anot+er* Some programs %i)) %or8 on one en(ironment an not %or8 on
t+e ot+er$ so it 'ou) a)so be 'onsiere a .a'tor in se)e'ting %+i'+ en(ironment to use*
12) What is the basic diference between BASH and /$S?
T+e 8ey i-eren'es bet%een t+e 1AS0 an =4S 'onso)e )ies in ? areas:
5 1AS0 'ommans are 'ase sensiti(e %+i)e =4S 'ommans are not@
5 uner 1AS0$ / '+ara'ter is a ire'tory separator an A a'ts as an es'ape '+ara'ter* !ner
=4S$ / ser(es as a 'omman argument e)imiter an A is t+e ire'tory separator
5 =4S .o))o%s a 'on(ention in naming &)es$ %+i'+ is B '+ara'ter &)e name .o))o%e by a ot
an ? '+ara'ter .or t+e extension* 1AS0 .o))o%s no su'+ 'on(ention*
11) What is the i-&*rtance *+ the 3NU &r*4ect?
T+is so5'a))e Cree so.t%are mo(ement a))o%s se(era) a(antages$ su'+ as t+e .reeom to
run programs .or any purpose an .reeom to stuy an moi.y a program to your nees* "t
a)so a))o%s you to reistribute 'opies o. a so.t%are to ot+er peop)e$ as %e)) as .reeom to
impro(e so.t%are an +a(e it re)ease to t+e pub)i'*
12) /escribe the r**t acc*unt5
T+e root a''ount is )i8e a systems aministrator a''ount$ an a))o%s you .u)) 'ontro) o. t+e
system* 0ere you 'an 'reate an maintain user a''ounts$ assigning i-erent permissions .or
ea'+ a''ount* "t is t+e e.au)t a''ount e(ery time you insta)) Linux*
13) What is 6LI?
3L" is s+ort .or 3omman Line "nter.a'e* T+is inter.a'e a))o%s user to type e')arati(e
'ommans to instru't t+e 'omputer to per.orm operations* 3L" o-ers an a(antage in t+at
t+ere is greater Dexibi)ity* 0o%e(er$ ot+er users %+o are a)reay a''ustom %it+ using ;!"
&n it iE'u)t to remember 'ommans in')uing attributes t+at 'ome %it+ it*
1) What is 3UI?
;!"$ or ;rap+i'a) !ser "nter.a'e$ ma8es use o. images an i'ons t+at users ')i'8 an
manipu)ate as a %ay o. 'ommuni'ating %it+ t+e 'omputer* "nstea o. +a(ing to remember
an type 'ommans$ t+e use o. grap+i'a) e)ements ma8es it easier to intera't %it+ t+e
system$ as %e)) as aing more attra'tion t+roug+ images$ i'ons an 'o)ors*
1#) H*w d* 0*u *&en a c*--and &r*-&t when issuin) a c*--and?
To open t+e e.au)t s+e)) 6%+i'+ is %+ere t+e 'omman prompt 'an be .oun7$ press 3tr)5A)t5
C1* T+is %i)) pro(ie a 'omman )ine inter.a'e 63L"7 .rom %+i'+ you 'an run 'ommans as
neee*
1%) H*w can 0*u 7nd *ut h*w -uch -e-*r0 Linux is usin)?
Crom a 'omman s+e))$ use t+e F'on'atenateG 'omman: 'at /pro'/memin.o .or memory
usage in.ormation* You s+ou) see a )ine starting somet+ing )i8e: Mem: 646HH?60$ et'* T+is
is t+e tota) memory Linux t+in8s it +as a(ai)ab)e to use*
1') What is t0&ica" si8e +*r a swa& &artiti*n under a Linux s0ste-?
T+e pre.erre siIe .or a s%ap partition is t%i'e t+e amount o. p+ysi'a) memory a(ai)ab)e on
t+e system* ". t+is is not possib)e$ t+en t+e minimum siIe s+ou) be t+e same as t+e amount
o. memory insta))e*
1,) What are s0-b*"ic "in1s?
Symbo)i' )in8s a't simi)ar)y to s+ort'uts in <ino%s* Su'+ )in8s point to programs$ &)es or
ire'tories* "t a)so a))o%s you instant a''ess to it %it+out +a(ing to go ire't)y to t+e entire
pat+name*
1.) /*es the 6tr"9A"t9/e" 1e0 c*-binati*n w*r1 *n Linux?
Yes$ it oes* 9ust )i8e <ino%s$ you 'an use t+is 8ey 'ombination to per.orm a system restart*
4ne i-eren'e is t+at you %on>t be getting any 'on&rmation message an t+ere.ore$ reboot
is immeiate*
22) H*w d* 0*u re+er t* the &ara""e" &*rt where de(ices such as &rinters are
c*nnected?
<+ereas uner <ino%s you re.er to t+e para))e) port as t+e L/T port$ uner Linux you re.er
to it as /e(/)p * L/T1$ L/T2 an L/T? %ou) t+ere.ore be re.erre to as /e(/)p0$ /e(/)p1$
or /e(/)p2 uner Linux*
21) Are dri(es such as harddri(e and :*&&0 dri(es re&resented with dri(e "etters?
No* "n Linux$ ea'+ ri(e an e(i'e +as i-erent esignations* Cor examp)e$ Doppy ri(es
are re.erre to as /e(/.0 an /e(/.1* "=E/E"=E +ar ri(es are re.erre to as /e(/+a$
/e(/+b$ /e(/+'$ an so .ort+*
22) H*w d* 0*u chan)e &er-issi*ns under Linux?
Assuming you are t+e system aministrator or t+e o%ner o. a &)e or ire'tory$ you 'an grant
permission using t+e '+mo 'omman* !se J symbo) to a permission or K symbo) to eny
permission$ a)ong %it+ any o. t+e .o))o%ing )etters: u 6user7$ g 6group7$ o 6ot+ers7$ a 6a))7$ r
6rea7$ % 6%rite7 an x 6exe'ute7* Cor examp)e t+e 'omman '+mo goJr% C"LE1*T#T grants
rea an %rite a''ess to t+e &)e C"LE1*T#T$ %+i'+ is assigne to groups an ot+ers*
23) In Linux; what na-es are assi)ned t* the diferent seria" &*rts?
Seria) ports are ienti&e as /e(/ttyS0 to /e(/ttyS7* T+ese are t+e eLui(a)ent names o.
34M1 to 34MB in <ino%s*
2) H*w d* 0*u access &artiti*ns under Linux?
Linux assigns numbers at t+e en o. t+e ri(e ienti&er* Cor examp)e$ i. t+e &rst "=E +ar
ri(e +a t+ree primary partitions$ t+ey %ou) be name/numbere$ /e(/+a1$ /e(/+a2
an /e(/+a?*
2#) What are hard "in1s?
0ar )in8s point ire't)y to t+e p+ysi'a) &)e on is8$ an not on t+e pat+ name* T+is means
t+at i. you rename or mo(e t+e origina) &)e$ t+e )in8 %i)) not brea8$ sin'e t+e )in8 is .or t+e
&)e itse).$ not t+e pat+ %+ere t+e &)e is )o'ate*
2%) What is the -axi-u- "en)th +*r a 7"ena-e under Linux?
Any &)ename 'an +a(e a maximum o. 2HH '+ara'ters* T+is )imit oes not in')ue t+e pat+
name$ so t+ere.ore t+e entire pat+name an &)ename 'ou) %e)) ex'ee 2HH '+ara'ters*
2')What are 7"ena-es that are &receded b0 a d*t?
"n genera)$ &)enames t+at are pre'ee by a ot are +ien &)es* T+ese &)es 'an be
'on&guration &)es t+at +o) important ata or setup in.o* Setting t+ese &)es as +ien ma8es
it )ess )i8e)y to be a''ienta))y e)ete*
2,) <x&"ain (irtua" des1t*&5
T+is ser(es as an a)ternati(e to minimiIing an maximiIing i-erent %ino%s on t+e 'urrent
es8top* !sing (irtua) es8tops$ ea'+ es8top is a ')ean s)ate %+ere you 'an open one or
more programs* 2at+er t+an minimiIing/restoring a)) t+ose programs as neee$ you 'an
simp)y s+uMe bet%een (irtua) es8tops %it+ programs inta't in ea'+ one*
2.) H*w d* 0*u share a &r*)ra- acr*ss diferent (irtua" des1t*&s under Linux?
To s+are a program a'ross i-erent (irtua) es8tops$ in t+e upper )e.t5+an 'orner o. a
program %ino% )oo8 .or an i'on t+at )oo8s )i8e a pus+pin* /ressing t+is button %i)) FpinG t+at
app)i'ation in p)a'e$ ma8ing it appear in a)) (irtua) es8tops$ in t+e same position ons'reen*
32) What d*es a na-e"ess =e-&t0) direct*r0 re&resent?
T+is empty ire'tory name ser(es as t+e name)ess base o. t+e Linux &)e system* T+is ser(es
as an atta'+ment .or a)) ot+er ire'tories$ &)es$ ri(es an e(i'es*
31) What is the &wd c*--and?
T+e p% 'omman is s+ort .or print %or8ing ire'tory 'omman* "t>s 'ounterpart in =4S is
t+e ' 'omman$ an is use to isp)ay t+e 'urrent )o'ation in t+e ire'tory tree*
32) What are dae-*ns?
=aemons are ser(i'es t+at pro(ie se(era) .un'tions t+at may not be a(ai)ab)e uner t+e
base operating system* "ts main tas8 is to )isten .or ser(i'e reLuest an at t+e same time to
a't on t+ese reLuests* A.ter t+e ser(i'e is one$ it is t+en is'onne'te an %aits .or .urt+er
reLuests*
33) H*w d* 0*u switch +r*- *ne des1t*& en(ir*n-ent t* an*ther; such as
switchin) +r*- !/< t* 3n*-e?
Assuming you +a(e t+ese t%o en(ironments insta))e$ Nust )og out .rom t+e grap+i'a)
inter.a'e* T+en at t+e Log in s'reen$ type your )ogin "= an pass%or an '+oose %+i'+
session type you %is+ to )oa* T+is '+oi'e %i)) remain your e.au)t unti) you '+ange it to
somet+ing e)se*
3) What are the 1inds *+ &er-issi*ns under Linux?
T+ere are ? 8ins o. permissions uner Linux:
5 2ea: users may rea t+e &)es or )ist t+e ire'tory
5 <rite: users may %rite to t+e &)e o. ne% &)es to t+e ire'tory
5 Exe'ute: users may run t+e &)e or )oo8up a spe'i&' &)e %it+in a ire'tory
3#) H*w d*es case sensiti(it0 afect the wa0 0*u use c*--ands?
<+en %e ta)8 about 'ase sensiti(ity$ 'ommans are 'onsiere ienti'a) on)y i. e(ery
'+ara'ter is en'oe as is$ in')uing )o%er'ase an upper'ase )etters* T+is means t+at 3=$
' an 3 are t+ree i-erent 'ommans* Entering a 'omman using upper'ase )etters$
%+ere it s+ou) be in )o%er'ase$ %i)) prou'e i-erent outputs*
3%) What are en(ir*n-enta" (ariab"es?
En(ironmenta) (ariab)es are g)oba) settings t+at 'ontro) t+e s+e))>s .un'tion as %e)) as t+at o.
ot+er Linux programs* Anot+er 'ommon term .or en(ironmenta) (ariab)es is g)oba) s+e))
(ariab)es*
3') What are the diferent -*des when usin) (i edit*r?
T+ere are ? moes uner (i:
5 3omman moe K t+is is t+e moe %+ere you start in
5 Eit moe K t+is is t+e moe t+at a))o%s you to o text eiting
5 Ex moe K t+is is t+e moe %+erein you intera't %it+ (i %it+ instru'tions to pro'ess a &)e
3,) Is it &*ssib"e t* use sh*rtcut +*r a "*n) &athna-e?
Yes$ t+ere is* A .eature 8no%n as &)ename expansion a))o%s you o t+is using t+e TA1 8ey*
Cor examp)e$ i. you +a(e a pat+ name /+ome/i'eman/assignments ire'tory$ you %ou)
type as .o))o%s: /+oOtabP/i'eOtabP/assiOtabP * T+is$ +o%e(er$ assumes t+at t+e pat+ is uniLue$
an t+at t+e s+e)) you>re using supports t+is .eature*
3.) What is redirecti*n?
2eire'tion is t+e pro'ess o. ire'ting ata .rom one output to anot+er* "t 'an a)so be use to
ire't an output as an input to anot+er pro'ess*
2) What is )re& c*--and?
grep a sear'+ 'omman t+at ma8es use o. pattern5base sear'+ing* "t ma8es use o. options
an parameters t+at is spe'i&e a)ong t+e 'omman )ine an app)ies t+is pattern into
sear'+ing t+e reLuire &)e output*
1) What c*u"d &*ssib"0 be the &r*b"e- when a c*--and that was issued )a(e a
diferent resu"t +r*- the "ast ti-e it was used?
4ne +ig+)y possib)e reason .or getting i-erent resu)ts .rom %+at seems to be t+e same
'omman +as somet+ing to o %it+ 'ase sensiti(ity issues* Sin'e Linux is 'ase sensiti(e$ a
'omman t+at %as pre(ious)y use mig+t +a(e been entere in a i-erent .ormat .rom t+e
present one* Cor examp)e$ to )ists a)) &)es in t+e ire'tory$ you s+ou) type t+e 'omman )s$
an not LS* Typing LS %ou) eit+er resu)t in an error message i. t+ere is no program by t+at
exa't name exist$ or may prou'e a i-erent output i. t+ere is a program name LS t+at
per.orms anot+er .un'tion*
2) What are the c*ntents in >usr>"*ca"?
"t 'ontains )o'a))y insta))e &)es* T+is ire'tory a'tua))y matters in en(ironments %+ere &)es
are store on t+e net%or8* Spe'i&'a))y$ )o'a))y5insta))e &)es go to /usr/)o'a)/bin$ /usr/)o'a)/)ib$
et'*7* Anot+er app)i'ation o. t+is ire'tory is t+at it is use .or so.t%are pa'8ages insta))e
.rom sour'e$ or so.t%are not oE'ia))y s+ippe %it+ t+e istribution*
3) H*w d* 0*u ter-inate an *n)*in) &r*cess?
E(ery pro'ess in t+e system is ienti&e by a uniLue pro'ess i or pi* !se t+e 8i)) 'omman
.o))o%e by t+e pi in orer to terminate t+at pro'ess* To terminate a)) pro'ess at on'e$ use
8i)) 0*
) H*w d* 0*u insert c*--ents in the c*--and "ine &r*-&t?
3omments are 'reate by typing t+e Q symbo) be.ore t+e a'tua) 'omment text* T+is te))s
t+e s+e)) to 'omp)ete)y ignore %+at .o))o%s* Cor examp)e: FQ T+is is Nust a 'omment t+at t+e
s+e)) %i)) ignore*G
#) What is c*--and )r*u&in) and h*w d*es it w*r1?
You 'an use parent+eses to group 'ommans* Cor examp)e$ i. you %ant to sen t+e 'urrent
ate an time a)ong %it+ t+e 'ontents o. a &)e name 4!T/!T to a se'on &)e name
MY=ATES$ you 'an app)y 'omman grouping as .o))o%s: 6ate 'at 4!T/!T7 R MY=ATES