11/19/2019

Mastering Linux Command-line

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Linux File System

 File System Layout
 Unix Files
 File Names
 File Categories
 File Organization
 Pathnames
 Working with directories
 Working with files
 Comparing files
 etc.

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Linux File System

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Analogy - House
 Living Room  Living Room
 Kitchen  Kitchen
 Master Bedroom  Bedroom
 Guest Bedroom  Bathroom
 Game Room
 Bathroom

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Linux File System Organization

/ (root)

directory1 directory2 directory3 file1

sub-directory1
file2

sub-directory2 sub-directory3

file2

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Linux File System Organization - Sample

/ (root)

tmp bin etc sbin dev opt usr home var ……….

cat cd who john mary

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Directories
Directory Purpose
/ Represents the root of the file system. Everything else falls under root.

/bin Contains binaries

/sbin Contains system binaries
/var A place for files that may change often. Example of usage: User Emails
/usr The "user file system”. Contains executables, libraries, man files and other types of documention
/opt Contains locally installed software.
/home User’s home directories are located under this directory

/etc Contains system-wide configuration files and system databases i.e system administration related files.

/dev Contains files that represent hardware like hard drives etc.

/lib Stores the needed libraries and data files for programs stored within /usr or elsewhere.

/tmp, /var/tmp Location for temporary files.

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System Administration Related Info

Hard Disk – Partitions & Mount-points
 Hard disk is partitioned into multiple partitions at the time of OS installation.

 These PARTITIONS are mounted (or mapped or linked) to desired spot.

 A partition with the mount-point “/” (called as root) is MUST!

 A partition is configured as “swap partition” which us used by the OS. This is also MUST!
 Optionally, more partitions can be created and mount at:
 /opt (/opt is referred as the mount-point for the partition mounted)
 /var (/var is referred as the mount-point for the partition mounted)
 etc.
 If /opt partition is not created, /opt is still created and becomes part of “/” partition.
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System Administration Related Info

“lost+found”
 Each partition has a “lost+found” directory.
 If a partition is mounted at /opt, then you will see /opt/lost+found.

 It is used by the “fsck” command or similar functionality commands.

 File System Check.

 Used by Linux System Administrators for filesystem management.

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Home Directory

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Home Directory
 Every user has a home directory
/ (root)
 User Login  home directory.
 $HOME holds user’s home directory path.

tmp bin etc sbin usr home var

john’s home directory

cat cd who john mary

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File Types

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File Types
 Regular Files (-)
 Directory Files (d)
 Special Files
 Block Device Files (b)
 Character Device Files (c)
 Named pipe files (p)
 Symbolic link files (l)
 Socket files (s)

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Regular Files
 Readable file
 A binary file
 Image file
 Compressed file

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Directory Files
 This type of file contains other files and sub-directories.

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Special Files
Block Device File Character Device File
These files are hardware files Provides a serial stream of input or
most of them are present in /dev. output. Your terminals are classic
example for this type of files.

Pipe File Symbolic Link File

Pipes allow separate processes to These are links to other files.
communicate without having
been designed explicitly to work Socket Files
together. A socket file is used to pass
information between applications
Example: | for communication purpose

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Everything is a file
 Everything is a file in Linux.
 Hard Disk
 CD-ROM
 Memory
 Printer

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File Naming Restrictions

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File Names
 Case-sensitive  myfile
 You can use:  Myfile
 Alphabets – Upper & Lower
 Numbers
 . (dot)
 _ (underscore)
 - (hyphen)
 Etc

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File Names – Avoid these

 /  :  >  (
 )
 *  &  <
 {
 ?  }

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File Names – File Extension

 File extension has no significance
 It only adds visual value.
 Example:
 myfile
 myfile.txt

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Understanding Linux Paths

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Paths
 Parent Directory / (root)

 Sub-directory or Child-directory
 Absolute Paths
 Relative Paths
 ./ tmp bin etc sbin usr home var

 .
 ..
cat cd who john mary
 Home Directory
 ~
Myfile.txt dir2

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Paths
/ (root)
Absolute Path Example
/home/john/Myfile.txt

Relative Path Example

tmp bin etc sbin usr home var ./Myfile.txt

~/Myfile.txt
cat cd who john mary
.  Current Directory
..  Parent Directory
Myfile.txt dir2
~  Home Directory
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DOTS
Hidden Files/Folders

 Filenames or directory names that start with a dot (.)

Command Purpose
 System/User level dot files
ls List contents of a folder
 .profile
ls –l Long list
 .exrc ls –a List hidden files also
 .bashrc
 DOT (.)

 Two DOTS (..)

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Wild Cards
Special Character Purpose
* Match all character
? Match any one character
[] Match specified between [ and ]

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