1/8/25, 10:58 PM 28 Common Linux 🐧Questions And Answers 🖥️ - DEV Community

Zoo Codes
Posted on Nov 21, 2024

🐧Questions And Answers 🖥️

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28 Common Linux
#linux #learning #productivity #tutorial
👋 Kindness is contagious
Introduction
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1/8/25, 10:58 PM 28 Common Linux 🐧Questions And Answers 🖥️ - DEV Community
1. What are the primary purposes and key features of an operating system,
particularly Linux? The primary purpose of an operating system (OS) like Linux is to
manage hardware resources and provide a user interface for interaction. Key features
of Linux include multitasking, multi-user capabilities, security through user permissions,
and a powerful command-line interface. Additionally, Linux is open-source, which allows
for customization and community-driven development.

2. Describe the origins and development of the Linux operating system. Linux was
created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as a free and open-source alternative to UNIX. It
started as a personal project but quickly gained popularity among developers and
enthusiasts. Over the years, many distributions (distros) have been developed, each
tailored for different needs, such as Ubuntu for ease of use and Fedora for cutting-edge
features. The collaborative nature of its development has led to a robust and secure
operating system.

3. What are the best practices for installing Fedora Linux? When installing Fedora,
I've found that it's important to back up any important data, ensure that your hardware is
compatible, and create a bootable USB drive with the Fedora ISO. During installation, I
recommend choosing the custom partitioning option if you're familiar with disk
management, and to keep the system updated regularly using the package manager to
avoid security vulnerabilities.

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TCP/IP is the fundamental protocol suite for networking, allowing different devices to
communicate over the internet. In Linux, you can configure TCP/IP settings through
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6. How
Okay do you configure a network interface card (NIC) in Linux? To configure a
NIC in Linux, I usually edit the network configuration files or use the ip command. For
example, I can set a static IP by editing /etc/network/interfaces or using nmcli for
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1/8/25, 10:58 PM 28 Common Linux 🐧Questions And Answers 🖥️ - DEV Community
NetworkManager-managed connections. After making changes, I restart the networking
service using systemctl restart NetworkManager.

7. What are the key aspects of printer, log file, and user administration in
Linux? Printer administration involves configuring printers using CUPS (Common Unix
Printing System), where you can add, manage, and troubleshoot printers through a web
interface. Log file management is crucial for system monitoring; log files located in
/var/log/ provide insights into system performance and errors. User administration
includes adding/removing users with commands like useradd and userdel , and
managing permissions with chmod and chown .

8. How do you navigate the Linux directory structure using relative and absolute
pathnames? Navigating the Linux directory structure can be done using both relative
and absolute pathnames. An absolute pathname starts from the root directory (e.g.,
/home/user/documents ), while a relative pathname starts from the current directory
(e.g., documents if I’m already in /home/user ). Using cd to change directories and pwd
to print the current directory helps me keep track of where I am.

9. Explain the use of shell wildcards in specifying filenames in Linux. Shell

wildcards are incredibly useful for matching filenames. For example, * matches any
number of characters (e.g., *.txt matches all text files), while ? matches a single
character (e.g., file?.txt matches file1.txt, file2.txt, etc.). Using wildcards saves time
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11. How do you create and execute basic shell scripts in Linux? Creating a shell
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canOkay
run it with ./script.sh .

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12. What are the types of hardware typically found in server systems and how are
they configured in Linux? Server systems typically include components like CPUs,
RAM, storage drives (HDDs/SSDs), network interface cards (NICs), and sometimes
specialized hardware like RAID controllers. In Linux, hardware configuration can be
done through various commands like lspci to list PCI devices, lsblk to view block
devices, and configuring storage through tools like fdisk or parted . Additionally, server
settings can be managed through configuration files and system utilities.

13. Explain the RAID levels and their configurations in Linux. RAID (Redundant
Array of Independent Disks) levels include RAID 0 (striping, no redundancy), RAID 1
(mirroring, redundancy), RAID 5 (striping with parity), and RAID 10 (combination of
striping and mirroring). In Linux, I can configure RAID using the mdadm tool, which
allows me to create and manage software RAID arrays. For example, to create a RAID
1 array, I'd use a command like mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2
/dev/sda /dev/sdb.

14. Summarize the major steps necessary to boot a Linux system. Booting a Linux
system generally involves several key steps:

BIOS/UEFI Initialization: The system firmware initializes hardware and performs a

POST (Power-On Self-Test).
Bootloader Execution: The bootloader (like GRUB) is loaded from the boot sector,
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Kernel Loading: The selected kernel is loaded into memory, and the initial RAM disk
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Init System: The init system (like systemd) is started, which then launches system
A simple “thank you” goes a long way—express your gratitude below in the
services and user sessions.
comments!
15.How do you configure the system to start and stop daemons at certain run
Gathering insights enriches our journey on DEV and fortifies our community
levels or targets? In Linux, particularly with systemd, services (or daemons) are
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service_name , and to disable it, systemctl disable service_name . To start or stop a
service manually, I can use systemctl start service_name or systemctl stop
Okay . For configuring specific targets, I can use systemctl isolate
service_name
target_name to switch to a specific run level or target.

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16.What is the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard in Linux? The Filesystem Hierarchy
Standard (FHS) defines the directory structure and directory contents in Linux systems.
It specifies that:

[ ] the root directory (/) is the top-level directory.

[ ] /bin for essential binaries,
[ ] /etc for configuration files,
[ ] /home for user home directories,
[ ] /var for variable data,
[ ] /usr for user programs and data.

This standardization helps ensure consistency across different Linux distributions.

17.Explain how to manage file and directory permissions in Linux. In Linux, file
and directory permissions are managed using the chmod , chown , and chgrp
commands. Permissions are represented in three categories: owner, group, and others,
with read (r), write (w), and execute (x) permissions. For example, to give the owner
read and write permissions, I would use chmod u+rw filename . To change the owner of
a file, I would use chown new_owner filename , and to change the group, chgrp
new_group filename .

18.Describe the types of device files in the /dev directory. In the /dev directory,

👋
there are two main types of device files: character device files and block device files.
Kindness is contagious
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19.How
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Linux, I typically use the mount command. For example, to mount a USB drive located
comments!
at /dev/sdb1 to a directory called /mnt/usb, I would run:
Gathering insights enriches our journey on DEV and fortifies our community
sudo Did
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you/dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb
find this article valuable? Taking a moment to thank the author
can have a significant impact.
To unmount it, I would use the umount command:

Okay
sudo umount /mnt/usb

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It’s important to ensure that no processes are using the filesystem before unmounting it
to avoid data loss.

20.How do you view processes and change their priorities in Linux? To view
processes in Linux, I often use the ps command, which lists currently running
processes. For a more dynamic view, top or htop provides real-time updates. To
change a process's priority, I can use the nice command when starting a process
(e.g., nice -n 10 command ) or the renice command to change the priority of an already
running process. Lowering the priority (increasing the niceness value) can be done with:

renice 10 -p PID

21.Explain the use of cron and at daemons for scheduling tasks in

Linux. The cron daemon is used for scheduling recurring tasks at specified intervals. I
can create a cron job by editing the crontab with crontab -e , where I specify the time
and command to run. For example, to run a script every day at 5 AM, I'd add:

1 0 5 * * * /path/to/script.sh

The at command is used for scheduling one-time tasks. I can schedule a command to
run at a specific time by using:

👋echoKindness
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/etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
range of IP addresses, and other options. After configuring, I start the DHCP service
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Domain). I install BIND, configure the zone files in /etc/bind/ , and set up
the named.conf file to define the zones. I then start the BIND service with systemctl
Gathering insights enriches our journey on DEV and fortifies our community
start named .
ties. Did you find this article valuable? Taking a moment to thank the author
can have athe
23.Explain significant
processimpact.
of configuring the Apache Web server for web services in
Linux. To configure the Apache Web server, I first install it using the package manager
Okay
(e.g., sudo apt install apache2 on Debian-based systems). After installation, I can edit
the main configuration file located at /etc/apache2/apache2.conf or create virtual host

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files in /etc/apache2/sites-available/ . To enable a virtual host, I use
the a2ensite command, and then restart Apache with sudo systemctl restart
apache2 . I also ensure that the firewall allows HTTP/HTTPS traffic using ufw allow
'Apache Full' .

24.What are the different facets of Linux security and how can you increase the
security of a Linux computer? Linux security encompasses user permissions, firewall
configuration, regular updates, and system auditing. To increase security, I can enforce
strong password policies, use tools like iptables or ufw for firewall settings, regularly
apply security patches, and implement SELinux or AppArmor for additional access
control. Additionally, I can minimize the number of running services and use SSH keys
for secure remote access instead of passwords.

25.Describe effective troubleshooting practices for common hardware and

software problems in Linux. Effective troubleshooting in Linux involves several steps:

Identify the Problem: Gather information about the issue, including error messages
and logs.
Check Logs: Review system logs in /var/log/ (like syslog or dmesg ) for relevant
messages.
Use Diagnostic Tools: Utilize commands like ping , traceroute , and top to
diagnose network issues and system performance.
👋 Research: Look up error messages online or consult documentation.
Kindness is contagious
Testing: Isolate the issue by testing hardware components or reverting recent
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26.Explain the difference between UNIX and Linux operating systems. UNIX is a
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clone of UNIX created by Linus Torvalds in the early 1990s.

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a significant for flexible allocation of storage space. With LVM, I can
impact.
create logical volumes that can be resized dynamically, which is useful for managing
storage
Okayneeds over time. Advantages of LVM include:

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Dynamic Resizing: I can easily increase or decrease the size of logical volumes as
needed.
Snapshots: LVM allows me to create snapshots of volumes, which can be useful for
backups or testing.
Pooling of Storage: Multiple physical disks can be combined into a single logical
volume, simplifying storage management.
Improved Disk Utilization: LVM helps in efficiently managing disk space across
multiple partitions.

28.Discuss the role of systemd in managing services and daemons in

Linux. Systemd is a system and service manager for Linux operating systems that has
become the default init system for many distributions. Its role includes:

Service Management: Systemd manages services (daemons) using unit files,

allowing for easy starting, stopping, enabling, and disabling of services.
Parallel Startup: It can start services in parallel, which improves boot times
compared to traditional init systems.
Dependency Management: Systemd handles service dependencies, ensuring that
services start in the correct order based on their requirements.
Logging: It integrates with the journal system to provide logging capabilities,
allowing for easy access to logs via the journalctl command.
Socket and Timer Activation: Systemd can start services on-demand when a
👋 Kindness is contagious
socket is accessed or at scheduled times, optimizing resource usage.

Immerse yourself in a wealth of knowledge with this piece, supported by the

Conclusion
inclusive DEV Community—every developer, no matter where they are in their
Congratulations on to
journey, is invited exploring the to
contribute basics of Linux! We
our collective hope this collection of common
wisdom.
questions and answers has made your introduction to Linux a little easier and more
A simple “thank
enjoyable. you” goes
Remember, everyaexpert
long way—express your gratitude
was once a beginner, so don’tbelow in the
be afraid to
experiment
comments!and ask questions as you learn. With practice and curiosity, you’ll soon feel
at home in the Linux environment. Keep exploring, and enjoy your journey into the world
Gathering
of insights
open-source enriches our journey on DEV and fortifies our community
technology!
ties. Did you find this article valuable? Taking a moment to thank the author
Ican
hope you ahave
have enjoyedimpact.
significant this article. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach
out to me on Twitter. or LinkedIn. You can also check out my other articles on Dev.to.
Thanks
Okayfor reading!
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inclusive DEV Community—every developer, no matter where they are in their
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👋 Kindness is contagious
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Zoo Codes

Python developer, Azure Devops certified, Technical Writer. Buy me a [coffee]

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