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Lab 1: Shell Command Proficiency
Objective:
The objective of this lab is to help participants understand and utilize the shell
efficiently. By the end of this lab, participants should have mastered basic shell
commands, their syntax, and the use of input-output redirection to manage command
output. Additionally, participants should be able to combine commands to create simple
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scripts or command sequences.
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Tasks:
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1. Practice Basic Shell Commands and Syntax:
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1.1. Command List: ni
● ls: List files and directories.
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● cd: Change directory.
● pwd: Print current working directory.
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● cp: Copy files or directories.
● mv: Move or rename files or directories.
● rm: Remove files or directories.
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● mkdir: Create a new directory.
● rmdir: Remove an empty directory.
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● echo: Print text to the terminal.
1.2. Syntax Examples:
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# Change to the home directory
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cd ~
# List files in the current directory
ls
# Create a new directory
mkdir my_directory
# Copy a file to another location
cp file.txt /path/to/destination/
# Remove a file
rm file.txt
2. Use Input-Output Redirection:
2.1. Output Redirection:
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● >: Redirect standard output to a file, overwriting its content.
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● >>: Redirect standard output to a file, appending to its content.
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# Redirect ls output to a file (overwrite if exists)
ls > output.txt
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# Redirect ls output to a file (append if exists)
ls >> output.txt
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2.2. Pipeline (|):
● Use the output of one command as the input for another.
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# List files and directories, then filter for .txt files
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ls | grep ".txt"
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2.3. Error Redirection (2>):
● Redirect standard error to a file.
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# Redirect error output to a file
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command_that_might_fail 2> error.log
3. Combine Commands to Create Simple Scripts:
3.1. Script Example:
#!/bin/bash
# A simple script to create a backup of a directory
# Define variables
source_dir="/path/to/source/"
backup_dir="/path/to/backup/"
# Create backup directory if not exists
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mkdir -p $backup_dir
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# Copy files to backup directory
cp -r $source_dir* $backup_dir
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# Display success message
echo "Backup completed successfully."
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Conclusion: ni
This lab has equipped participants with the necessary skills to navigate the shell and
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manipulate command output effectively. Understanding basic commands, their syntax,
and the use of input-output redirection are fundamental skills for system administration
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tasks. Participants should now feel confident in their ability to perform more complex
tasks in a Unix-like environment.
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