LPI Linux Essentials Study Guide

Using a Linux Desktop Environment 58
Choosing a Desktop Environment 58
Launching Programs 61
Using a File Manager 63
Working with Productivity Software 66
Finding the Right Tool for the Job 66
Using a Web Browser 67
Using Email Clients 68
Using Office Tools 68
Using Multimedia Applications 69
Using Linux for Cloud Computing 70
Using Mobile Applications 71
Using Server Programs 72
Identifying Common Server Protocols and Programs 72
Focusing on Web Servers 76
Installing and Launching Servers 76
Securing Servers 77
Managing Programming Languages 78
Choosing a Compiled vs. an Interpreted Language 78
Identifying Common Programming Languages 79
Handling Software Packages 81
Understanding Software Packages 81
Identifying Common Package Tools 81
Summary 82
Exam Essentials 83
Review Questions 84

Chapter 5 Getting to Know the Command Line 87
Starting a Command Line 88
Launching a Terminal 88
Logging into a Text-Mode Console 91
Running Programs 92
Understanding Text-Mode Program Syntax 93
Running Text-Mode Programs 94
Running GUI Programs 95
Running Programs in the Background 96
Using Shell Features 97
Using Command Completion 97
Using Command History 98
Getting Help Using Man Pages 99
Understanding the Purpose of Man Pages 100
Locating Man Pages by Section Number 100
Searching for a Man Page 102
Reading Man Pages 102
Using less 104
Getting Help Using Info Pages 106
Understanding the Purpose of Info Pages 106
Reading Info Pages 107
Finding Additional Documentation 109
Locating Program Documentation on Your Computer 109
Locating Program Documentation Online 112
Consulting Experts 112
Summary 114
Exam Essentials 114
Review Questions 116

Chapter 6 Managing Hardware 119
Learning About Your CPU 120
Understanding CPU Families 120
Identifying Your CPU 123
Identifying Motherboard Capabilities 123
Sizing Your Power Supply 125
Understanding Disk Issues 125
Disk Interfaces 126
Partitioning a Disk 127
Understanding Filesystem Issues 130
Using Removable and Optical Disks 133
Managing Displays 134
Understanding the Role of X 134
Using Common Display Hardware 136
Handling USB Devices 137
Managing Drivers 138
Understanding Types of Drivers 138
Locating and Installing Drivers 139
Summary 140
Exam Essentials 140
Review Questions 141

Chapter 7 Managing Files 143
Understanding Where Things Go 144
User Files vs. System Files 144
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard 146
Important Directories and Their Contents 147
Exploring Files and Directories 149
Obtaining File Listings 149
Changing Directories 151
Using Absolute and Relative File References 152
Manipulating Files 154
Creating Files 154
Copying Files 155
Moving and Renaming Files 157
Using Links 157
Deleting Files 159
Using Wildcards 160
Understanding Case Sensitivity 160
Manipulating Directories 161
Creating Directories 161
Deleting Directories 162
Managing Directories 163
Summary 164
Exam Essentials 164
Review Questions 165

Chapter 8 Searching, Extracting, and Archiving Data 167
Using Regular Expressions 168
Searching For and Extracting Data 170
Using grep 170
Using find 172
Using wc 174
Using cut 175
Using sort 176
Using cat 177
Redirecting Input and Output 178
Using Basic Redirection Operators 178
Using Pipes 181
Generating Command Lines 182
Archiving Data 183
Using tar 183
Using Compression 187
Using zip 188
Summary 191
Exam Essentials 191
Review Questions 193

Chapter 9 Exploring Processes and Process Data 195
Understanding Package Management 196
Linux Package Management Principles 196
Understanding Package Systems 197
Managing Red Hat Systems 199
Managing Debian Systems 200
Understanding the Process Hierarchy 202
Identifying Running Processes 203
Using ps to Identify Processes 203
Using top to Identify Processes 205
Measuring Memory Use 207
Using Log Files 208
Locating Log Files 209
Producing More Verbose Log File Entries 210
Examining the Kernel Ring Buffer 211
Summary 211
Exam Essentials 212
Review Questions 213

Chapter 10 Editing Files 215
Understanding the Role of Text Files 216
Choosing an Editor 218
Editing Files with nano 219
Using Text Editor Conventions 221
Exploring Basic nano Text-Editing Procedures 221
Saving Your Changes from nano 223
Editing Files with vi 224
Understanding vi Modes 224
Exploring Basic vi Text-Editing Procedures 226
Saving Your Changes from vi 229
Summary 230
Exam Essentials 230
Review Questions 231

Chapter 11 Creating Scripts 233
Beginning a Shell Script 234
Using Commands 235
Using Arguments 237
Using Variables 238
Using Conditional Expressions 241
Using Loops 243
Using Functions 244
Setting the Script’s Exit Value 245
Summary 246
Exam Essentials 246
Review Questions 248

Chapter 12 Understanding Basic Security 251
Understanding Accounts 252
Understanding Account Features 253
Identifying Accounts 256
Understanding Groups 258
Using Account Tools 259
Discovering Your Own Identity 260
Learning Who’s Online 261
Working as root 263
Understanding User Types 263
Acquiring root Privileges 264
Using root Privileges Safely 266
Summary 268
Exam Essentials 268
Review Questions 270

Chapter 13 Creating Users and Groups 273
Creating New Accounts 274
Deciding on a Group Strategy 274
Selecting a Good Password 275
Creating Accounts Using GUI Tools 278
Creating Accounts from the Shell 280
Modifying Accounts 283
Deciding When to Modify Accounts 283
Checking for Logged-in Users 283
Modifying Accounts Using GUI Tools 284
Modifying Accounts from the Shell 286
Deleting Accounts 289
Avoiding Account Deletion Pitfalls 289
Deleting Accounts Using GUI Tools 290
Deleting Accounts from the Shell 291
Managing Groups 291
Managing Groups Using GUI Tools 291
Managing Groups from the Shell 294
Summary 295
Exam Essentials 295
Review Questions 297

Chapter 14 Setting Ownership and Permissions 299
Setting Ownership 300
Understanding Ownership 300
Setting Ownership in a File Manager 301
Setting Ownership in a Shell 302
Setting Permissions 304
Understanding Permissions 304
Setting Permissions in a File Manager 308
Setting Permissions in a Shell 309
Setting the umask 310
Using Special Permission Bits and File Features 310
Using Sticky Bits 311
Using Special Execute Permissions 313
Hiding Files from View 314
Viewing Directories 315
Summary 315
Exam Essentials 315
Review Questions 317

Chapter 15 Managing Network Connections 319
Configuring Network Features 320
Graphical Tools 321
Command-Line Tools 323
Basic Network Troubleshooting 329
Sending Test Packets 330
Finding Host Information 331
Advanced Network Troubleshooting 333
The netstat Command 334
Examining Sockets 337
Summary 337
Exam Essentials 338
Review Questions 339

Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 341
Appendix B Setting Up a Linux Environment 363

Index 365