Linux Fundamentals
Linux Fundamentals is a fantastic starter guide for anyone looking to get comfortable with Linux. Whether you’re a total newbie or just brushing up on basics, this book breaks down complex topics into easy, bite-sized lessons. It’s practical, straightforward, and packed with real-world examples. If you’ve ever wanted to understand what makes Linux tick or just want to stop feeling lost at the command line, this is a great place to start.
Contents of the Book
I. Introduction to Linux
- Linux history
- 1969
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2015
- Distributions
- Red Hat
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Other
- Which to choose ?
- Licensing
- About software licenses
- Public domain software and freeware
- Free Software or Open Source Software
- GNU General Public License
- Using GPLv3 software
- BSD license
- Other licenses
- Combination of software licenses
II. Installing Linux
- Installing Debian 8
- Debian
- Downloading
- Virtualbox networking
- Setting the hostname
- Adding a static ip address
- Debian package management
- Installing CentOS 7
- Download a CentOS 7 image
- Virtualbox
- CentOS 7 installing
- CentOS 7 first logon
- Virtualbox network interface
- Configuring the network
- Adding one static ip address
- Package management
- Logon from Linux and MacOSX
- Logon from MS Windows
- Getting Linux at home
- Download a Linux CD image
- Download Virtualbox
- Create a virtual machine
- Attach the CD image
- Install Linux
III. First Steps on the Command Line
- Man pages
- man $command
- man $configfile
- man $daemon
- man -k (apropos)
- whatis
- whereis
- Man sections
- man $section $file
- man man
- mandb
- Working with directories
- pwd
- cd
- Absolute and relative paths
- Path completion
- ls
- mkdir
- rmdir
- Working with files
- All files are case sensitive
- Everything is a file
- file
- touch
- rm
- cp
- mv
- rename
- Working with file contents
- head
- tail
- cat
- tac
- more and less
- strings
- The Linux file tree
- Filesystem hierarchy standard
- man hier
- The root directory /
- Binary directories
- Configuration directories
- Data directories
- In memory directories
- /usr Unix System Resources
- /var variable data
IV. Shell Expansion
- Commands and arguments
- Arguments
- White space removal
- Single quotes
- Double quotes
- echo and quotes
- Commands
- Aliases
- Displaying shell expansion
- Control operators
- ; semicolon
- & ampersand
- $? dollar question mark
- && double ampersand
- || double vertical bar
- Combining && and ||
- # pound sign
- \ escaping special characters
- Shell variables
- $ dollar sign
- Case sensitive
- Creating variables
- Quotes
- set
- unset
- $PS1
- $PATH
- env
- export
- Delineate variables
- Unbound variables
- Shell embedding and options
- Shell embedding
- Shell options
- Shell history
- Repeating the last command
- Repeating other commands
- history
- !n
- Ctrl-r
- $HISTSIZE
- $HISTFILE
- $HISTFILESIZE
- Prevent recording a command
- (optional)regular expressions
- (optional) Korn shell history
- File globbing
- * asterisk
- ? question mark
- [] square brackets
- a-z and 0-9 ranges
- $LANG and square brackets
- Preventing file globbing
V. Pipes and Commands
- I/O redirection
- stdin, stdout, and stderr
- Output redirection
- Error redirection
- Output redirection and pipes
- Joining stdout and stderr
- Input redirection
- Confusing redirection
- Quick file clear
- Filters
- cat
- tee
- grep
- cut
- tr
- wc
- sort
- uniq
- comm
- od
- sed
- Pipe examples
- Basic Unix tools
- find
- locate
- date
- cal
- sleep
- time
- gzip – gunzip
- zcat – zmore
- bzip2 – bunzip2
- bzcat – bzmore
- Regular expressions
- Regex versions
- grep
- rename
- sed
- Bash history
VI. vi
- Introduction to vi
- Command mode and insert mode
- Start typing (a A i I o O)
- Replace and delete a character (r x X)
- Undo and repeat (u .)
- Cut, copy and paste a line (dd yy p P)
- Cut, copy and paste lines (3dd 2yy)
- Start and end of a line (0 or ^ and $)
- Join two lines (J) and more
- Words (w b)
- Save (or not) and exit (:w :q :q! )
- Searching (/ ?)
- Replace all ( :1,$ s/foo/bar/g )
- Reading files (:r :r !cmd)
- Text buffers
- Multiple files
- Abbreviations
- Key mappings
- Setting options
VII. Scripting
- Scripting introduction
- Prerequisites
- Hello world
- She-bang
- Comment
- Variables
- Sourcing a script
- Troubleshooting a script
- Prevent setuid root spoofing
- Scripting loops
- test [ ]
- if then else
- if then elif
- for loop
- while loop
- until loop
- Scripting parameters
- Script parameters
- Shift through parameters
- Runtime input
- Sourcing a config file
- Get script options with getopts
- Get shell options with shopt
- More scripting
- eval
- (( ))
- let
- case
- Shell functions
VIII. Local User Management
- Introduction to users
- whoami
- who
- who am i
- w
- id
- su to another user
- su to root
- su as root
- su – $username
- su –
- Run a program as another user
- visudo
- sudo su –
- sudo logging
- User management
- User management
- /etc/passwd
- root
- useradd
- /etc/default/useradd
- userdel
- usermod
- Creating home directories
- /etc/skel/
- Deleting home directories
- Login shell
- chsh
- User passwords
- passwd
- Shadow file
- Encryption with passwd
- Encryption with openssl
- Encryption with crypt
- /etc/login.defs
- chage
- Disabling a password
- Editing local files
- User profiles
- System profile
- ~/.bash_profile
- ~/.bash_login
- ~/.profile
- ~/.bashrc
- ~/.bash_logout
- Debian overview
- RHEL5 overview
- Groups
- groupadd
- Group file
- groups
- usermod
- groupmod
- groupdel
- gpasswd
- newgrp
- vigr
IX. File Security
- Standard file permissions
- File ownership
- List of special files
- Permissions
- Advanced file permissions
- Sticky bit on directory
- setgid bit on directory
- setgid and setuid on regular files
- setuid on sudo
- Access control lists (ACLs)
- acl in /etc/fstab
- getfacl
- setfacl
- Remove an acl entry
- Remove the complete acl
- The acl mask
- eiciel
- File links
- Inodes
- About directories
- Hard links
- Symbolic links
- Removing links
X. Appendices
- Keyboard settings
- About keyboard layout
- X Keyboard Layout
- Shell keyboard layout
- Hardware
- Buses
- Interrupts
- io ports
- dma
- License
Book Description
Linux Fundamentals is exactly what it sounds likea clear, approachable roadmap for learning Linux from scratch. Think of it as your friendly companion through the sometimes intimidating world of open-source operating systems. If you’ve ever stared at a blinking terminal cursor and wondered what to do next, this book’s got your back. It covers all the must-know basics, but doesn’t drown you in jargon or expect you to already be a tech wizard. Instead, it invites you to explore Linux step by step, building confidence as you go.
Book Overview
This book starts with the absolute fundamentalswhat Linux actually is, why it matters, and how it’s different from Windows or MacOS. From there, it gently guides you through installation, basic commands, file management, users and permissions, and even gives you a taste of shell scripting. There’s a strong focus on hands-on learning, so you’re not just reading theoryyou’re actually doing stuff on your computer. That’s the best way to learn anything technical, right? The book also touches on system administration basics and offers helpful tips that’ll save you hours of frustration down the line.
Why Read This Book
Let’s be real: Linux can seem a bit scary at first. There’s all those mysterious commands and that black-and-white terminal window! But with Linux Fundamentals, you’ll quickly see there’s nothing to fear. The book explains everything in plain English and throws in plenty of examples that make sense even if you’ve never touched Linux before. I’m a big fan of how it encourages curiositymistakes aren’t just okay; they’re part of the process! Plus, knowing your way around Linux is a superpower in today’s tech world. Even if you’re not planning to become a sysadmin, understanding the basics can open up tons of new opportunities.
Who This Book Is For
This book is tailor-made for beginnersstudents, hobbyists, or anyone who wants to dip their toes into the Linux pond without feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you’re switching from another operating system or need Linux skills for work or school. Or maybe you’re just curious (which is always a good thing). Even if you’ve dabbled in Linux before but never felt confident using it, this book will help connect the dots. It’s also great for folks who want a solid reference guide they can return to whenever they hit a roadblock.
What You Will Learn
- The history and philosophy behind Linux (and why people love it so much)
- How to install Linux on your own machine or try it out safely
- Essential terminal commands that make daily tasks easier
- Navigating files and directories like a pro
- Managing users and permissions without breaking a sweat
- Editing text files using built-in editors (no more Notepad!)
- Writing simple shell scripts to automate boring tasks
- Troubleshooting common problemsbecause let’s face it, things break sometimes
- Basic system administration tips that’ll make you look smarter than your friends
- Where to go next once you’ve mastered the basics (spoiler: there’s always more to learn!)
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