LPI Linux Essentials Study Guide Exam 010 v1.6

Provides a solid foundation for those considering a career in IT—covers the objectives of the new Linux Essentials Exam 010-160 v1.6

Linux is a secure, reliable, open source alternative to costly operating systems such as Microsoft Windows. As large organizations worldwide continue to add Linux servers, the need for IT professionals skilled in Linux continues to grow. The LPI Linux Essentials Study Guide is a valuable resource for anyone preparing to take the new Linux Essentials Exam—the entry-level certification from The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) which validates knowledge of Linux concepts and applications. 

Written by recognized experts on Linux and open source technologies, this accessible, user-friendly guide covers desktop skills, the command line, directories and files, networks, scripting, security, users and permissions, and much more. Clear, concise chapters provide numerous hands-on tutorials, real-world examples, color illustrations, and practical end-of-chapter exercises and review questions. An ideal introduction for those new to Linux or considering a career in IT, this guide helps readers:

• Learn the operation and components of Linux desktops and servers
• Understand open source software, licensing, and applications
• Configure networks, security, cloud services, storage, and devices
• Create users and groups and set permissions and ownership
• Use the command line and build automation scripts

LPI Linux Essentials Study Guide: Exam 010 v1.6 is perfect for anyone beginning a career in IT, newcomers to Linux, students in computer courses, and system administrators working with other operating systems wanting to learn more about Linux and other open source solutions.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Christine Bresnahan is an Adjunct Professor at Ivy Tech Community College, where she teaches Linux certification and Python classes. She is the author of several books, including LPIC-1 Study Guide, Fifth edition and LPIC-2 Study Guide, Second edition.

Richard Blum has worked as a system and network administrator for over 30 years. He is the author of several Linux books, including Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible and Linux for Dummies, 9th edition, and is a popular online Linux instructor.

Introduction xix

Assessment Test xxix

Chapter 1 Selecting an Operating System 1

What is an OS? 2

What is a Kernel? 2

What Else Identifies an OS? 3

Investigating User Interfaces 4

Using a Text-Mode User Interface 5

Using a Graphical User Interface 7

Where Does Linux Fit in the OS World? 9

Comparing Linux to Unix 9

Comparing Linux to macOS 11

Comparing Linux to Windows 12

What is a Distribution? 14

Creating a Complete Linux-Based OS 14

A Summary of Common Linux Distributions 15

Understanding Release Cycles 17

Embedded Linux Systems 18

Linux in the Cloud 19

What is Cloud Computing? 19

What Are the Cloud Services? 21

Summary 23

Exam Essentials 23

Review Questions 25

Chapter 2 Understanding Software Licensing 27

Investigating Software Licenses 28

Exploring Copyright Protection and Software 28

Using Licenses to Modify Copyright Terms 30

Looking at the Free Software Foundation 31

Understanding the FSF Philosophy 31

Examining Free Software and the GPL 32

Looking at the Open Source Initiative 33

Understanding the Open Source Philosophy 33

Defining Open Source Software 35

Looking at the Creative Commons 36

Using Open Source Licenses 36

Understanding Open Source Licenses 36

Understanding Open Source Business Models 38

Summary 39

Exam Essentials 40

Review Questions 41

Chapter 3 Investigating Linux’s Principles and Philosophy 43

Linux Through the Ages 44

Understanding Linux’s Origins 44

Seeing Today’s Linux World 47

Using Open Source Software 47

Understanding Basic Open Source Principles 47

Linux as a Software Integrator 49

Understanding OS Roles 50

Looking At Embedded Computers 50

Exploring Desktop and Laptop Computers 51

Investigating Server Computers 52

Summary 53

Exam Essentials 53

Review Questions 55

Chapter 4 Using Common Linux Programs 57

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

Chapter 1: Selecting an Operating System 342

Chapter 2: Understanding Software Licensing 343

Chapter 3: Investigating Linux’s Principles and Philosophy 344

Chapter 4: Using Common Linux Programs 346

Chapter 5: Getting to Know the Command Line 347

Chapter 6: Managing Hardware 348

Chapter 7: Managing Files 349

Chapter 8: Searching, Extracting, and Archiving Data 351

Chapter 9: Exploring Processes and Process Data 352

Chapter 10: Editing Files 353

Chapter 11: Creating Scripts 354

Chapter 12: Understanding Basic Security 356

Chapter 13: Creating Users and Groups 357

Chapter 14: Setting Ownership and Permissions 358

Chapter 15: Managing Network Connections 359

Appendix B Setting Up a Linux Environment 363

Index 365

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