Linux Utilities Cookbook : Over 70 Recipes to Help You Accomplish a Wide Variety of Tasks in Linux Quickly and Efficiently

Over 70 recipes to help you accomplish a wide variety of tasks in Linux quickly and efficiently **Overview** * Use the command line like a pro * Pick a suitable desktop environment * Learn to use files and directories efficiently **In Detail** Linux is a stable, reliable and extremely powerful operating system. It has been around for many years, however, most people still don't know what it can do and the ways it is superior to other operating systems. Many people want to get started with Linux for greater control and security, but getting started can be time consuming and complicated. A practical, hands-on guide that provides you with a number of clear step-by-step examples to help you solve many of the questions that crop up when using an operating system you may not be familiar with. Presenting solutions to the most common Linux problems in a clear and concise way, this helpful guide starts with spicing up the terminal sessions by command retrieval and line editing, and shell prompt variables. We will then get to know the different desktops (GUIs) available for Linux systems and which is the best fit for you. We will then explore the world of managing files and directories, connectivity, and what to do when it goes wrong. We will also learn a range of skills, from creating and managing user accounts to securing your system, managing and limiting processes, and letting information flow from one process to another using pipes. Later, we will master disk management, working with scripts and automating tasks quickly, and finally, understand the need for a custom kernel and tips on how to build one. Based on the author's extensive experience, there is a section on best practices that every Linux user should be familiar with. **What you will learn from this book** * Configure the network and using the Internet on your Linux Desktop * Learn about permissions, access, and security * Understand processes under Linux * Work with disks and partitions * Write shell scripts * Automate tasks with crontab * Learn how to build a custom kernel **Approach** A Cookbook-style guide packed with examples and illustrations, it offers organized learning through recipes and step-by-step instructions. The book is designed so that you can pick exactly what you need, when you need it. **Who this book is written for** Written for anyone that would like to familiarize themselves with Linux. This book is perfect migrating from Windows to Linux and will save your time and money, learn exactly how to and where to begin working with Linux and troubleshooting in easy steps. Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 3 Credits......Page 4 About the Author......Page 5 About the Reviewers......Page 6 www.PacktPub.com......Page 8 Table of Contents......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 Command retrieval and line editing......Page 19 Using history......Page 20 Filename auto-completion......Page 21 The shell prompt......Page 22 Other environment variables......Page 23 Using aliases......Page 25 The .bashrc file......Page 27 Dealing with blanks and special characters in filenames......Page 28 Understanding the $? variable......Page 29 Redirection and piping......Page 30 Sending output from one terminal to another......Page 31 Using the Screen program......Page 32 GNOME 2......Page 34 KDE desktop......Page 37 xfce......Page 40 LXDE......Page 42 Unity......Page 44 Mate......Page 46 Introduction......Page 50 Copying, removing, and updating files and directories......Page 52 Finding files using find and locate......Page 54 Creating text files – vim, Emacs, and others......Page 55 Using the file command......Page 58 Using grep to find patterns......Page 60 Compressing files using ZIP and TAR......Page 61 Other helpful commands such as stat, sum, touch, and more......Page 65 Introduction......Page 68 Troubleshooting bad connections......Page 69 Copying files to another machine – FTP and SCP......Page 72 Logging into another machine – Telnet and Secure Shell......Page 75 Browsing the web – Firefox......Page 77 E-mail – Using a web mail program......Page 80 Running your own web server – httpd......Page 82 What is using that port? The /etc/services file......Page 83 IPv4 versus IPv6......Page 85 Creating and managing user accounts – useradd......Page 88 Working with passwords......Page 91 Working with file permissions......Page 92 Working with the firewalls and router settings......Page 94 Working with Secure Linux – SELinux......Page 95 Using sudo to secure a system......Page 97 The /tmp directory......Page 100 Understanding processes......Page 102 Examining processes with ps......Page 105 Examining processes using top......Page 107 Changing priorities with nice......Page 112 Observing a process using the /proc filesystem......Page 114 Introduction......Page 120 Using fdisk......Page 124 Using mkfs to format a drive......Page 127 Using fsck to check the filesystem......Page 128 Logical Volume Management (LVM)......Page 130 Introduction......Page 136 Removing text from a file......Page 137 Using script parameters......Page 139 Coding a loop in a script......Page 140 Backing up your system......Page 143 Locking a file for only one use at a time......Page 145 Getting introduced to Perl......Page 146 Introduction......Page 154 Creating and running a crontab file......Page 156 Running a command every other week......Page 157 Reporting the errors from a crontab file......Page 160 Introduction......Page 162 A brief look at module commands......Page 163 Building a kernel from kernel.org......Page 169 Using xconfig to modify the configuration......Page 171 Working with GRUB......Page 174 Understanding GRUB 2......Page 176 Appendix A: Linux Best Practices......Page 180 Appendix B: Finding Help......Page 196 Index......Page 212 Cover 1 Copyright 3 Credits 4 About the Author 5 About the Reviewers 6 www.PacktPub.com 8 Table of Contents 10 Preface 14 Chapter 1: Using the Terminal / Command line 18 Introduction 18 Command retrieval and line editing 19 Using history 20 Filename auto-completion 21 The shell prompt 22 Other environment variables 23 Using aliases 25 The .bashrc file 27 Dealing with blanks and special characters in filenames 28 Understanding the $? variable 29 Redirection and piping 30 Sending output from one terminal to another 31 Using the Screen program 32 Chapter 2: The Desktop 34 Introduction 34 GNOME 2 34 KDE desktop 37 xfce 40 LXDE 42 Unity 44 Mate 46 Chapter 3: Files and Directories 50 Introduction 50 Copying, removing, and updating files and directories 52 Finding files using find and locate 54 Creating text files – vim, Emacs, and others 55 Using the file command 58 Using grep to find patterns 60 Compressing files using ZIP and TAR 61 Other helpful commands such as stat, sum, touch, and more 65 Chapter 4: Networking and the Internet 68 Introduction 68 Troubleshooting bad connections 69 Copying files to another machine – FTP and SCP 72 Logging into another machine – Telnet and Secure Shell 75 Getting a web page without a browser – wget 77 Browsing the web – Firefox 77 E-mail – Using a web mail program 80 Running your own web server – httpd 82 What is using that port? The /etc/services file 83 IPv4 versus IPv6 85 Chapter 5: Permissions, Access, and Security 88 Introduction 88 Creating and managing user accounts – useradd 88 Working with passwords 91 Working with file permissions 92 Working with the firewalls and router settings 94 Working with Secure Linux – SELinux 95 Using sudo to secure a system 97 The /tmp directory 100 Chapter 6: Processes 102 Introduction 102 Understanding processes 102 Examining processes with ps 105 Examining processes using top 107 Changing priorities with nice 112 Observing a process using the /proc filesystem 114 Chapter 7: Disks and Partitioning 120 Introduction 120 Using fdisk 124 Using mkfs to format a drive 127 Using fsck to check the filesystem 128 Logical Volume Management (LVM) 130 Chapter 8: Working with Scripts 136 Introduction 136 Removing text from a file 137 Using script parameters 139 Coding a loop in a script 140 Backing up your system 143 Locking a file for only one use at a time 145 Getting introduced to Perl 146 Chapter 9: Automating Tasks Using Cron 154 Introduction 154 Creating and running a crontab file 156 Running a command every other week 157 Reporting the errors from a crontab file 160 Chapter 10: The Kernel 162 Introduction 162 A brief look at module commands 163 Building a kernel from kernel.org 169 Using xconfig to modify the configuration 171 Working with GRUB 174 Understanding GRUB 2 176 Appendix A: Linux Best Practices 180 Appendix B: Finding Help 196 Index 212

In Detail

Linux is a stable, reliable and extremely powerful operating system. It has been around for many years, however, most people still don't know what it can do and the ways it is superior to other operating systems. Many people want to get started with Linux for greater control and security, but getting started can be time consuming and complicated.

A practical, hands-on guide that provides you with a number of clear step-by-step examples to help you solve many of the questions that crop up when using an operating system you may not be familiar with.

Presenting solutions to the most common Linux problems in a clear and concise way, this helpful guide starts with spicing up the terminal sessions by command retrieval and line editing, and shell prompt variables. We will then get to know the different desktops (GUIs) available for Linux systems and which is the best fit for you. We will then explore the world of managing files and directories, connectivity, and what to do when it goes wrong. We will also learn a range of skills, from creating and managing user accounts to securing your system, managing and limiting processes, and letting information flow from one process to another using pipes. Later, we will master disk management, working with scripts and automating tasks quickly, and finally, understand the need for a custom kernel and tips on how to build one.

Based on the author's extensive experience, there is a section on best practices that every Linux user should be familiar with.

Approach

A Cookbook-style guide packed with examples and illustrations, it offers organized learning through recipes and step-by-step instructions. The book is designed so that you can pick exactly what you need, when you need it.

Who this book is for

Written for anyone that would like to familiarize themselves with Linux. This book is perfect migrating from Windows to Linux and will save your time and money, learn exactly how to and where to begin working with Linux and troubleshooting in easy steps.