This document describes an introduction to Linux lab covering the Linux file system and directory structure. It begins with background on operating systems and the history of UNIX and Linux. Students are instructed to log into their virtual machines and change the root password before creating a new user. The lab then covers hierarchical tree structures used in file systems and practicing navigating, creating, copying and renaming directories using both absolute and relative paths in the file system. Commands used include cd, ls, mkdir, pwd, cp and mv.

1. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1 – Introduction Linux and UNIX File System
ICT 1002 – Introduction to Linux
Liam Kurmos
Hashim Yaqub

2. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Operating Systems
Kernel Shell
User
Application
●Microsoft DOS text only shell
●Windows 95 introduced Graphical Shell
Device (GUI)
Drivers
(Apple introduced GUIs much earlier)
...long before all this... there was UNIX

3. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
UNIX … since 1969
●Originally created to run on large main frame
systems.
●Multi-user from the start
●Has forked into many many different
implementations over the years.
●Linux is opensource UNIX

4. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
GNU / Linux – Open Source UNIX
●Open Source operating system.
●Linux is the Kernel. Developed by Linus Torvalds 1992
●Leading server operating system, and runs the 10
fastest supercomputer
●Linux is open source, secure.
●Runs on the desktop too!

5. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Log in to your Virtual Machine
●Find Putty TTY on the windows system
●Connect to your Virtual Machine 147.143.75.XX where
XX is your unique machine.
●You have logged in as the root user. The superuser.
First thing to do, change the password!
●Super user has power which can be dangerous. Create
another user!

6. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Change the root password... before
someone else does.
●Changing the password is easy. Just use the command:
passwd
●If in doubt you can always check what a command does
with the man command (manual).
man passwd

7. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Create a new user & change the
password
●useradd -m YourNewUsersName
●passwd YourNewUsersName
●Now type exit and log back in with your new user.

8. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Heirarchical tree structures.
Root Node Node
Parent
Node
Child Node
Leaf Node

9. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
A filesystem is a heirarchical tree structure.
Root
/ Directory
etc
etc homedir
eepa02
Documents Pictures Code
SomeJavaCode.java

10. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
A path specifies a chain in the structure.
/homedir/eepa02/Code/SomeJavaCode.java
•The first / represents the root dir.
•Then a slash after each dir.
Root
/
Directory
etc etc homedir
eepa02
Documents Pictures Code
SomeJavaCode.java

11. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Exercise: Create the following structure in
your home dir. List the commands you used to
make them.
YourHomeDir
You will need the commands
cd DirectoryName
ls DirectoryName Ex 1-1
mkdir DirectoryName
pwd
. is a special director that
means the current directory Granny
.. is a special directory that
means the parent dir.
Mum
Daughter1 Daughter2 Daughter3

12. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1b – Introduction And File System
Exercise: Create the following structure in
your home dir. List the commands you used to
make them.
YourHomeDir
Animals
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
Snakes
Bats
Eagles Falcons
GoldenEagles Bears

13. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
Exercise: Write down the absolute directory
paths for the paths in green
/
homedir
ee....
Animals
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
Snakes
Birds
Eagles Falcons
Vipers
Pythons
GoldenEagles Birds
RoyalPythons

14. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
Exercise: Write down the absolute directory
paths for the paths in green
/
homedir
ee....
Animals
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
Snakes
Birds
Eagles Falcons
Vipers
Pythons
GoldenEagles Birds
RoyalPythons

15. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
Exercise: Write down the absolute directory
paths for the paths in green
/
homedir
ee....
Animals
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
Snakes
Birds
Eagles Falcons
Vipers
Pythons
GoldenEagles Birds
RoyalPythons

16. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
The relative path from Snakes to birds is ./../../Mammals/Birds, or
equivalently ../../Mammals/Birds. The first dot just means 'this directory' so isn't
strictly necessary but makes it clear were talking about a relative path.
/
Write down relative paths for the following:
homedir 1) Mammals to homedir
2) Reptiles to Mammals
3) GoldenEagles to RoyalPythons
ee....
Animals
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
Snakes
Eagles Falcons Birds
Vipers
Pythons GoldenEagles Birds
RoyalPythons

17. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
The copy command (cp) can be used to copy both files and directories, however
as a safety measure when you copy directory you need to use the r – switch. So if
you had the structure on the left. Typing:
cp -r /homedir/eeXYZ/Jones/Granny /homedir/eeXYZ/Hughes
would give the structure on the right. (on most unix systems switches are allowed
at the end of the command, after the paths instead)
/ /
homedir homedir
ee.... ee....
Jones Hughes Jones Hughes
Granny Granny Granny
Mum Mum Mum
Daughter1 Daughter2 Daughter3 Daughter1 Daughter2 Daughter3 Daughter1 Daughter2 Daughter3
If you were currently in the home directory eeXYZ, which you can always get to
by typing:
cd ~
The you could use relative paths and just type:
cp -r ./Jones/Granny ./Hughes

18. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
You can rename a directory with the move command mv. So if you were in the
home directory and had the structure on the left (which we created ealier). Typing
mv ./Animals ./African
Would give the structure on the right.
eeXYZ
eeXYZ
African
Animals Reptiles
Reptiles Mammals
Mammals Birds
Birds Snakes
Snakes Bats
Bats Eagles Falcons
Eagles Falcons
Golden Eagles Bears
Golden Eagles Bears

19. ICP-1002: ICT Laboratory
Introduction to Linux Lab 1c – Introduction And File System
Create the following structure. You can use mv and cp to save time. Use relative
paths.
/
homedir
ee....
European
Asian
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
African Snakes
Reptiles
Mammals Eagles Falcons Bats
Birds
Snakes Golden Eagles Bears
Eagles Falcons Bats Asian
Reptiles
Mammals
Birds
Golden Eagles Bears Snakes
Eagles Falcons Bats
Golden Eagles Bears