This document provides an overview of basic Linux commands and navigation for new Linux users. It covers how to connect to Linux using terminals or remotely using Putty, navigating files and directories using commands like ls, cd, pwd, and vi, managing files with commands like cp, rm, and chmod, and viewing system processes and information with top, ps, and other commands. The document aims to get users comfortable with fundamental Linux tasks and directs them to additional resources for learning more advanced topics.

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2. So you’re new to Linux?
• Just got thrown a Red Hat cd and need to get
going?
• Told to change a few files?
• Scared to death you’ll destroy something?
• Yeah… we know. This will get you through the
tough stuff
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3. Basics – getting connected
• First, you need to launch a console
• DOS it is NOT
– Use / not
– No such thing and C: drives or D: drives
• If you’re on the Linux Desktop, use these command consoles:
– Gnome Console (Gnome)
– Konsole (KDE)
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4. Putty setup
• Connect remotely using putty
– Download the putty.exe:
• http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
• Get your connection parameters
– Host name
– Ssh port
– SSL certificate (if required)
• Setup a connection
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5. Connection settings
• Launch Putty.exe
• Enter your connection parms
• Click “Open”
• Login with given credentials
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6. Navigating around
pwd = present working directory
whoami = tells you what user you are logged in as
ls = list directory contents
-l = show long format, -h = helpful format of sizes (MB, GB, KB, etc)
-a = show all contents including hidden files
cd = change directory
. single period for current directory
.. two periods to move one directory up
~ shortcut for the home directory (i.e. ~ = /home/myuserid)
passwd = change your password
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7. Reading up (or down)
cat = concatenate file to standard output (i.e. spit out the contents to the console)
-this is good for short files, but for long files, try…
more = take a long file and page through it, one screen at a time
+num = switch to cause more to start at line number num
tail = show the tail end of a file
-x = show x numbers of lines from the bottom up. (i.e. tail -50)
less = similar to more but allows backward movement in the file, and starts faster
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8. What’s happening
ps = shows the system processes and open files
–ef = shows everything formatted
ps –ef | grep xxxx allows you to search the process stack for string xxxx
top = topaz, the system processor activity
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9. Managing Files & Directories
rm = remove file or directory
-r = recourse through and remove directory
chmod = change mode, or file permissions (read, write, execute)
ex: chmod 755 install.sh, gives this a permission set of rwxr-xr-x
chown = change owner
ex: chown jdoe:users install.sh
mkdir = make directory
touch = create an empty file, or update timestamps on a file
cp = copy , mv = move
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10. Directory Permissions
• Read, Write, & Execute.
– read = 1
– write = 2
– execute = 4
• Add them together to get the sum permission.
• Permissions display as 10 total bits
– ex: drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Feb 20 2009 home
– directory, owner, group, everyone else
d rwx r-x r-x
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11. Editing – vi(m)
• Universal editor for Linux / Unix
• vim is the successor to vi
– More capable, syntax highlighting, extensible configuration file, etc.
Two modes, command mode and edit mode
Command mode commands
i = insert at cursor position, a = append after cursor position (both
change into the edit mode)
x = delete character, dd = delete line
ESC = escape back to command mode
:q = quit, :w = write (or save), :wq = write then quit, :q! quit and
abandon changes
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12. Advanced Commands
to avoid at first…but master later
System processes System config commands
mount, unmount , smbmount yast, yum
shutdown, kill rpm, apt-get
fdisk, fsck tar, zip
sudo, su chkconfig
netstat, tracert ifconfig, iwconfig
rsync
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13. Linux Resources
• One URL to rule them all:
https://delicious.com/strongback/linux
*Delicious is a social bookmark sharing site. This URL above is for linux, but you an easily find
our other links on other subjects by navigating to other tags. The tag is the last word in the
URL.
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14. Connect with us
Subscribe to us at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/StrongbackConsulting
Discover us at:
http://www.strongback.us
Socialize with us on Facebook & LinkedIn
http://www.facebook.com/StrongbackConsulting
http://www.linkedin.com/company/290754
Watch Us at Youtube and Vimeo
http://www.youtube.com/user/strongbackconsulting
https://vimeo.com/user7519232
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