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Tutorial 1 - Using Your Matrix Account

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→‎INVESTIGATION 2: USING THE LINUX SHELL

= INVESTIGATION 2: USING THE LINUX SHELL =

In this investigation, you will learn how to use the Linux Shell. Topics in the section include:

:* Learn the basic '''Linux command structure''' (''arguments'' and ''options'')

:* Learn how to get '''help''' for Linux commands via the '''online manual''' (i.e. '''man''' command).

:* Perform '''Basic Shell Editing'''

:* Issue a '''program''' to confirm that you connected to your Matrix account

:* Learn how to setup '''online assignment 1'''.

:* Perform the '''first section''' and 3 parts of the '''second section''' of '''online assignment 1'''.

===Part 1: Using the Linux Shell ===

The Bash shell in Matrix allows you to interact with your Matrix account by issuing commands.

'''The General Linux Command Structure is as follows:''' command argument1 argument2 ...

Some Linux commands can be issued by entering the Linux command line without arguments (e.g. '''pwd''', '''date''', '''ls''', '''cal'''), but many Linux commands can be issued with arguments (e.g. '''cal 2002''', '''cd /bin''', '''ls -l -a /bin''' ).

'''What Does an Argument Represent?'''

An '''argument''' can respresent:

:* a '''file pathname'''

:* a command '''option'''

:* a series of characters (i.e. '''text''') that the command can use

An '''argument''' is separated from a command (or from other arguments) by a '''SPACE''', '''MULTIPLE SPACES''' or a '''TAB'''.

'''Perform the Following Steps:'''

# Make certain that you are logged into your Matrix account.

# Issue the following Linux command: pwd The output from this Linux command basically shows your '''current location''' in the Matrix server. This represents a '''directory pathname''' to your home directory. We will discuss ''pathnames'' later in this course.

# Issue the following Linux command: ls What do you notice? If there were any files in your home directory, just their file names would be displayed.

# Issue the following Linux command: cd /bin

# Issue the following Linux command to confirm your current location: pwd

# Issue the following Linux command: ls What do you notice?

# Issue the following Linux command using an '''option''': ls -l What do you notice? The '''-l''' option with the '''ls''' command provides a '''detailed''' ("''long''") listing of files providing more information on a separate line for each file.

# Issue the following Linux command to return to your home directory: cd

# Issue the following Linux command to confirm your current location: pwd

# Issue the following Linux command: ls /bin

# Issue the following Linux command to confirm your current location: pwd What do you notice? What makes this command with that argument useful if you are current located in your home directory?

# Issue a Linux command that you have already learned to change to your '''home''' directory and to '''confirm''' that you have returned to your home directory.

# Issue the following Linux command: clear What do you notice? How would this command be helpful? '''FYI:''' The short-cut keys to clear the screen for the Bash shell is: ctrl-l

# Issue the following Linux command: who What information does this command show? This command lists users that are logged into the same Matrix server as yourself. '''NOTE:''' Remember that the Matrix Linux cluster contains several servers, so it does not display all users that are logged onto those other machines within that cluster!

# Issue the following Linux command: whoami What does this command display? What do you think is the purpose of this command?

# Issue the following Linux command: cal What is the purpose of this command?

# Issue the following Linux command: cal 2021 What is the purpose of this command using this argument?

# Issue the following Linux command: cal 2 2021 What is the purpose of this command using those two '''numbers''' as arguments?

'''Getting Help with Linux Commands'''

With the Linux OS containing over '''2500''' commands and utilities, it is good for a Linux user or Linux system administrator (sysadmin) to learn about how to use commands “on-the-fly”.

The '''man''' command can provide information on how to use a command (i.e. '''command usage''', '''acceptable command arguments''', '''command options''', '''examples''').

# Issue the following command: man man You may notice that the online manual categories commands into sections or '''numbered volumes'''.

# Type the '''SPACE''' key to move to the next screen. How many '''volume numbers''' are contained in the man pages (like '''executable commands''', '''games''', or '''system administrator commands''')? '''TIP:''' You can use the following '''short-cut keys''' within the man command to help navigate throughout this utility to get help with the ls command (refer to table below): <table cellpadding="3"><tr><th style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;">Keyboard Shortcut</th><th style="border-bottom: 1px solid black;">Purpose</th></tr><tr><td>'''ENTER'''</td><td>Move down one line</td></tr><tr><td>'''SPACEBAR'''</td><td>Move one screen down</td></tr><tr><td>'''<ctrl>'''</td><td>Move one screen up</td></tr><tr><td>'''/pattern/'''</td><td>Search for Pattern</td></tr><tr><td>'''q'''</td><td>quit man utility</td></tr></table>

# Press the letter q to exit the man command.

# Issue the following Linux command to get help with the ls command: man ls

# Navigate through the man utility for the '''ls''' Linux command and note the '''option letters''' that correspond to the following descriptions: <ul><li>"'''use a long lising format'''"</li><li>"'''do not ignore entries starting with .'''" (i.e. hidden files)</li><li>"'''sort by file size'''"</li><li>"'''append indicator (one of */=>&|) to entries'''" (i.e. type of file)</li></ul>

# Exit the man utility for the ''ls'' command.

# Issue the '''ls''' command for each of those option letters you noted in '''step 4''' to see how this command differs for each option. '''NOTE:''' The '''man''' utility can be used with the '''-k''' option to help list Linux commands that match a text pattern that is contained within the help screen for a Linux command.

# '''Pipeline commands''' can be used to filter-out unnecessary output. In the next command that you will be issuing, the output from the '''man -k''' command, is sent into the '''grep''' command to ''filter'' (i.e. ''trap'') only output that matches the pattern "8" (The number "8" refers to the category of type of command - in this case, administration commands). We will learn more about pipeline commands later in this course.

# Issue the following Linux pipeline command: man -k user | grep 8 How does this ''pipeline command'' make it easier to obtain information regarding man command?

# If you wish to change your password, you can change it by issuing the command: passwd What option for the passwd command can be used to change user info (such as name)? '''Hint:''' use the '''man''' command for '''passwd'''.

# Press the letter q to exit the man command. '''NOTE:''' Do '''NOT''' run the ''passwd'' command. Unique for this college, your Matrix password is changed automatically when you change your '''myseneca''' password. You will now learn how to perform '''command line editing''' to correct syntax errors while typing Linux commands PRIOR to pressing the ENTER key.

'''Command Line Editing'''

[[Image:command-line-editing.png|thumb|right|520px|Command Line Editing Shortcut Keys. ]]

Learning '''shortcut keys''' in any OS terminal will allow you to be more productive as a ''Linux user'' or ''Linux System Administrator'' (commonly referred to as: '''Linux sysadmin'''). Let's learn a few common Bash Shell keyboard shortcut keys and find out where you can access online help for additional shortcuts (if required).

'''Perform the Following Steps:'''

[[Image:meta-key.png|thumb|right|370px|To make '''alt-f''' key work, select '''Edit''' -> '''Settings''' -> '''Keyboard''', and select the checkbox '''Use ALT as Meta key (and Escape)'''.]]

# Type the following Linux command, but DON’T press the ''ENTER'' key: cd /bin

# Press the ctrl-a key combination. What happens? '''NOTE:''' To make '''alt-f''' key work when use the '''GRAPHICAL Windows SSH Client application''', select '''Edit''' -> '''Settings''' -> '''Keyboard''', and select the checkbox '''Use ALT as Meta key (and Escape)'''.

# Press the alt-f key combination '''two times''' (OPTION+right-arrow for Mac OSx).

# Press the ctrl-w shortcut key. What happens?

# Type the following command: ls

# Press the ctrl-e key combination What happens?

# Press the ENTER key to execute the command.

# Press the up arrow key. What happens?

# Press the ctrl-u key combination. What happens?

# Press the up arrow key combination, and see what happens when you press BACKSPACE , <ctrl><BACKSPACE> and <ctrl><h>. Why is it important to know those series of key combinations?

# Press the ctrl-u key combination to clear the line.

# Press the ctrl-l key combination. What happens? What is the advantage of using '''ctrl-u''' as opposed to '''ctrl-l'''? The Bash shortcut keys that you just learned are sufficient to perform Bash Shell editing. Although you are NOT required to learn other short-cut keys, here is a link to a listing in case you are interested: [https:// ostechnix.com/list-useful-bash-keyboard-shortcuts/ Useful Bash Shell Keyboard Shortcuts]

'''Running a Shell Script to Check Student Online Tutorial Participation'''

Some professors will require students successfully perform these online tutorials for marks (within a deadline). In order to confirm that you successfully performed a tutorial, you will be required to run a program (or in later tutorials, several programs) to prove that you successfully completed tasks in a tutorial.

These programs (known as Shell Scripts) will check your work and offer feedback if you made mistakes, so you can make corrections. Making corrections (i.e. troubleshooting) and re-running these checking programs until you are successful will help students gain "hands-on" experience that will help them complete the online assignments.

Students whose professors do NOT assign marks for these online tutorials are encouraged to perform them for "hands-on" practice. The checking program for this tutorial is just showing proof that you were able to connect to your Matrix account from your home computer.

If you have correctly completed the required tasks, the user can proceed. If the checking shell script detects an '''error''', then it will provide feedback to allow the student to fix that problem so they can re-run the checking shell scripts until they have successfully completed a task.

'''Perform the Following Steps:'''

# Make certain that your current directory is '''your home directory''' By entering the following Linux command: cd

#Issue the following command to run a checking script : ~osl640/week1-check The beginning character "'''~'''" is called '''tilde'''. You get this character by pressing '''SHIFT''' + '''`''' (which is the key to the left of the number 1 on your keyboard).

# Your screen should clear and indicate that you have proved that you have successfully logged in.

# An email will be sent to your Seneca email as '''confirmation''' that you have completed this tutorial. Keep those confirmation email messages for the duration of this semester as proof that you have completed those checking scripts in case there is a discrepancy in tutorial grades.

= LINUX PRACTICE QUESTIONS =

Jason Michael Carman

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Tutorial 1 - Using Your Matrix Account

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