INTRODUCTION.
Linux,is an open-source operating system,that has earned its reputation as a versatile and powerful tool in the world of computing. it's widely used for everything from personal computing to running servers,cloud infrastructures, and even powering many android devices.Linux is very important in the field of system administration,cybersecurity,DevOps,and cloud computing.it's security,flexibility and stability makes it's essential for the for those working on IT system.
Before i enrolled into the world of Linux, i had zero understanding of about operating systems and command lines.but i have always been curious about how system administrators manage files,users,processes and packages without relying on the (GUI) Graphic user interface. this learning process has given me an insight and foundational knowledge on how to navigate Linux efficiently.
WHAT IS LINUX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION
Linux system administration refers to the process of managing and maintaining Linux-based operating system,including tasks like installation,configuration,system updates,user management troubleshooting and ensuring the smooth operation of servers running on the Linux platform.
KEY POINTS ABOUT LINUX ADMINISTRATION
OPEN SOURCE:
Linux is an open source operating system,meaning its source code is publicly available,allowing for customization and flexibility.DISTRIBUTION:
different versions of Linux called " distribution" like (ubuntu,Centos,Debian,Fedora) caters to various needs and users preferences.
3.SERVER FOCUS:
Linux is widely used on servers due to its stability,security and performance capability.
TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A LINUX ADMINISTRATOR
- installing and configuring Linux system
- managing user account and permission
- setting up and managing network servers
- monitoring system performance and resources usage
- performing backups and disaster recovery
- troubleshooting system issues and applying patches
- scripting automation tasks.
INTRODUCTIONS TO LINUX COMMAND LINES
Command line,also known as command-line interface (CLI) is a way of interacting with a computer or a software program with text commands.
another name for command line is terminal.
before i start listing some of the command lines,one thing you must never forget as Linux administrator is this;whenever you setup a sever first thing you must do,is to update the server by running this command (sudo apt update but for package manage like Debian-based distributions e.g ubuntu) this will automatically update the sever.but you must be a sudoer before you can use this command because it requires your sudo password before you can go through.
In this image i have tried to update my server but it requested for password,because i have sudo right i will just insert my password for the update to take place
I have just updated my server.
# KEY COMMANDS LEARNED:
## Filesystem Navigation Commands:
The first set of command i encountered were the file navigating commands looks simple but its amazingly awesome for first time experience.filesystem commands are essential for moving through directories and viewing it's contents.
/(forward slash) symbol of a root directory.
the root directory is the topmost directory in the directory,in the hierarchical structure of files and directories.
~symbol of a home directory.
the home directory allows users to customize their computing environment.
lsList of directory,another name for directory is folder.
. ls -l these command will let you see all the permissions that files and folders have.
.mkdirthis command is for creating a directory (folder)e.g mkdir foldername hit enter the folder will be created.
.rmdirthis command will remove a created directory. e.g rmdir foldername hit enter the folder will be removed.
. mkdir -p with this command you can create multiple folders at the same time. e.g mkdir -p folder1 folder2 folder3 hit enter all this folders will be created.
.rm -r this command is used for removing multiple directories(folders) at once e.g rm -r folder1 folder2 folder3 hit enter those folders will be removed.
.pwd this command is called print working directory,when you feel lost in the command line this command will take you to where you ought to be.
. touch this command is used for creating a file. e.g touch text.txt hit enter the file will create.
. for multiples files at once touch.as many files as you want to create.
.rm command for removing file. e.g rm file hit enter
.rm -r command for removing multiple files created together.
vi,vim,nano,ech command are all files editors you can use them to write inside already created file and also used them
to create and write inside a file. e.g vi file1 hit enter the note page will open, immediately press the i key which means insert after writing you press the Esckey then do this command :wq! hit enter to save what you have written and return back.
File Management Command
Linux is efficient in file management,the following commands below helps in file managing.
.catthese command its use to display the content inside a file. e.g catblog1
. grepthese command is used for searching for a pattern inside a file and also can be used to single out things in a file e.g grep "my" file name.
. lesscommand: this command views one page at a time in a file. e.g lessfilename press enter.when done with the page press the ESCkey, before this command :q! to return to the file.
.headcommand: its used to view the first 10 lines of a file. e.g(head filename) press enter.
.tall command:its used to view the last 10 lines in a file. e.g (tall filename) press enter.
Process Management commands
Managing process is a key to system administration and troubleshooting.these commands will let you view and control running processes.
pscommand: this command shows active process in the operating system.topcommand: shows live CPU and all memory usagehtopcommand: this an interactive process viewer.also with this command you will be able to see how things are going in the operating system if the memory is low or if something is not right.killcommand: when you want to kill a process in an operating system you use a kill command with the process ID e.g kill 1234
simply press t qkey to interrupt the top command process when you are done viewing the process.
. key f10to interrupt the htopcommand
## Package management commands
package management is a key factor in Linux for installation,updating,upgrading and removing software. Different distributions uses different package managers. e.g
aptis used on Debian-based distributions like ubuntu.aptis a package manager used for installations,updating and upgrading,removing software.sudo apt install dockeryum
(yellowdog updater,modified) is a command used in a Red Hat-based distributions for package managing. it's similar toaptbut wired for distributions like Centos and Fedora.dnfis the next generation package manager for Fedora,replacingyum.It is faster and offering advanced features like automatic dependency resolution.
Real-world Application
The Linux command i have learned in system administration,these command are used to manage users,maintain the filesystem,and monitor system performance.most professional in tech rely on Linux commands for task like inspecting file permissions,troubleshooting suspicious process.In DevOps and cloud computing,these commands forms balance of automation and configuration management.
Challenges and Takeaways
The major challenge i had as someone who is a total novice,understanding the permissions and file management was a bit tough for me.rm and rm -r command kept confusing me but not too long i was able to comprehend them better and owned it.
The most exciting command for me was chmod777it's absolutely amazing how it grants both the user,group and other the permission to rwx in a file. Also i find sudovery interesting, when invoking sudoit makes you feel like a king because it gives you the power to perform more.
Conclusion
My journey in learning Basic Linux command has been very challenging and rewarding. As i continue to explore and advance more in every aspect of Linux,these solid skills has change my orientation entirely when it comes to tech.moving forward i plan to dive deeper into understanding network management,while also gaining hands-on experience with different Linux distribution to boast my skills.