This tutorial is an introduction to some basic linux commands. It uses the AlmaLinux 10 virtual machines. Make sure you select Almalinux 10 when you boot your machine.

The tutorial only needs a normal user account. In this case we will use "alice" with the password "secure". This account can when needed run admin commands, but there is nothing in this tutorial which requires admin permissions. If you feel you need to be the admin then you have gone wrong. Do not use "sudo".

If things go really bad you can always switch the virtual machine off, then reboot with a Fresh Image. This will erase all the things you have changed in the virtual machine. The checks completed will remain completed, though you might need to backtrack a little if later questions need files or changes you would have made in earlier checks.

Question 1 Access

To access the system you need to start the image (select the most up to date Almalinux image available). You then need to log into the image remotely using a variety of methods. You should try to use telnet or ssh, plus the graphical interface VNC. You need to have either ssh installed (e.g. putty.exe) or use the JavaScript ssh. Note putty can only be used if you have a unique public IP, so if you are sharing behind a NAT you must stick with the JavaScript interfaces.

On some highly secured networks, you may not be able to use ssh, but give all of the methods a go and try to get both a command prompt "terminal" interface and VNC working.

The username is "alice" and the password is "secure".
The terminal is started within the graphical interface by clicking on the terminal icon at the bottom of the screen.

	Tests: Ready
	Logged in via VNC	UNTESTED
	Running a terminal in VNC	UNTESTED
	Running a non-vnc connection (ssh/telnet)	UNTESTED

Question 2 Create and Navigate Directories

The "cd" command changes your current directory. On its own it changes it to your HOME directory, otherwise you need to specify a parameter which either is an absolute directory (such as cd /home) or a relative directory (such as cd dir1 which takes you to dir1 in your current working directory).

Type

cd
pwd

This will take you to your home directory and then Print Working Directory.

What is your current working directory? :

	Tests: Ready
	Correct cwd	UNTESTED

Use the more powerful and dangerous command

rm -rf data

This deletes all files and directories in the data directory, including the data directory itself. Obviously getting the parameter wrong means you can lose a lot of stuff in one go!

	Tests: Ready
	Two directories left...	UNTESTED

Question 3 The ls command

The "ls" command on its own shows you the contents of the current working directory. However it can also take a number of useful parameters.

Filenames which begin with a "." character do not usually appear when you use "ls". These are called "hidden" files, and they are used for things like application configuration and some GUI state information. They are rarely needed so this is the reason they are hidden from normal "ls".

Use the option "-a" to see the hidden files. View the hidden files in your HOME directory. The file list starts with "." (which is a directory that you can use to describe the current directory in commands) and ".." (which describes the directory above this one in the tree).

What is the first file (in alphabetical order) which appears when you use "-a" in your HOME directory, other than "." and "..". :

	Tests: Ready
	Third file when using -a	UNTESTED

Question 4 Relative and Absolute

Demonstrate your understanding of relative, absolute, and the use of ".." and "/" and "." in the "cd" command by answering these questions. Try to answer them in your own head, and use the command line only if you are confused. Remember paths beginning with "/" are relative to the top level directory, whereas others are relative to the current directory. ".." takes you up a directory, and things can be seperated with "/" such as "../.." taking you up 2 directories. "." indicates the current directory, and is really only useful where you really need to specify a parameter but you mean to say the current directory. Always supply the SHORTEST solution, remember the answers are CASE SENSITIVE, and if you type spaces in an answerbox where no space should be entered then it will be marked incorrectly.

Consider these commands:

cd /usr/share/doc
cd ..
pwd