Introduction to Linux

Overview
The course provides a broad and comprehensive introduction to using Linux for a wide range of activities. It covers basic installation of Linux, and the use of command-line utilities such as the shell, in addition to graphical tools based on the KDE desktop environment. Important specific applications such as office suites, printing and CD writers are discussed, but the course pays equal attention to the more general and powerful UNIX "tool-building" philosophy which allows solutions to be built at the command line by using existing tools in combination.
Basic system installation and configuration procedures are taught, but the course is not intended to provide comprehensive coverage of system or network administration, nor does it teach software development skills, except for a little shell scripting.



Intended Audience
The course is designed to offer a "first sight" of Linux for end-users, developers, system administrators, database administrators, technical managers, help desk staff, or anyone who needs to understand and use Linux on a day-to-day basis.
The course is not intended to provide basic computer literacy to novices. Attendees should have previous experience with some other operating system (perhaps windows or MacOS) and they should be proficient at typing, editing text, and entering simple commands. They should understand concepts such as files, directories (folders)and menus. However, no previous knowledge of Linux or UNIX is assumed.

Course Benefits
You will learn how to:

• Perform a basic installation of Linux
• View and manage files and directories using command line tools
• Make productive use of the KDE desktop environment
• Develop simple scripted solutions using the shell and text filter tools
• Employ standard office applications including word processors, spreadsheets and email
• Use peripherals such as printers, scanners and CD writers
• Become self-sufficient by locating and studying linux documentation

Practical Work
In addition to the major exercises listed below, the course includes numerous "follow-along" examples within the lecture material to provide extensive hands-on experience. The course uses the latest RedHat linux distribution as a platform for hands-on work, but (with very few exceptions) the course is equally appropriate for all Linux distributions.

• Performing a standard installation of Linux on a PC
• Customising the KDE desktop and task bar
• Browsing and Managing the file system using KDE
• Creating a script to locate and consolidate log files
• Finding the documentation you need
• Processing system reports using text filters
• Creating simple office documents using Open Office

Course Contents
The Background to Linux

• A little bit of history
• The scope of Linux
• How is Linux different from Windows?
• Interoperating with Windows

Installing Linux

• Creating partitions
• Choosing what you want to install
• Defining network settings
• Creating user accounts
• Installing linux alongside Windows

Using the KDE Desktop

• Using the taskbar, menus and virtual desktops
• File system basics
• Managing files with Konqueror
• Customising the desktop with KDE Control Center

Working at the Command Line

• Introducing the shell
• Examining files and directories
• Managing the file system from the command line
• Using wildcards
• Changing file permissions

Power Tools

• Filtering and processing text
• Using programs in combination
• Editing text files: vi and friends

Scripting with bash

• Creating a simple shell script
• Processing arguments, variables, input and output
• Looping and branching within a script
• Other scripting languages

Networking Tools

• Remote login
• File sharing tools

Linux Documentaion

• Making sense of the man pages
• HOWTO documents
• The Linux Documentation Project
• Documentation on the Internet

Office Applications

• Document preparation with Star Office
• Koffice suite
• Graphical and command line access to email
• Web browsers

Peripherals and Multimedia

• Setting up a printer
• Adding new hardware
• CD players and sound cards
• Scanners
• Burning CDs