Chapter 2 -

Question 1

How would you use the find command to find a file that belongs to the user jack, in group humanr and has a file size of 500kb. Please type out the command.

Answer 1

First make sure you are in the home folder or root directory.

find -user jack -group humanr -size 500k

Question 2

Type out the command to make these 3 directories. dir1 favs backup2019

Answer 2

mkdir dir1 favs backup2019

Question 3

The cp command can be used in 2 different ways. Explain and type out the commands.

Answer 3

Can copy a file or directories into another file or directory.
cp item1 item2

Copies multiple files or directories into a directory.
cp item1 item3 logs backup2019

(Keep in mind directories must already be created)

Question 4

Why use option -a with the cp command?

cp -a file1 file2 blahfolder

Answer 4

The option -a copies the files and directories original attributes like ownership and permissions.

Normally copying takes on the attributes of the person doing the copying.

Question 5

Explain option -v when using the cp command.

cp -v file1 file2 blahfolder

Answer 5

-v is the verbose option.

It displays informative messages as the copy is performed.

Question 6

Explain the wildcard in this command.

cp dir1/* dir2

Answer 6

The /* will copy all files in dir1 into dir2
(Keep in mind it will Not copy directories found in dir1, just files.)
(Keep in mind dir2 must already exist)

Question 7

Explain how to use the mv command.

Which command is it very similar to?

Answer 7

mv command is used in much the same way as the cp command.

mv can both move files and rename them.

mv file1 file2

mv file1 file2 dir2

Question 8

Explain the rm command.

Why should you be extra careful with wildcards.

Answer 8

rm is used to remove/delete files and directories. Remember once deleted it’s gone for good.

If you want to delete all the html files, you type. rm *.html But if you accidentally place a space between the * and .html (like so * .html ) you’ll delete all the files in the directory and get an no file called .html error.

Useful tip: test the wildcard with the ls command, press up arrow to recall the command and replace ls with rm .

Question 9

What rm option asks you for a confirmation before deleting the file?

What rm option let’s you delete a directory and all of its contents?

Answer 9

• i Asks for a confirmation before deleting.

- r Deletes a directory and all of its contents.

Question 10

Explain a soft link / symbolic link .

How would you type it out?

Answer 10

• A symbolic link (aka soft link) works just like a windows shortcut link. It’s a pointer to the original file.
• Symbolic link file sizes are usually smaller then the original file size.
• A file can have more then one symbolic link.
• Once the original file or directory is deleted or moved the link doesn’t work anymore.

Question 11

Explain a hard link.

How would you type it out?

Answer 11

• A hard link is just like a Copy of the original file (remember a soft link is like a short cut). It also has the same file size.
• If the original file gets deleted the hard link still works.
• You can’t create a hard link for a directory.
• Hard links must live in the same disk partition.

Question 12

Explain the type command.

Answer 12

Gives you a brief description on the command. and gives you the location of the command.

type cd

type cat

type ls

Question 13

Explain - -help

Answer 13

Displays a brief description of the commands supported syntax and options.

Not all commands support the - -help option.

Question 14

Explain whatis and type out the command.

Answer 14

whatis Gives a one line description of the command.

whatis cat

Question 15

With using the pipe command, how would you type 4 commands on one line?

Answer 15

pad; cd dir1; ls -l; cd

Question 16

How do you create your own alias command?

Answer 16

alias blah=‘ ls -l; cd /usr; ls -l ‘

To see our alias command use type blah

To remove our alias unalias blah

alias are automatically removed once we end the shell session.