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CompTIA® A+ Certification Prep 2: Software > Lesson 7 - Chapter 4: Scripting Basics > Flashcards

Lesson 7 - Chapter 4: Scripting Basics Flashcards

1
Q

What is a script?

A

a script is a small program used to automate computing actions

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2
Q

Where are scripts written in and executed from? (2)

A
  1. Scripts are written in a plain text-based editor like Notepad
  2. Executed from a command prompt
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3
Q

What is scripting?

A

powerful kind of programming that makes repetitive data manipulation and machine configuration easier

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4
Q

Scripts are stored as ___ files

A

text files

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5
Q

What are the 6 scripting languages?

A

1) .bat
2) .ps1
3) .vbs
4) .sh
5) .js
6) .py

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6
Q

What are 3 characteristics of a .bat file extension (scripting language)?

also known as a batch file

A
  1. Runs commands in sequence
  2. Displays each command as it runs using echo
  3. Includes remarks that explain the purpose of the file using REM
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7
Q

What is the .bat file extension used by?

A

Command Prompt (originally developed for MS-DOS)

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8
Q

The .ps1 file extension is used by what?

A

PowerShell scripts

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9
Q

What is PowerShell?

A

PowerShell is an object-oriented scripting language built into Win10/11

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10
Q

PowerShell includes support for what 4 things?

v, l, c, c

A
  1. variables
  2. looping
  3. cmdlets
  4. consistent syntax using a verb-noun command structure (Get-Help)
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11
Q

What are cmdlets?

A

small .NET-based apps

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12
Q

The .vbs file extension is used for? (2 names it’s known as)

A
  1. Visual Basic Script
  2. VBScript
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13
Q

What’s a warning about .bat files?

A

There are no restrictions on .bat files so a harmful .bat file can be run without being blocked by Windows (view the contents of the file before running it)

[.bat files can be edited using Notepad or a word processing program because they’re plain-text files]

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14
Q

What is VBScript? Derived from what? What editor does it use? (2)

A
  1. a Microsoft scripting language derived from Visual Basic
  2. uses any plain-text editor to create/edit VBScript files
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15
Q

The macro functions of Excel and other Office apps with macro support use what file extension instead of .vbs?

A

.vba (Visual Basic for Applications)

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16
Q

What 2 ways can you execute a VBScript file?

A
  1. wscript.exe interpreter (by default, displays output of script in a window or box)
  2. Windows Script Host
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17
Q

What file extension is used for Bash shell files?

A

.sh

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18
Q

What are Bash shell files?

A

a type of executable file used originally on UNIX systems, now used on Linux/macOS in Terminal mode

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19
Q

The .js extension is used for what?

A

JavaScript scripts

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20
Q

What is JavaScript widely used in? (6)

A
  1. Web development
  2. Web applications
  3. Web servers
  4. Server apps
  5. Smartwatch apps
  6. Mobile apps
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21
Q

What type of language is JavaScript?

A

It’s an object-based, interpreted language (with no connection to Java programming language)

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22
Q

What is the .py extension used for?

A

Python scripts

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23
Q

What is Python? What OS is it included on? (2)

A
  1. a versatile scripting and programming language
  2. included in macOS and most Linux distros (but available for Windows)
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24
Q

The Python IDLE combines what?

A

a text editor with a Python interpreter (but can also be executed in a browser at websites like CodeAcademy)

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25
Q

Some scripting languages include….. (3)… that can be used to edit and run scripts

I, I, I

A
  1. IDE - Integrated Development Environment
  2. IDLE - Integrated Development and Learning Environment
  3. ISE - Integrated scripting environment
26
Q

Scripts allow a series of built-in commands to be used as an algorithm to….? (3)

A
  1. perform a task
  2. calculate a result
  3. measure and report system conditions

(among many others)

27
Q

What does API stand for?

A

Application Programming Interfaces

28
Q

JavaScript and Python use the API (application programming interfaces) of….

A

the host OS (which already perform all or some of a function)

29
Q

What makes a script usually easier and more efficient than writing a compile program?

A

a script is interpreted

30
Q

What PowerShell cmdlet restarts the OS on local and remote computers?

A

Restart-Computer (with parameters)

31
Q

What Linux command will restart the system?

A

shutdown -r

(though Linux systems require far fewer restarts than Windows)

32
Q

On Windows OS, what are drive mappings?

A

Assigning a drive an alphabetic identifier (like F: or C:)

33
Q

What is another term for mounted?

A

mapped

34
Q

Why would drives need to be remapped? (2)

A
  1. a drive is removed from the system (unmapped) and messes up the sequence
  2. a software app requires a particular drive alphabet ID

(common on larger networks)

35
Q

A mapped drive provides a connection between… (2)

A

A mapped drive provides a connection between a local drive and a shared directory/file on a remote device

36
Q

In a Windows script, what 2 commands are used for drive mapping? One is a PS command

A
  1. net use
  2. New-PSDrive (PS command)
37
Q

On Linux, drive mapping doesn’t exist as file systems are mounted to the ___ ___ ___

A

root file system (without a specific drive ID)

38
Q

What should you find if you want to create a text-formatted script file to install software silently?

A

find the silent mode parameter/switch for the setup/installer for each of the applications

39
Q

What are the 2 ways Installers are typically implemented on Windows?

A
  1. .exe files
  2. Windows Installer packages (.MSI)
40
Q

What does the syntax look like when you want to execute the setup.exe utility for a new app in silent mode and add an icon for the app on the Desktop?

Directory that contains the .exe = NewAppFiles

A

C:\NewAppFiles\setup.exe /S /desktopicon=yes

41
Q

What does the syntax look like to use the Windows Installer to add an app from a script in silent /qn?

Command: ?
Directory with installer: NewAppFiles

A

msiexec C:\NewAppFiles\install.msi /qn

42
Q

What is the cmdlet in PowerShell to run installs?

A

Start-Process

(more installation control, error-handling options)

43
Q

What 2 commands does Linux use with scripts to compile apps from source code?

A
  1. apt
  2. yum
44
Q

What can you use to run a simple type of backup?

A

ordinary file-copy tools (such as Robocopy in Windows)

45
Q

If you want to run a backup with a specific set of directories/files, what would be a better choice?

A

A script

46
Q

What can be run automatically using the Windows Task Scheduler or Linux cron setting? (for what purpose?)

A

a script (like any executable)

like when doing automated backups

47
Q

What PowerShell cmdlet do you use to capture the log file from a single app or apps in an install script?

A

Get-AppPackageLog

48
Q

____ has hundreds of ____ that can be used to access and return configuration and status information from Windows subsystems

A

PowerShell has hundreds of Get- cmdlets that can be used to access and return configuration/status information from Windows

49
Q

What scripting languages, commands or software can you use for:

  1. Restarting Machines (2)
  2. Remapping Network Drives (2)
  3. Installing Applications (4)
  4. Automated Backups (2)
  5. Information Gathering (1)
  6. Initiating Updates (3)
A
  1. Restarting Machines:
    -PowerShell (Restart-Computer)
    -Linux (shutdown -r)
  2. Remapping Network Drives:
    -Windows script (net use)
    -PowerShell (New-PSDrive)
  3. Installing Applications:
    -Windows script (write path to installer and switches)
    -Windows Installer (msiexec and switch)
    -PowerShell (Start-Process)
    -Linux (apt-get/apt or yum)
  4. Automated Backups:
    -Robocopy (simple)
    -Scripts (Windows Task Scheduler, Linux cron)
  5. Information Gathering:
    -PowerShell (Get- cmdlets)
  6. Initiating Updates:
    -Command Prompt (wusa.exe initiated from script)
    -PowerShell (Install-Module)
    -Linux (apt-get/apt or yum)
50
Q

On a Windows 10/11 system command prompt, what installer can be initiated from a script and used to complete routine update tasks?

A

Windows Update Standalone Installer (wusa.exe)

51
Q

Besides wusa.exe (Windows Update Standalone Installer), what else can you use to manage the update process?

A

PowerShell cmdlet Install-Module

52
Q

On Linux systems, what 3 commands can be executed within a Bash script to install an app and as well as update it?

A
  1. apt-get
  2. apt
  3. yum
53
Q

What are 3 general drawbacks to using scripts?

A
  1. scripting languages are open-source
  2. require the installation of an interpreter
  3. slower than a compiled program (depending on scope of the script)
54
Q

How can an attacker use a script to introduce malware?

A

A customized script can be accessed and altered and used to install malware or launch a privilege escalation attack

55
Q

Besides rigorous testing, new system scripts should be run with…?

A

the lowest level of privileges necessary

56
Q

Unintentional malware is primarily poorly written script statements that provide access to…. (2)

A

system information or user accounts

57
Q

How can non-malicious scripts affect a system negatively? (3)

may, open, disable

A
  1. may shut down a software firewall
  2. open port settings
  3. disable anti-malware software
58
Q

A poorly constructed script can cause errors by possibly mishandling….?

A

the system’s resources

(can cause conditions that conflict with the normal actions of the CPU or OS from cmdlets that target a system resource)

59
Q

What is an “elevated command prompt”?

A

One with admin privileges

60
Q

Each command has its own syntax; what do you use on Windows and Linux to get instructions for a command? (2)

A
  1. Windows = help
  2. Linux = man

CompTIA® A+ Certification Prep 2: Software (45 decks)

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