Chapter 5. First Steps with Ubuntu

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Working with the Linux File System

• Logging In to and Working with Linux

• Changing Your User Information

• Reading Documentation

• Using the Shell

• Using the Text Editors

• Working with Permissions

• Working As Root

• Reference

Ubuntu comes with a great graphical user interface (see Chapter 6, "The X Window System") that gives you an easy way to administer and maintain your system. However, you may not always have the luxury of a window manager, especially when things go wrong. In this chapter we will take a look at some of the basic command line functions that may come in handy should you need to use them. For more advanced functions you should look at Chapter 33, "Command Line Masterclass."

Some of the basic command-line skills covered in this chapter include

• Performing routine tasks Logging in and out, using the text console, changing passwords, listing and navigating directories

• Basic file management Creating, renaming, or deleting files and directories

• Basic user management Creating or deleting users from the command line

• Basic system management Shutting down or rebooting, reading man pages or other documentation, and using text-based tools to edit system configuration files

This chapter is essential reading if you are totally new to Linux; it will help you make the jump from other operating systems and give you a good grounding in entering commands at the command-line.

Tip

More seasoned computer users may well remember MS-DOS, the ubiquitous command line shell that was produced by Microsoft. If you do remember this then the jump to the command line will feel like slipping on an old glove, except that the color may have changed and it is not so leaky any more. The Linux command-line is much more powerful than the old MS-DOS command-line, allowing you to string several commands together to get the desired effect. The big benefit though is the fact that many of the commands that you learn can be used on other systems such as UNIX, BSD, and even Mac OS X.

Note

On the whole, there are two types of users that will access a Linux system: normal day-to-day users and the root user or super user. At large organizations, a few people might be granted access rights to the root or super-user account in order to complete necessary system administration tasks. Normal users will not normally need to have root access.

However, if you have Linux installed on your machine as a standalone PC, you will automatically have access to the root account. This is so that you can complete necessary configuration and other tasks that require interacting with the system.

Ubuntu is actually slightly different to the rest of the Linux distros in that the root account is disabled by default, and root/super-user access rights are granted to the first user that is set up on the system. Whenever Ubuntu needs to make system-wide changes it will ask for the users password before doing so, giving you the option of backing off before committing any potentially destructive changes. To access system administrator powers you need to add a sudo command before any commands you want to run as root. You will be prompted for your password before you continue.