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Linux Operating System Essentials

Develop your skills ready for a career in software development or system administration by learning the fundamentals of Linux OS.

A penguin looks over an icy plain.

Discover the world’s most popular open source operating system

From smartphones and servers, to supercomputers and submarines, Linux powers an incredible amount of today’s computer technology.

Improve your employability and transferable skills with this two-week course, delivering a working knowledge of Linux operations.

Learn how to create a Linux container using Docker

Starting from scratch, you’ll learn how to set up Linux and be introduced to key terminology including shell, terminal, and command.

Equipped with this foundational knowledge, you’ll move on to investigating processes in Linux, including data streams and piping, learning how data moves from one process to another.

Using these skills, you’ll be able to monitor and manage processes within your operating system, identifying and addressing any issues.

Explore common Linux commands and operations

From search operations to scripting, you’ll learn to create basic commands and finish with the skills to produce an entire series of commands. As you develop your understanding of more complex commands, you’ll also gain insight into the operations that take place within Linux that affect the processes and behaviour of your operating system.

You’ll explore the applications and uses of these concepts as they gain in complexity, allowing you to further your understanding of Linux and other operating systems.

Improve user management processes

User management is an essential skill for system administrators who want to ensure users have the correct permissions, passwords, and set up when working on Linux.

You’ll learn how to sort files, assign permissions, and improve your user management and monitoring techniques.

By the end of this course, you’ll have gained the essential skills to set up and run Linux OS, whether in a development, administrative, or personal capacity.

Skip to 0 minutes and 1 second SPEAKER: Learn Linux and like it. You can learn all about Linux OS essentials in just two weeks. With the help of expert, Bogdan Stashchuk, you can. By completing this course, you’ll be able to use Linux commands and processes, identify Linux data streams, piping and search operations, explain user management and permissions, discuss executable files and scripting. Work with Linux networking and apply environmental variables. Launch your Linux career from here. Learn anytime from anywhere. Step into your future with Linux operating system essentials from Packt and FutureLearn.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Introduction to Linux

    • Welcome and introduction

      Welcome to Linux Operating System Essentials and the start of your learning journey, brought to you by Packt.

    • Getting started with Linux

      In this activity, we will discuss how to get started with Linux: What you need to install, how to create a container, what shell, terminal, and command are, and where to source Linux information.

    • Commands

      In this activity, we will identify how to get help on commands, different command options, and command arguments. We will also explore arguments for options.

    • Linux processes

      In this activity, we will describe Linux processes. You will learn how to generate a list of running processes, start and kill processes, install htop processes, and use the htop utility.

    • Data streams and piping

      In this activity, we will explore data streams, redirecting STDOUT and STDERR to the file, where process data streams send data, sending data to STDIN, and piping.

    • File and directory management part 1

      In this activity, we will discuss file and directory management. You will learn about the Linux file system structure, listing files and directories, exploring subdirectories, and creating and removing files and directories.

    • File and directory management part 2

      In this activity, we will continue discussing file and directory management. You will learn about creating new files, editing files, copying and moving files and directories, reading files, filtering text, and soft and hard links.

    • Wrap up

      You have reached the end of Week 1. In this activity, you'll reflect on what you have learned.

  • Week 2

    Working in Linux

    • Introduction to Week 2

      Welcome to Week 2. In this activity, we'll highlight the main topics that will be covered this week.

    • Search operations

      In this activity, we will identify different search operations and discuss how to utilise them. You will also learn about piping results.

    • Compressing and sorting

      In this activity, we will explore compressing and sorting. You will learn about the tar and gzip utilities, creating and extracting compressed archive, sorting files, and sorting file contents.

    • User management and permissions

      In this activity, we will discuss Linux user management and permissions. This includes and overview of how to create users, changing the ownership of a file, and changing permissions.

    • Executable files and scripts

      In this activity, we will explore executable files and scripting: how to create executable script and adding path to the scripts.

    • Networking

      In this activity, we will describe Linux networking. You will learn how to explore IP address settings, verify connectivity with remote servers, enable Secure Shell, connect the server remotely, and use curl and wget utilities.

    • Environmental variables

      In this activity, we will identify environmental variables and outline how to script with environmental variable access.

    • Wrap up

      You have reached the end of this course. In this activity, you will reflect on what you have learned.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain how to use Linux with reference to shell, terminal, and command.
  • Discuss Linux commands and processes.
  • Describe Linux data streams and piping.
  • Summarise Linux file and directory management.
  • Identify Linux search operations.
  • Describe compressing and sorting in Linux.
  • Explain Linux user management and permissions.
  • Describe Linux networking.
  • Reflect on environmental variables.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in operating systems and understanding their processes better. It is particularly useful for those considering a career in software development or system administration.

What software or tools do you need?

You don’t need to have Linux installed as your computer operating system. We’ll show you how to setup a Linux environment to get the most out of this course, and how to install Docker if you have a MacOS or Windows setup.

Who developed the course?

Packt

Founded in 2004 in Birmingham, UK, Packt’s mission is to help the world put software to work in new ways, through the delivery of effective learning and information services to IT professionals.

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

What's included?

This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
  • Download and print your Certificate of Achievement anytime

Still want to know more? Check out our FAQs

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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