The LBook: An Introductory Guide to Linux Basics

LinuxBasics.org offers a free online course, called An Introduction to Linux Basics, that introduces the student to the Linux operating system and how to productively use it. This course uses as its course book LBook: An Introductory Guide to Linux Basics, which is an edited version of “Introduction to Linux: A Hands on Guide” by Machtelt Garrels. The class started on October 19, however you can still join the list, introduce yourself and start with the first week’s section. You will not be rushed to catch up to where others are. You are free to discuss wherever you are in the guide or other Linux-related matters on the list.

The class will spend more than a week on most chapters and anticipate the class running for about 6 months. A Schedule is posted. Class members will read the section for the week and do the exercises at the end of the chapters. Relevant questions and comments may then be discussed on the mailing list; so you will need to join that in order to participate. It is anticipated that questions will range from very basic to more advanced. Beginners need to ask the questions they have at their level (there are no stupid questions) and not be intimidated by more advanced questions from more advanced users who are learning too. More advanced users will have to “remember when”, as they once were introduced themselves to Linux, and hopefully contribute answers to basic questions as well as more advanced ones. Here is the online Linux book being used by this course:

The LBook: An Introductory Guide to Linux Basics

• Introduction


• Chapter One - What is Linux?
• 1.1. History
• 1.2. The user interface
• 1.3. Does Linux have a future?
• 1.4. Properties of Linux
• 1.5. Linux Flavors
• 1.6. Summary
• 1.7. Exercises


• Chapter Two - Quick Start
• 2.1. Logging in, activating the user interface and logging out
• 2.2. Absolute basics
• 2.3. Getting help
• 2.4. Summary
• 2.5. Exercises


• Chapter Three - About Files and the File System
• 3.1. General overview of the Linux file system
• 3.2. Orientation in the file system
• 3.3. Manipulating files
• 3.4. File security
• 3.5. Summary
• 3.6. Exercises


• Chapter Four - Processes
• 4.1. Processes inside out
• 4.2. Boot process, Init and shutdown
• 4.3. Managing processes
• 4.4. Scheduling processes
• 4.5. Summary
• 4.6. Exercises


• Chapter Five - I/O Redirection
• 5.1. Simple redirections
• 5.2. Advanced redirection features
• 5.3. Filters
• 5.4. Summary
• 5.5. Exercises


• Chapter Six - Text Editors
• 6.1. Text editors
• 6.2. Using the Vim editor
• 6.3. Linux in the office
• 6.4. Summary
• 6.5. Exercises


• Chapter Seven - Home Sweet /home
• 7.1. General good housekeeping
• 7.2. Your text environment
• 7.3. The graphical environment
• 7.4. Region specific settings
• 7.5. Installing new software
• 7.6. Summary
• 7.7. Exercises


• Chapter Eight - Printers and Printing
• 8.1. Printing files
• 8.2. The server side
• 8.3. Print problems
• 8.4. Summary
• 8.5. Exercises


• Chapter Nine - Fundamental Backup Techniques
• 9.1. Introduction
• 9.2. Moving your data to a backup device
• 9.3. Using rsync
• 9.4. Encryption
• 9.5. Summary
• 9.6. Exercises


• Chapter Ten - Networking
• 10.1. Networking Overview
• 10.2. Network configuration and information
• 10.3. Internet/Intranet applications
• 10.4. Remote execution of applications
• 10.5. Security
• 10.6. Summary
• 10.7. Exercises


• Chapter Eleven - Sound and Video
• 11.1. Audio Basics
• 11.2. Sound and video playing
• 11.3. Video playing, streams and television watching
• 11.4. Internet Telephony
• 11.5. Summary
• 11.6. Exercises


• Appendix A. Where to go from here?
• Appendix B. DOS versus Linux commands
• Appendix C. Shell Features
• Appendix D. GNU Free Documentation License
• Glossary