Linux Essentials — Detailed Lab Overview

Duration

2 Hours (12 Steps)

Audience

This lab is designed for complete beginners (equivalent to 10th grade students) who are learning Linux and the terminal for the first time.
No prior Linux knowledge is assumed. Each instruction is step-by-step and written in simple language.

Lab Format

• Instruction Lab: You will be guided through commands and concepts directly.
• Hands-On Practice: You will type commands into the terminal and observe outputs.
• Validation Tasks: At the end, optional tasks (Git & Networking) include helper files and validation scripts.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lab, you will be able to:

1. Open and use the Linux terminal effectively.
2. Navigate the filesystem and perform file operations.
3. View, search, and filter text files.
4. Manage processes and jobs (foreground/background).
5. Understand file permissions and change them with chmod and chown.
6. Gather system information (disk, memory, uptime).
7. Perform basic networking commands (ping, DNS lookups, open ports).
8. Archive and compress files using tar and gzip.
9. Use the package manager (apt) to install and remove software.
10. Write and run simple shell scripts.
11. Initialize and commit code to a Git repository.
12. Troubleshoot connectivity and DNS resolution.

Structure

• Steps 1–10: Core Linux skills (approx. 100 minutes).
• Steps 11–12: Validation tasks with helpers (approx. 20 minutes).
• Each step is 10 minutes on average, but you may take longer as you practice.

Requirements

• Operating System: Ubuntu 24 (or similar Linux distribution).
• Tools: Terminal application (bash shell).
• Network: Internet connection for package installation and DNS tests.
• Permissions: Some tasks require sudo access (administrator rights).

Key Skills Practiced

• Working with the Linux command line
• Creating and organizing files and directories
• Redirecting and searching text output
• Managing processes and monitoring system usage
• Adjusting permissions for files and directories
• Compressing and archiving data
• Installing/removing software with APT
• Writing and running bash scripts
• Using Git for version control
• Troubleshooting basic networking issues

Suggested Workflow

1. Follow each step in order. Each builds on the previous one.
2. Type commands manually. Avoid copy-paste to build muscle memory.
3. Observe the output carefully. Compare it with expected results.
4. Repeat tasks if something doesn’t work — troubleshooting is part of learning.
5. Try variations (e.g., different filenames, directories) to deepen your understanding.

Completion Criteria

• You have successfully completed all 10 instructional steps.
• You optionally attempted Steps 11 and 12 and passed the provided validation scripts.
• You are comfortable using the Linux terminal for basic daily tasks.

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Next Steps:
After completing this lab, you are ready to explore more advanced topics such as user management, shell scripting with conditionals/loops, and networking security.