Travis Brister

NT430 Linux Networking

Unit 1 Exercises
1. What is Free Software? List 3 Characteristics
The code is available free of costno charge for the software, source, documentation, or
support.3 Characteristics would be that you are free to study it, redistribute it, and
modify it.
2. What is the Free Software Foundation/GNU? What is Linux? Which parts of the
Linux operating system did each provide? Who else has helped build and refine this
operating system?
The Free Software Foundation (www.fsf.org) is the principal sponsor of the GNU
Project. GNU developed many of the tools, which are part of the GNU/Linux Operating
System. Linux is the name of an operating system kernel developed by Linus Torvalds
and expanded and improved by thousands of people on the Internet. Torvaldss kernel
and GNUs tools work together as the GNU/Linux Operating System.
3. Briefly, what does the process of installing an operating system such as
Fedora/RHEL involve?
Installing Fedora/RHEL is the process of copying operating system files from a CD,
DVD, or USB flash drive to hard disk(s) on a system and setting up configuration files so
Linux runs properly on the hardware. Several types of installations are possible, including
fresh installations, upgrades from older releases of Fedora/RHEL, and dual-boot
installations.
4. What is a live system? What advantages does it have over an installed system?
A live system is when you run Linux from a CD/DVD instead of installing it on the
computer. The advantage is you can test out Linux without disturbing your current
operating system.
5. Where on the disk should you put your /boot partition or the root (/) partition if you
do not use a /boot partition?
On the physical volume
6. When does a Fedora/RHEL system start X by default?
After Anaconda searches the video card and monitor
7. How does single-user mode differ from multiuser mode?
Single-user mode only has the system console enabled. Multi-user mode has the full
operating system and all its features enabled.

8. What do the letters of the su command stand for? (Hint: It is not Superuser.) What
can you do with su besides give yourself root privileges? How would you log in as
Zach if you did not know his password but knew the root password? How would
you establish the same environment that Zach has when he first logs in?
The su command stands for substitute user. The su command can also allow you to login
as another user. To login as another user, enter the su command followed by the user
name and supply the root password.

9. Develop a strategy for coming up with a password that an intruder would not be
likely to guess but that you will be able to remember.
A strategy for password selection is to not use dictionary words, use both uppercase and
lowercase letters, use numbers and symbols.