La Shell Bash
Shell prompt displays when shell is waiting for command from user
When regular user starts shell, default prompt ends with $:
[student@desktop1 ~]$
When superuser (root) starts shell, default prompt ends with #:
[root@desktop1 ~]#
bash shell provides scripting language for automating tasks
Shell can simplify operations that are hard to accomplish with graphical tools
Virtual Consoles
Terminal Access
Provides keyboard for input and display for output
On text-based installations, can be Linux machine’s physical console
Can be configured through serial ports
Virtual Console Access
Linux machine’s physical console supports multiple virtual consoles
Each virtual console acts like separate terminal
Supports independent login session
GUI runs on first virtual console
In GUI, hold Ctrl+Alt and press F2 through F6 to access text login prompt for consoles 2 – 6
Press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to return to first virtual console and GUI desktop.
Shell Basics
Commands entered at shell prompt have three basic parts:
Command: Name of program to run
Options: Adjust behavior of command and normally start with one or two dashes (-a or –all)
Arguments: Often indicate target that command should operate on
Commands can be followed by one or more options or arguments
usermod -L morgan
Command is usermod
Option is -L
Argument is morgan