Intro to Linux File Management

• The lab provides an intro to file management in Linux
• Students learn to use commands for creating, removing, and changing directories.
• Hands-on exercises using terminal commands will help students manage files, and enhance their proficiency in Linux.

Lab Learning Outcomes

• Understand the difference between absolute and relative pathnames in Linux.
• Navigate the Linux file system using command-line tools.
• Create, move, and delete directories using appropriate commands.

Lab Instructions

• The lab instructor will provide guidance on navigating and managing directories using relative and absolute pathnames.
• Students will learn how to create, remove, and change directories, focusing on understanding the differences between relative and absolute paths.

Linux Directory

• Linux Directory stores file names and related information.
• All files, whether ordinary, special, or directories, reside in directories.
• Directories function as containers for files and other directories.
• A Linux home directory is a directory for a specific user, containing individual files known as the login directory.
• After logging in, a Linux system automatically creates this directory as "/home" for each user
• It is a standard subdirectory of the root directory, denoted by a forward slash (/).
• The root directory contains all other directories, subdirectories, and system files.

Absolute/Relative Pathnames

• Directories form a hierarchy with the root (/) at the top.
• A file's position is described by its pathname, with elements separated by a /.
• Absolute pathnames start from the root (/). Example: /etc/passwd
• Relative pathnames relate to the current working directory and never begin with a /. Example: personal/res.

Working with Directories

• Creating directories: The command $mkdir <dirname> creates directories

• mkdir stands for 'make directory'.

• Example: $mkdir mydir creates a directory named mydir in the current directory.

• The command mkdir creates multiple directories when given multiple directory names. For example: $mkdir d1 d2 d3

• Removing Directories: The command rmdir deletes directories.

• Syntax: $rmdir <dirname>

• Example: $rmdir d1

• You can only remove empty directories that don't contain files or sub-directories.

• Removing Directories: The command rm -rf directory recursively removes the directory and all files and directories in that directory structure. Use with caution.

• There is no "trash" container to restore deleted files.

• Renaming Directories: The mv (move) command also renames directories.

• Syntax: $mv <olddir> <newdir>

• Example :$mv mydir yourdir renames mydir to yourdir

• cp Command: The command cp copies a file or directory.

• Syntax: cp <existing directory name> <new directory name>

• mv Command: The command mv moves a file or directory from one location to another.

• Syntax: mv <old directory location path> <new directory location path>

Changing Directories

• The cd command can change the current directory using an absolute or relative path.
• Syntax: $cd dirname

Create Tree Directories: Example 1

• Create a “university” directory:
  • mkdir university
• Open university directory:
  • cd university
• Print the current path(pwd):
  • pwd
• Create “eng,medic and computer” directories:
  • mkdir eng medic computer
• Open computer directory:
  • cd computer
• Print the current path(pwd):
  • pwd
• Create “ICT and IT” directories:
  • mkdir ICT IT

Create Tree Directories: Example 2

• Create a “traffic” directory: mkdir traffic
• Open traffic directory: cd traffic
• Print the current path(pwd): pwd
• Create "red,yellow and green" directories: mkdir red yellow green
• Open red directory: cd red
• Print the current path(pwd): pwd
• Create “stop” directory: mkdir stop
• Go back one step: cd ..
• Print the current path(pwd): pwd
• Open yellow directory: cd yellow
• Create “ready” directory: mkdir ready
• Go back one step: cd ..
• Open green directory: cd green
• Create “go” directory: mkdir go
• Go back two steps: cd ../..
• Display traffic tree: ls

Example 3:

• Move the go directory inside red directory
  1. mv traffic/green/go traffic/red
  2. cd traffic
  3. Cd red
  4. ls
• Copy the ready directory to green
  1. cd ..
  2. cp –r yellow/ready green
  3. cd green
  4. ls
• Rename red directory to error directory
  1. cd ..
  2. mv red error
  3. ls
• Delete ready directory
  1. rmdir yellow/ready
  2. cd yellow
  3. ls

Homework

• Create example tree
• Copy the file1.txt directory to file2.1tx
• Rename image1.png to pic.png