320: Infrastructure Competencies

Connecting with a Secure Shell and
Navigating & Manipulating
the Unix Directory Structure

Introduction

Anyone creating, modifying, or maintaining a web site needs to be able to manipulate the files and directories on that web site, and in a secure fashion. If you know how to use the secure shell, then you can connect (or log on) to a web server from anywhere in the world with some assurance that your username and password will not be stolen along the way. If you understand and can navigate and manipulate the directory structure of your web server, then you will be able to set up and maintain your site(s) once you have logged on.

This competency module is designed to allow you to demonstrate that you know how to connect to a remote server securely. It is also designed to allow you to demonstrate that you know how to create, manipulate, and remove files and directories on a remote server. You will also demonstrate that you know how to get help from a remote Unix system through using the system manual (or man pages).

Instructions

• Print out a copy of this onto paper, and bring the printout with you when you are ready to demonstrate these competencies. Print your name on the top right of your printout.
• Bring the printout with you and give it to the class TA so you can demonstrate your competencies. Ask them to check off each item below as you demonstrate your competency in that area. If they check you off as competent in all areas, then ask them to sign and date your printout. Please do not ask them to sign off on you being competent in an area if you cannot demonstrate that to them to their satisfaction.
• Ask the TA to add it to your class folder.

Steps

• Connecting with a Secure Shell
• Navigating & Manipulating the Unix Directory Structure
  1. Getting File & Directory Information
  2. Moving Around
  3. Figuring Out Where You Are
  4. Setting File & Directory Permissions
  5. Copying & Moving Files & Directories
  6. Creating and Removing Files & Directories
• Gracefully Exiting

Connecting with a Secure Shell

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Student will demonstrate logging on to their main RIT student account (is is usually on gibson.rit.edu) using a secure shell program. They may use either the command-line (for example, Terminal and ssh on a Mac) or a GUI-oriented program (for example, Putty on the PC).

Navigating & Manipulating the Unix Directory Structure

Getting File & Directory Information

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Student will demonstrate getting both simple and verbose information about the files and subdirectories in the current directory using the ls command. Student will be able to explain and demonstrate the uses of both the l and the a arguments to the ls command.

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Student will demonstrate using the man command to get help from the system manual on the ls command. Student will use the resulting display to explain to the TA or Lab Assistant how to use the l and a arguments.

Moving Around

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Student will demonstrate moving to a subdirectory. Student will explain the difference between a relative path from the current directory to some other directory and an absolute path from the system root to some arbitrary directory.

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Student will demonstrate moving to their user login directory using the ~ command. Student will explain the differences between their user login directory, the system root directory, and the root of their webspace. This explanation will include the absolute locations (or paths) of these three directories on the system, and an explanation of what is visible to a web browser.

Figuring Out Where You Are

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Student will demonstrate using the pwd command to find what directory they are in currently.

Setting File & Directory Permissions

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Student will explain the differences between user, group, and other permissions displayed via the ls command. Student will demonstrate using the man command to get help on using the chmod command. Student will demonstrate using the chmod command to set a directory to rwx for the user and rx for everyone else. Student will explain what access rights each now has.

Copying & Moving Files & Directories

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Student will demonstrate using the man command to get help on using the cp command. Student will demonstrate copying a file to some arbitrary directory. Student will explain what the R argument to the cp command does. Student will explain how to use the wildcard characters * and ? with the cp command.

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Student will demonstrate using the man command to get help on using the mv command. Student will demonstrate moving a file to some arbitrary directory. Student will demonstrate moving a directory to a new location. Student will explain how to rename a file or directory. Student will explain how to use the wildcard characters * and ? with the mv command.

Creating and Removing Files & Directories

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Student will demonstrate using the man command to get help on using the mkdir command. Student will demonstrate creating a new subdirectory under their user login directory called test. Student will set directory permissions for test to rwx for themselves and to r for everyone else.

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Student will demonstrate using the pico program to create a text file containing their full name on one line and their user ID on a second line. Student will save that file in their test subdirectory under the name myinfo.txt. Student will make a second copy of that file named copy.txt in the same directory using the cp command.

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Student will demonstrate using the man command to get help on using the rm command. Student will explain the uses of the r and f arguments to the rm command. Student will demonstrate deleting the copy.txt file from the previous step. Student will demonstrate deleting the test subdirectory and all files in it using the rm command.

Gracefully Exiting

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Student will demonstrate using the exit command at the command-line to gracefully exit their login to the main student server at RIT (usually gibson.rit.edu). Student will explain what happens if they just lose their connection or stop the program without gracefully logging off.