Finishing Strong with Linux Fundamentals 3
The final course of Linux Fundamentals —Linux Fundamentals 3—was all about leveling up with automation, process management, and system monitoring. With my virtual machine up and running, I dove into a series of practical lessons that tied everything together.
Terminal Text Editors: nano & VIM
I kicked things off by getting hands-on with terminal-based text editors. Nano was perfect for quick edits, while VIM introduced me to more advanced editing techniques. I created new files, modified existing ones, and got a feel for working directly in the shell—something every Linux user needs in their toolkit.
Useful Utilities: wget & Python3 HTTPServer
Next, I explored some must-know command-line tools. wget made downloading files from the internet a breeze, and I used Python 3’s built-in HTTPServer to spin up a quick local web server—an awesome tool for simple file sharing or testing.
Process Management with systemctl
Understanding and controlling system processes came next. I learned how to view running processes and manage them with commands like SIGTERM, SIGKILL, and SIGSTOP. I also got comfortable using systemctl to control which services start on boot using start, stop, enable, and disable.
A Quick Dive into Cron
Automation was introduced through a brief overview of Cron and Crontabs—a powerful way to schedule scripts and commands to run automatically. Even though it was a short section, it opened the door to endless automation possibilities.
Package Management & Repositories
Software management was another key focus. I learned how Linux handles packages and repositories, and how to install, remove, and update software efficiently from the command line.
Logging & System Monitoring
We wrapped things up with logging—an essential part of system maintenance and security. I explored the /var/log directory, where Linux keeps logs for various services and applications. I also learned about log rotation, a process that keeps log files manageable over time. These logs are invaluable for monitoring system health, troubleshooting issues, and even investigating suspicious activity.
That’s a wrap on the Linux Fundamentals module! It’s been an eye-opening experience learning how to navigate, manage, and troubleshoot within a Linux environment. Next stop: Windows Fundamentals—I’m excited to see how the two compare!
