Linux Command Line for Beginners from Coursera

This course is your gateway to mastering the Linux command line, an essential skill for any IT professional. Starting with the basics, you’ll learn about different Linux distributions and how to install them using VirtualBox. As you progress, you'll gain hands-on experience with fundamental commands for navigating the file system, managing files and directories, and modifying permissions. Each session builds your confidence and proficiency, ensuring you can tackle real-world tasks with ease.

The second part of the course delves deeper into advanced Linux administration. You'll explore user account management, system utilities, process scheduling, and shell scripting. By the end of the course, you’ll be adept at using Linux command line tools to automate tasks and manage systems efficiently. With practical exercises and detailed explanations, this course ensures you not only learn the commands but also understand their application in various scenarios.

Whether you're aiming to become a system administrator or simply want to enhance your technical skills, this course provides a solid foundation. No prior experience is needed, making it accessible to anyone eager to learn. Embrace the power of Linux and open up new career opportunities in the tech industry.

This course is designed for beginners with no prior experience in Linux. It's ideal for aspiring system administrators, developers, and tech enthusiasts looking to expand their skill set. Basic computer knowledge is recommended but not required.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

In this module, we will provide an overview of the course structure, introducing the key concepts and skills that will be covered throughout the course. You will gain an understanding of the objectives and outcomes expected upon completion.

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what should give you pause

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Provides a solid foundation in Linux, which is an essential skill for IT professionals and those looking to expand their technical skills

Covers advanced Linux administration techniques, such as file management, text processing, user account management, system monitoring, and shell scripting

Teaches how to install different Linux distributions using VirtualBox, which is a common method for experimenting with different operating systems

Explores user account management, system utilities, process scheduling, and shell scripting, which are all core skills for Linux system administration

Reviews summary

Foundational linux command line skills

According to learners, this course offers a solid introduction to the Linux command line, proving particularly effective for absolute beginners. Students consistently praise the instructor's clear explanations and the step-by-step approach, which makes learning fundamental commands and file system navigation accessible. The hands-on exercises are highlighted as being very helpful for practicing and solidifying understanding. However, multiple reviewers note that while the initial beginner content is strong, the section covering advanced administration topics is brief and superficial, leading some to feel the title is potentially misleading regarding depth. Some learners also report facing difficulties with the VirtualBox setup process.

Practical exercises reinforce learning effectively.

"The hands-on exercises after each section were crucial for reinforcing the concepts."

"The labs were helpful..."

"The hands-on practice was perfect."

Instructor explains concepts simply and effectively.

"The instructor breaks down every command step by step, making it incredibly easy to follow."

"The instructor's teaching style is very clear and engaging."

"The instructor knows his stuff and presents it clearly."

"The explanations for stdin, stdout, pipes, and redirects were very clear."

Excellent starting point for newcomers to Linux.

"This course is excellent for absolute beginners! ... I had zero prior experience with Linux, and now I feel confident..."

"Loved this course! As a complete novice, I was worried about learning the command line, but this course made it approachable and understandable."

"Exactly what I needed as a beginner. Clear, concise, and practical. Focused on the essential commands."

"It starts from the absolute basics and builds up."

A few commands or practices may be outdated.

"Some commands shown were slightly outdated or deprecated, which caused confusion when I tried them."

Some learners faced difficulties with VirtualBox setup.

"The labs were helpful, but I encountered a couple of minor issues with the VirtualBox setup described."

"The VirtualBox setup was a pain and poorly explained in the materials."

"Also, confirming others had VirtualBox setup issues."

"Had minor VirtualBox setup issues."

Covers advanced topics but lacks sufficient depth.

"However, the 'advanced' section is very superficial. Shell scripting gets only a brief mention..."

"The advanced topics introduced were interesting, but definitely need follow-up study."

"Found this course somewhat disappointing. While it starts at a beginner level, it rushes through too much material, especially in the second half."

"The 'advanced' topics are barely touched upon. Don't expect to learn shell scripting properly here."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Linux Command Line for Beginners with these activities:

Review Basic Operating System Concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of core operating system principles to better grasp how Linux works under the hood.

Browse courses on Operating Systems

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Read articles or watch videos explaining OS concepts.
Take a practice quiz on operating system fundamentals.

Read 'The Linux Command Line'

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Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to the Linux command line.

View The Linux Command Line, 2nd Edition on Amazon

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Read the book chapter by chapter.
Try out the commands and examples in a Linux environment.
Take notes on key concepts and commands.

Practice Basic Linux Commands

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Solidify your understanding of essential Linux commands through repetitive practice.

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Set up a virtual machine with a Linux distribution.
Practice navigating the file system using 'cd', 'ls', and 'pwd'.
Create, copy, move, and delete files and directories using 'mkdir', 'cp', 'mv', and 'rm'.

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Create a Cheat Sheet of Common Linux Commands

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Reinforce your learning by creating a cheat sheet of frequently used Linux commands.

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Identify the most important commands covered in the course.
Write a brief description of each command and its options.
Organize the cheat sheet for easy reference.

Read 'Linux Bible'

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Expand your knowledge with a comprehensive overview of the Linux operating system.

View Linux Bible on Amazon

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Read the book chapter by chapter.
Try out the commands and examples in a Linux environment.
Take notes on key concepts and commands.

Follow Advanced Shell Scripting Tutorials

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Enhance your shell scripting skills by working through advanced tutorials.

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Find tutorials on topics like loops, conditional statements, and functions.
Write scripts to automate common system administration tasks.
Test and debug your scripts thoroughly.

Automate System Backups with a Shell Script

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Apply your knowledge by creating a practical shell script to automate system backups.

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Plan the backup strategy, including what to back up and where to store it.
Write a shell script to automate the backup process.
Schedule the script to run automatically using cron.
Test the backup and restore process.

Career center

Learners who complete Linux Command Line for Beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

System Administrator

A System Administrator manages and maintains computer systems, ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently. This role involves a deep understanding of operating systems, and this course helps build a foundation using Linux. The course's focus on installing Linux distributions using VirtualBox, navigating the file system, managing files and directories, and modifying permissions is directly applicable to the daily tasks of a system administrator. The advanced section, particularly user account management, system utilities, process scheduling, and shell scripting, is extremely valuable in automating system administration tasks. Anyone aiming to become a system administrator should find this course to be a useful starting point.

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Linux Consultant

A Linux Consultant provides expertise and guidance to organizations that use or wish to use Linux systems. This course provides a helpful foundation for a Linux consultant. The course's in-depth exploration of Linux distributions, installation, command line tools, and advanced administration techniques is directly applicable to the daily tasks of such a consultant. The focus of the course on practical exercises and detailed explanations is an asset to a consultant who must be able to articulate and demonstrate complex concepts. Anyone who wishes to become a Linux consultant will find this course to be helpful.

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Web Server Administrator

A Web Server Administrator is in charge of configuring and maintaining web servers, which often run on Linux operating systems. This course offers a useful practical foundation for a web server administrator. The course's coverage of basic Linux commands, file management, and user permissions directly applies to setting up and maintaining web servers. The advanced modules on system utilities, scripting, and process management are highly applicable for optimizing server performance. Anyone beginning a career as a web server administrator will find this course helpful.

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Automation Engineer

An Automation Engineer designs, develops, and implements automated systems and processes across various industries. This course's coverage of shell scripting, system utilities, and process management supports an automation engineer's work. The course's focus on automating tasks using Linux command line tools directly aligns with the day-to-day responsibilities of an automation engineer. Anyone wanting to be an automation engineer will find this course to be a useful introduction to system automation in Linux.

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Cloud Engineer

A Cloud Engineer specializes in building, deploying, and managing cloud-based infrastructure and services. A significant portion of cloud infrastructure is built on Linux, making this course a great starting point. The course's in-depth coverage of Linux distributions, command line tools, file system navigation, user management, and scripting is essential for managing cloud instances. It may provide a foundation for anyone wanting to take on the cloud. The concepts taught in this course will also help Cloud Engineers automate tasks and maintain infrastructure effectively.

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DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer works to streamline software development and deployment processes through automation and collaboration. Linux proficiency is a must for most DevOps roles, and this is where this course would likely be useful. The course's content on shell scripting, system utilities, user management, and process management directly applies to automating deployments, managing servers, and maintaining the software development lifecycle. The course's coverage of Linux command line tools is particularly useful for this role. Anyone wanting to be a DevOps engineer could find this course to be a good basic introduction.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases, ensuring their security and accessibility; a good understanding of server operating systems like Linux is a good idea. This course focusing on the Linux operating system provides a solid foundation for a database administrator. The course's coverage of Linux commands, file system navigation, user account management, and system monitoring helps a database administrator manage server environments effectively. The scripting content will help automate tasks associated with database management. A beginner in database administration may find this course to be worthwhile.

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Security Analyst

A Security Analyst monitors and protects computer systems and networks from cyber threats and security breaches. In many organizations, some security tools and systems are based in Linux, and a foundation in this operating system may be useful. The course’s content on Linux file systems, command line navigation, and user permissions is useful for understanding system vulnerabilities and security configurations. The advanced modules on shell scripting can assist an analyst in detecting and responding to security incidents. Anyone wanting to pursue security analysis may find this a useful course.

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Network Administrator

A Network Administrator is responsible for maintaining and managing computer networks, ensuring connectivity and security. While this role focuses on network infrastructure, understanding the operating systems that run on servers is key, and a course in Linux is likely useful. The course's content on basic commands, file management, and user permissions is directly applicable to managing network devices and servers. The advanced modules, specifically those covering system utilities and scripting, help a network administrator automate tasks and troubleshoot common network problems. If interested in the network field, this course may be helpful.

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Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer designs and develops hardware and software for embedded systems, which are often built on a Linux foundation. The course's content on the Linux command line and file system, as well as basic system management, should be useful to someone in this field. The scripting content would likely help an embedded systems engineer automate the testing and validation of various hardware and software components. Anyone wanting to be an embedded systems engineer may find that this course supplies helpful basic information.

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IT Support Specialist

An IT Support Specialist provides technical assistance and support to end users within an organization. In many organizations, IT systems are built on Linux. The course’s focus on understanding Linux distributions, command line navigation, file management, and user permissions directly supports the responsibilities of an IT support specialist. This course might help an IT support specialist diagnose and resolve technical problems efficiently. Therefore, those who want to work in IT support may find this course a good introduction.

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Technical Support Specialist

A Technical Support Specialist provides assistance to users experiencing technical issues with software or hardware. In many tech environments, this may involve troubleshooting Linux systems. The course's emphasis on understanding Linux distributions, navigating the command line, managing files, and modifying permissions equips a technical support specialist with the skills needed for diagnosing and resolving common issues. User account management and system utilities modules are particularly relevant in this role. The skills taught in this course may help a technical support specialist provide efficient solutions.

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Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, writes, and tests code for software applications. While not all software developers use Linux, many do, and this course could be helpful to some developers. The course’s emphasis on the command line is critical for many development workflows, including interacting with servers and managing project files. The content dealing with system utilities, file management, and command execution is very useful. Those who wish to work as software developers may find that taking this course makes their work with Linux easier.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist analyzes complex data to discover insights and patterns that can inform decisions. While this role often involves data analysis tools and programming languages, a good understanding of system management can be helpful. This course will help with working in Linux environments. The course's content on the command line and scripting can be an important asset to efficiently managing data files and automating tasks. The ability to navigate the command line, as provided in a course such as this, may be helpful for data scientists who interact with Linux servers.

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Technical Trainer

A Technical Trainer develops and delivers training programs on technical topics, which can include Linux. This course should help someone who is starting out as a technical trainer. The course's clear and structured approach to teaching basic and advanced Linux administration, using hands-on exercises, provides a great resource for a technical trainer to learn material. The course's syllabus covering various aspects of the Linux command line, file systems, user management, and scripting is useful to someone wanting to deliver training in Linux. This course may be a good resource for a beginner in technical training.

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Linux Command Line for Beginners

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Foundational linux command line skills

Activities

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