RED HAT SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION I

3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

Document Version: 2015-12-28

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3
Outcomes ............................................................................................................................ 3
Lab Topology ....................................................................................................................... 4
Lab Settings ......................................................................................................................... 5
1 Guided Exercise........................................................................................................... 6

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

Introduction

In this lab, you will browse GNU Info documentation using command-line tools.

Outcomes

Understand program documentation in the GNU Info node system.

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

Lab Topology

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

Lab Settings

The information in the table below will be needed in order to complete the lab. The
task sections below provide details on the use of this information.

Virtual Machine IP Address Account Password

(if needed) (if needed)

Server1 Machine 172.25.1.11 student student

Desktop1 Machine 172.25.1.10 student student

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

1 Guided Exercise

Before you begin...

Access the graphical login screen of the Server1 virtual machine.

The topology includes two virtual machines that are accessible to users. Take care to
perform the tasks as instructed, including using the appropriate virtual machine as
directed.

1. Log in as student using the password student.

2. Open a terminal window that will provide a bash prompt.

Select Applications → Utilities → Terminal.

3. Invoke pinfo without arguments.

[student@server1 ~]$ pinfo

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

4. Navigate to the Common options topic.

Use UpArrow or DownArrow until (coreutils) Common options is

highlighted. Press Enter to view this topic.

5. Determine what the symbols -- signify when used as a command argument.

The symbols -- signify the end of command options and the start of
command arguments in complex commands where the shell's command-line
parser might not correctly make the distinction.

6. Without exiting pinfo, move up to the GNU Coreutils node.

Press u to move up to the top node of the topic.

7. Move up again, to the top topic.

Press u again. Observe that when positioned at the top of a topic node,
moving up returns to the directory of topics. Alternately, pressing d from any
level or topic will move directly to the directory of topics.

8. Search for the pattern nano and select that topic.

Press / followed by the search pattern nano. With the topic highlighted,
press Enter.

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

9. In the Introduction, locate and select Command Line Options. Browse the
topic.

Press Enter to select Introduction, then DownArrow and Enter to select

Command Line Options. Use the arrow keys to browse the topic.

10. Move up one level to return to Introduction. Move to the next topic.

Press u to move up one level. The new location will be nano's topic 1
Introduction. Now press n. You will have moved to nano's topic 2 Editor
Basics.

11. Exit pinfo.

Press q to quit pinfo.

12. Invoke pinfo again, specifying nano as the destination topic from the command
line.

[student@server1 ~]$ pinfo nano

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3.4. Practice: Using the pinfo Command

13. Select the Editor Basics topic.

Press DownArrow to highlight Editor Basics, then press Enter to select

this topic.

14. Read the Entering Text and Special Functions subtopics.

Use arrow keys to highlight a topic, PageUp and PageDown to browse the
text, then press u to move up one level.

15. Press q to quit pinfo when you are finished.

16. Finish your session with the bash shell.

[student@server1 ~]$ exit

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