RED HAT SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION I

3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

Document Version: 2015-12-28

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

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

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

Introduction

In this lab, you will practice finding relevant information by using man options and
arguments.

Outcomes

Familiarity with the man Linux manual system and practice finding useful information by
searching and browsing.

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

Lab Topology

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3.2. Practice: Using the man 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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3.2. Practice: Using the man 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. View the gedit(1) man page.

[student@server1 ~]$ man 1 gedit

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

4. Research how to edit a specific file using gedit from the command line by
scrolling through the document.

5. Research the gedit option used to begin an editing session with the cursor at
the end of the file.

6. Press q to close the gedit(1) man page.

7. Research the su(1) man page.

[student@server1 ~]$ man 1 su

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

8. Research what su does when the username argument is omitted.

su assumes a username of root.

9. Research how su behaves when a single dash option is used.

su starts a child login shell (creating login environment by sourcing login

scripts). Without the single dash, a non-login child shell is created, matching
the user's current environment.

10. Press q to close the su(1) man page.

11. Consult the passwd(1) man page. Determine the options that will lock and unlock
a user account when this command is used by root.

[student@server1 ~]$ man 1 passwd

a. passwd -l username
b. passwd -u username

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

12. Locate the two principles to remember according to the passwd man page
authors.

Search for the word “principle” by using the / key, the search term, followed by
Enter.

a. Protect your password.

b. Choose a hard-to-guess password.

13. Consult the man page documenting the syntax of the /etc/passwd file. What is
stored in the third field of each line?

The relevant man page is passwd(5), found with man -f passwd.

The UID (numeric user ID) for each account.

14. Which command will list detailed information about a zip archive?

zipinfo(1) found with man -k zip

15. Which man page contains a list of parameters that can be passed to the kernel at
boot time?

bootparam(7) found with man -k boot

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3.2. Practice: Using the man Command

16. Which command is used to tune ext4 file system parameters?

tune2fs(8) found with man -k ext4

17. Finish your session with the bash shell.

[student@server1 ~]$ exit

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