LinuxEssentials Objectives V1
Introduction
The description of the entire LinuxEssentials programme is listed here.
Minimally Qualified Candidate Description
This is a description of a candidate that is just barely qualified to pass the LPI Introductory Linux exam. This hypothetical person is called the Minimally Qualified Candidate (MQC). Standards on the Introductory Linux exam should be set so that this person (and anyone more able) would pass but anyone less able would not pass.
An LPI Linux and Open Source Technician should have an understanding of the major components of the Linux operating system, the technical proficiency to work on the Linux command line and a basic understanding of security and administration related topics such as user/group management, working on the command line and permissions. A LPI Linux ad Open Source Technician is most likely the end user of a mostly managed system.
The LPI Linux and Open Source MQC typically:
- Has a basic understanding of FOSS, the various communities and licenses
- Understands the basic concepts of processes, programs and the components of an Operating System
- Has a rudimentary ability to work on the command line and with files.
- Can use a basic command line editor.
- Has the basic skills to configure a system to access a LAN.
- Has a basic appreciation of system security, users/groups and file permissions.
Version Information
These objectives are version 0.5.0.
Translations of Objectives
The following translations of the objectives are available on this wiki:
Objectives
Topic 1.1: A Career in Open Source and Joining The Linux Community (weight: 7)
1.1.1 Linux Evolution and Popular Operating Systems
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Knowledge of Linux Development and Major Distributions. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Open Source Philosophy
- Distributions
- Embedded Systems
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- Android
- Debian
- CentOS
1.1.2 Major Open Source Applications
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Awareness of major applications and their uses. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Desktop Applications
- Server Applications
- Mobile Applications
- Development Languages
- Package Management Tools
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- Pico, Nano
- OpenOffice.org, LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Firefox
- Blender, Gimp, Audacity
- Apache, MySQL, PostgreSQL
- NFS, Samba, OpenLDAP, Postfix, DNS, DHCP
- C, Perl, shell, Python, PHP
1.1.3 Understanding "Freeware" and Licensing
| Weight | 1 |
| Description | Open Source Communities and Licensing in Free and Commercial Open Source Software. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Licensing
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- GPL, BSD, Creative Commons
- Free Software, Open Software, FOSS, FLOSS
- Open Source business models
1.1.4 ICT Skills and Working in Linux
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills and Working in Linux. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Desktop Skills
- Getting to the Command Line
- Open Source Desktop Applications
- Industry uses of Linux, Cloud Computing and Virtualization
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- Using a browser, privacy concerns, configuration options, searching the web and saving content
- Terminal and Console
- Password issues
- Privacy issues and tools
- graphics and office tools
- Use of common open source applications in presentations and projects
Topic 1.2: The Linux Operating System (weight: 10)
1.2.1 Using Help Commands
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Navigation of the various help systems. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Man
- Info
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- man
- info
- man pages
- whatis
- /usr/share/doc
- locate
1.2.2 Choosing an Operating System
| Weight | 1 |
| Description | Knowledge of major Operating Systems and Linux Distributions. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Windows, Mac, Linux differences
- Distribution life cycle management
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- GUI versus command line, desktop configuration
- Maintenance cycles, Beta and Stable
1.2.3 Understanding Computer Hardware
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Familiarity with the components that go into building desktop and server computers. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Hardware
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- Hard drives and partitions, motherboards, processors, power supplies, optical drives, peripherals
- Display types
- Drivers
1.2.4 Where Data is Stored
| Weight | 3 |
| Description | Where various types of information are stored on a Linux system. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Kernel
- Process
- syslog, klog, dmesg
- /lib, /usr/lib, /etc
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- Programs, libraries, packages and package databases, system configuration
- Processes and process tables, memory addresses, system messaging and logging
1.2.5 Your Computer on the Network
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Determining vital networking settings and the basic requirements to add a computer on to a Local Area Network (LAN). |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Internet, network, routers
- Domain Name Service
- Network configuration
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- route
- resolv.conf
- IPv4, IPv6
- ifconfig
- netstat
- ping
Topic 1.3: Finding Your Way on a Linux System (weight: 5)
1.3.1 Using Directories and Listing Files
| Weight | 3 |
| Description | Navigation of home and system directories and listing files in various locations. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Files, directories
- Hidden files and directories
- Home
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- ls, recursive listings, less
- Common options for ls
- cd
1.3.2 Creating, Moving and Deleting Files
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Create, move and delete files and directories under the home directory. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Files, directories
- Case sensitivity
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- mv, cp, rm, touch
- mkdir, rmdir
Topic 1.4: The Power of the Command Line (weight: 10)
1.4.1 Archiving Files on the Command Line
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Archiving files in their home directories. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Files, directories
- Archives, compression
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- tar
- gzip, bzip2
1.4.2 Searching and Extracting Data from Files
| Weight | 5 |
| Description | Search and extract data from files in the home directories. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Command line pipes
- I/O direction
- Partial POSIX Regular Expressions (., [ ], *, ?)
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- find
- grep
- less
- xargs
- sort
- cut
- wc
Nice to know:
- Partial POSIX Basic Regular Expressions ([^ ], ^, $)
- Partial POSIX Extended Regular Expressions (+, ( ), |)
1.4.3 Turning Commands into a Script
| Weight | 3 |
| Description | Turning repetitive commands into simple scripts. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Basic shell
- Globbing
- Quoting
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /bin/sh
- Variables
- Arguments
- for loops
- echo
Topic 1.5: Security and File Permissions (weight: 8)
1.5.1 Basic Security and Identifying User Types
| Weight | 3 |
| Description | Various types of users on a Linux system. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Root and Un-privileged Users
- System users
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/passwd
- id, who
- sudo
1.5.2 Creating Users and Groups
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Creating users and groups on a Linux system. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- User and group commands
- User IDs
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/passwd
- id, lastlog
- useradd
1.5.3 Managing File Permissions and Ownership
| Weight | 2 |
| Description | Understanding and manipulating file permissions and ownership settings. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- File/directory permissions and owners
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- ls -l
- chmod, chown, chgrp
1.5.4 Special Directories and Files
| Weight | 1 |
| Description | Special directories and files on a Linux system including special permissions. |
Key Knowledge Areas:
- Hidden files, system files, libraries, repositories,
- /tmp, /var/tmp and special permissions
- File hierarchy
- Symbolic links
The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc, /var, /usr
- ls -a, ls -d
- ln -s
Reference Material
Notes and Comments
Feel free to add comments here:
- privacy topic? (update: added to 1.1.4)
