Updated: 2017-03-06 00:42 EST

1 Readings, Assignments, Labs, Tests, and ToDoIndexup to index

1.1 Read (at least) these things (All The Words)Indexup to index

  1. Week 06 Notes HTML – this file – Read All The Words
  2. Search PATH – how the shell finds commands
  3. Quoting – hiding characters from the shell
  4. Unix/Linux File System – directories, inodes, hard links
  5. List of Commands You Should Know
  6. Linux and Sysadmin News in the World
  7. Video Tutorials on Lynda.com – tagged by week number

1.2 Assignments this weekIndexup to index

Check the due date for each assignment and put a reminder in your agenda, calendar, and digital assistant. Just like in the Real World, not all due dates are on the same days or at the same times.

1.3 Lab work this weekIndexup to index

1.4 WorksheetsIndexup to index

Worksheets are preparation for your assignments. You can’t do the assignments without having done the worksheets first, and you can’t do the worksheets without having first read the Course Notes: 1. Read. 2. Worksheets. 3. Assignment.

Form a small study group to do the worksheets. Each person tries the example given, and you make sure you all get the same answers. Worksheets are not for hand-in; they are not worth marks; the assignments test your knowledge of the lectures and worksheets.

The worksheets are available in four formats: Open Office (ODT), PDF, HTML, and Text. Only the Open Office format allows you “fill in the blanks” in the worksheet. The PDF format looks good but doesn’t allow you to type into the blanks in the worksheet. The HTML format is crude but useful for quick for viewing online.

Do NOT open the Worksheet ODT files using any Microsoft products; they will mangle the format and mis-number the questions. Use the free Libre Office or Open Office programs to open these ODT documents. On campus, you can download Libre Office here.

Worksheets prepare you for the upcoming assignments.

1.5 Upcoming tests and examsIndexup to index

Bring your favourite marker to your test

Bring your favourite marker to your test

This course has two midterm tests and one final exam.

1.5.1 Second Midterm test – 10am March 17 – 15%Indexup to index

Your Second Midterm test is 45 minutes long and contains approximately 45 multiple-choice questions similar to those found in the two preceding Practice Tests and Answers. Do both practice tests before the Second Midterm test!

  • Time: 10h00-10h45 (10am to 10:45am) Friday March 17 (Week 9)
  • Location: C346 (the usual lecture classroom)
  • General seating; sit anywhere.
  • 45 minutes for 45 questions
  • Do both the practice tests before the Midterm test!

Midterm tests take place at 10am in your 50-minute lecture class, not in your lab period.

1.5.2 The Final Exam – 8am April 28 – 40%Indexup to index

The Final Exam is three hours long and contains approximately 180 multiple-choice questions similar to those found in the three preceding Practice Tests and Answers. Do all three practice tests before the Final Exam!

  • Time: 08h00-11h00 (8am to 11am) Friday April 28 (Week 15)
  • Location: CA-105 A,B,C (across the Woodroffe pedestrian overpass)
  • This exam has assigned seating – see your email for your assigned seat.
  • 180 minutes (three hours) for 180 questions
  • Do all three practice tests before the Final Exam!
  • Three Hours! Take a bathroom break before you start the exam!

All three practice tests will be posted under Practice Tests and Answers. The Final Exam is comprehensive of the whole course; you need to do all three practice tests for the Final Exam.

2 Midterm Test #1 AnalysisIndexup to index

Here are the final statistics for the first midterm test:

97.8 95.6 93.3 93.3 88.9 84.9 84.4 84.4 84.4 82.2 80 77 75.6 74.8 74.8 73.3 72.6 71.1 71.1 71.1 70.4 70.4 68.9 68.9 68.2 68.2 66.7 66.7 66.7 65.3 64.4 64.4 64.4 63.8 63.2 61.6 61.6 61 60 58.2 57.8 57.8 57.2 56.6 55.6 55.6 55 55 53.3 52.3 51.1 51.1 50.6 47.9 46.2 44.4 41.8 41.8 41.8 41.4 41.4 40 40 39.6 39.2 37.4 37 37 36.7 35.6 35.2 35.2 33.3 33 32.7 31.1 28.9 28.3 28.3 28 26.4 26.4 26.1 25.9 21.8 19.6 19.6 19.4 19.4 17.4 15.6

I spent several hours correcting your errors on the mark-sense forms. Before your next test, you need to re-read the Test Instructions. Penalties go up for making errors on the next test.

3 Notes from the ClassroomIndexup to index

3.1 Commands UsedIndexup to index

3.2 Student FeedbackIndexup to index

Note from a student on Tuesday:

Dear Professor Allen,
Hello!
I was working with the mid-term practice last weekend, and it doesn't goes
very well. And then I go back to watch the class notes(I know! I should do
that in the first place) because I realize that I missed lots of the
information. Then I found that the pages of course notes are super helpful.
It helps me a lot!
I thought the pages are too much links and too complex when I just taking a
quick look in the first time, but I was wrong. It's so impressive that the
contents are strong logical, everything is explained in detail but not
complicated, easy to understand. Most of the things does not take me a long
time to understand.
I really should read the pages earlier!!!
It does takes me many time to adapt the new learning style as a foreign
student, but I am feeling better right now. Hopefully, it is not too
late for the test.
Anyway, just want to tell you that the course pages are very helpful. And
thank you, This is a great work for us!
Best Regards.

Note from a former student:

Hey Ian,
I just wanted to thank you again for the reference that you me when
applying for a government position last year.
I ended up getting the job and I am part of a great team.
Thanks again,

If you want a good reference from me, get great marks and keep your attendance up-to-date.

3.3 Copying from other studentsIndexup to index

Here is a note from an International Student who was charged with plagiarism (academic fraud) in a previous year:

Professor,
After everything, I would just like to thank you for not giving us
any harsher consequences. I really appreciate it, it's probably the
best Christmas gift after this stressful weekend I could get. And
what might be weird for you, I'd like to thank you for that you
found this plagiarism out because I have a lesson in my mind I will
never forget. I'm still very embarrassed [...] but these are the
consequences I have to face right now. Thank you once again and I
wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

One other student involved in the above case failed the course. Review the class notes on Plagiarism if you copy the work of other students or if you let your work be copied by other students. I know who you are and we’re going to have a chat about your behaviour soon.

4 Marking Scheme for Assignment #06Indexup to index

Bonus (optional) Assignment #06 HTML may be done after you get your marks email and question sheet back for Midterm #1. You can use this bonus work to optionally improve your mark on the first midterm test. See the assignment for details.

5 Learning and using VIM via Web BrowserIndexup to index

A user found a keyboard-driven web browser (Vimperator) that led him to using VIM, the editor it was based on:

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3169908/linux/should-you-run-linux-without-a-desktop-environment.html:

“I become quickly fond of Vimperator – it complemented my current workflow with the mouse very well. I could use my other hand to close tabs with ‘d’ etc. Over time my surfing got really efficient and that made me curious – if Vimperator can make surfing the web this good, then perhaps that weird Vim editor isn’t that bad after all? So, I read about Vim and started using it. It took me literally hours before I was hooked with Vim. I was mind blown!

And it was after that moment I truly understood how powerful and efficient a keyboard driven workflow can be. The terminal is not just some niche thing nerds use to look cool."

Learn that editor!

6 HTTP attacks on Course Linux ServerIndexup to index

In addition to the SSH attacks, the Course Linux Server receives attacks using bogus HTTP requests. These unsuccessful attacks below attempt to use a chain of parent directories to fetch a file out of the file system:

# zfgrep '../..' /var/log/apache2/error.log*
/var/log/apache2/error.log:[Wed Oct 19 20:49:33 2016] [error] [client 189.100.188.31] Invalid URI in request GET /../../../../../../../mnt/mtd/qt HTTP/1.0
/var/log/apache2/error.log.1:[Sat Oct 15 06:49:57 2016] [error] [client 177.142.99.103] Invalid URI in request GET /../../../../../../../mnt/mtd/qt HTTP/1.0
/var/log/apache2/error.log.14.gz:[Mon Jun 27 17:54:40 2016] [error] [client 222.198.128.207] Invalid URI in request GET /../../../../../../../mnt/mtd/3qS9 HTTP/1.1
/var/log/apache2/error.log.2.gz:[Fri Oct 07 09:34:11 2016] [error] [client 64.137.234.42] Invalid URI in request GET /../../../../../../../mnt/mtd/ahMk HTTP/1.1
/var/log/apache2/error.log.22.gz:[Mon May 02 12:21:45 2016] [error] [client 222.235.67.147] Invalid URI in request GET /../../../../../../../mnt/mtd/IJSj HTTP/1.1
/var/log/apache2/error.log.23.gz:[Tue Apr 26 17:09:59 2016] [error] [client 67.79.37.250] Invalid URI in request GET /../../../../../../../mnt/mtd/yqcP HTTP/1.1
/var/log/apache2/error.log.42.gz:[Sun Dec 13 13:50:57 2015] [error] [client 54.201.251.33] Invalid URI in request GET /../../ratings.html HTTP/1.1
/var/log/apache2/error.log.42.gz:[Sun Dec 13 13:51:01 2015] [error] [client 54.201.251.33] Invalid URI in request GET /../../index.html HTTP/1.1

The Apache server blocked all the above attacks.

7 TutoringIndexup to index

Many students find that hiring a personal tutor helps them get through the first term. Financial assistance is available. See the Tutoring heading in the Course Introduction.

Take Notes in Class

Take Notes in Class

Author: 
| Ian! D. Allen, BA, MMath  -  idallen@idallen.ca  -  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| Home Page: http://idallen.com/   Contact Improv: http://contactimprov.ca/
| College professor (Free/Libre GNU+Linux) at: http://teaching.idallen.com/
| Defend digital freedom:  http://eff.org/  and have fun:  http://fools.ca/

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