CIS 132 - Linux I

This course prepares students to take the CompTIA’s Linux + certification and/or the LPIC-1: Guide to Linux Certification.

This comprehensive course is designed to prepare students for the Linux+ and LPIC-1 certification exams, which are globally recognized credentials for Linux professionals. Using the Linux+ and LPIC-1 Guide to Linux Certification (6th Edition) as the primary textbook, the course offers a thorough understanding of Linux systems, their management, and administration.

This course is ideal for aspiring system administrators, IT professionals, and anyone looking to solidify their Linux expertise for career advancement in the world of open-source technologies. Whether you’re new to Linux or seeking to validate your skills, this course will equip you with the knowledge and tools to succeed.

1. Describe the Linux kernel, system boot process, and the role of various system components such as the shell, system libraries, and hardware interfaces.
2. Demonstrate the ability to install Linux on both physical and virtual machines, and configure basic system settings, including network and user preferences.
3. Perform file and directory management tasks (e.g., creating, deleting, copying files), as well as text processing and system monitoring using common command-line tools.
4. Identify and explain the purpose of key directories in the Linux filesystem (e.g., /bin, /home, /etc) and demonstrate how to mount and manage filesystems.
5. Create, modify, and delete user accounts and groups, and configure file and directory permissions to ensure proper access control and system security.
6. Install, update, and remove software packages using various package managers (e.g., APT, YUM, RPM), and manage software repositories.
7. Use system logs and diagnostic tools to identify and resolve common Linux system issues, including hardware device problems and user login difficulties.

1. Overview of Linux OS, kernel, distributions, and open-source philosophy
2. Introduction to the Linux command line, terminal, and its role in IT infrastructures

II. System Architecture

1. Understanding hardware interaction with Linux, system boot process (BIOS, GRUB)
2. The role of the Linux kernel and system components (memory, CPU, hardware)

III. Linux Installation and Package Management

1. Installing Linux: system requirements, partitioning, and choosing distributions
2. Managing software packages (APT, YUM, RPM) and repositories
3. Understanding package repositories and managing software dependencies

IV. GNU and Unix Commands

1. Basic file operations: creating, copying, moving, and deleting files and directories
2. Working with text files: viewing and editing (cat, more, less, vi, nano)
3. Text processing utilities: grep, awk, sed, cut
4. Managing file permissions and ownership (chmod, chown, chgrp)
5. Using manual pages and help commands (man, info)

V. Devices, Filesystems, and Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)

1. Understanding device files, mounting/unmounting filesystems, and managing storage
2. Exploring filesystem structure, types (ext4, XFS), and the FHS

VI. User Interfaces and Desktops

1. Introduction to the Linux graphical user interface (GUI) and X Window System
2. Configuring and using desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, etc.)
3. Differences between command-line interface (CLI) and graphical interface

VII. User Management

1. Understanding the user and group structure in Linux
2. Creating and managing user accounts, groups, and file permissions
3. Managing user passwords and access control (ACLs, sudo, RBAC)

Lab work: 30-40%

Facilitated discussion/group work: 20-30%
Mandatory Course Components:
Quizzes

Lab / Homework Assignments

Midterm and Final Exam
Equivalent Courses:
None