Updating our Linux Subjects - Summer 2012

Updating Our Linux Subjects - Summer 2012

The Linux subjects consist of the following:

• ULI101 - Introduction to Unix/Linux and the Internet
• OPS235 - Introduction to Open System Servers
• OPS335 - Open System Application Server
• OPS435 - Open System Automation
• OPS535 - Open System Application Server

Currently, very little BASH scripting is taught in each of ULI101, OPS235, OPS335 and OPS535. OPS435, on the other hand, focuses 100% on BASH programming. The drawback with this configuration is that students must learn BASH in one semester. A better configuration would be to spread BASH programming over the 5 subjects. This would provide continuity over 5 semesters not just for BASH programming but for system administration content as well - since OPS435 would now have a large component of system administration activities as well as some BASH programming.

Each of the 5 subjects would require a BASH scripting component. Below is a first pass at fleshing out what BASH concepts/commands need to be taught in each of the courses. Feel free to add your own ideas.

ULI101

• Structure of a BASH script
  • #!/bin/bash
  • arguments $#, $0, $1, $2, ...
  • return value $?
  • execute permission - chmod u+x
• Pipelining
  • connect output to input as in ls | wc -l
• File Redirection
  • redirect output to a file as in ls > mylist or ls >> mylist
• I/O
  • echo command

OPS235

• BASH Variables
  • user variables
  • environment variables like $USER
• Control Structures
  • test command
  • if statement
• Arithmetic Operators
  • +, -, *, /, %, **
• Bitwise Operators
  • |, &, ^, <<, >>
• Logical Operators
  • ||, &&
• I/O
  • read statement

OPS335

• Loop Structures
  • for
  • while
  • until
• I/O
  • printf statement

OPS435

• Functions
• Regular Expressions