Chapter 3:

Using the Shell

The Complete Guide to Linux System

Administration
 Objectives

• Use common features of the shell to work at the

command line
• Manipulate variables in the shell to control your
working environment
• Redirect data at the command line
• Edit text using the vi editor
• Print basic files from the command line

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 Exploring the Bash Shell

• Shell
– Command program
– Accepts input from keyboard
– Uses input to run commands or otherwise control
computer
– Started when terminal window opened

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 Exploring the Bash Shell
(continued)
• Flexible
– Interact with any file that you have permission to
access
– Start any program on system
– Use special features of shell to work more
efficiently

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 The Shell Prompt

• Set of words or characters indicating that shell is

ready to accept commands
• Default prompt example:
– [Nwells@inverness nwells]$
• When logged in as root, prompt character
changes to hash mark, #

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 The Functions of a Shell

• Shell purpose
– Make it easy for users to run programs and work
with files in Linux
– Run programs
– Pass parameters to program being started
• Behavior
– If command succeeds, no response
– If command fails, error message printed

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 The Functions of a Shell
(continued)
• Shell has many built-in features
– Help you work with files and commands
• Script
– Program
– List of commands stored in text file

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 Different Types of Shells

• Shell has no special relationship to Linux kernel

– Can use any shell
• Bourne shell
– Original shell for UNIX
– Called sh
– Old program with limited functionality
• Bash
– Default shell for all Linux systems

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 Different Types of Shells
(continued)
• Shells fall into two groups:
– Bourne shell programming style
– C shell programming style
• Shell started for each user is determined by
settings in user account
– Each user on system can select preferred shell
• Immediately run different shell
– Enter name of shell program

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 Entering Commands

• Features designed to simplify process of entering

commands:
– Tab completion
• Enter part of file or directory name
• Press tab key
• Shell fills in remainder of name
– Command history
• Records each command

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 Entering Commands (continued)

• Command history
– Quickly call up and repeat any command from list
– Press the up arrow key at command prompt
– Press enter to execute command
• History command
– Displays entire history list
• Bang
–!

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 Entering Commands (continued)

• Locate previously executed command

– Use history number
– Use beginning of command
– Search history list

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 The Shell Start-up Process

• Scripts executed when you log in to Linux

– Initialize various parts of environment
• Script /etc/profile executed on first log in
• Contains configuration information that applies to
every user on system
• Profile script
– Found in user’s home directory
– Specific to single user

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 The Shell Start-up Process
(continued)
• Some systems
– Additional scripts are executed when user logs in
• When user starts shell
– Additional scripts executed
• bashrc script
– Executed each time user starts bash shell
– User can add configuration information

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 The Shell Start-up Process
(continued)

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 Using Aliases
• Alias
– String substituted for another string at shell prompt
• Alias command
– Define how shell will substitute one string for
another
– Format:
• alias <string entered by user>=<string substituted
by the shell>
– Enter without arguments to see list of current
aliases

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 Command-line Expansion

• Shell can make many different substitutions,

including:
– Aliases
– Variables
– Command substitution
– Special characters
• Place commands in single quotes
– Executed first by shell

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 Command-line Expansion
(continued)
• Special characters
– Place in single quotes
– Precede with $
• Example: $’\n’
– Other special characters:
• ;
• *
• ?

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 Command-line Expansion
(continued)
• Avoid command-line expansion
– Escape individual characters
• Using \
– Single quote
– Double quote

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 Shell Variables

• Shell variable
– Name that can have value assigned to it
– Can be number or string of text
– Typically created using all uppercase letters
• Environment variable
– Typically defined during initialization of operating
system or user’s shell
– Can be accessed by any program

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 Shell Variables (continued)

• env command
– Start program with environment variable setting
that is not part of current environment
– Only used for started program
• Set command
– Displays list of all environment variables
• Echo command
– View value of single environment variable

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 Shell Variables (continued)

• Export command
– Makes newly created environment variable
available to other programs
• PATH environment variable
– Contains list of directories that shell searches
each time command is executed
• PS1 environment variable
– Defines shell prompt for bash

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 Data Redirection

• Standard input channel

– STDIN
– Keyboard
• Standard output channel
– STDOUT
– Monitor
• Standard error
– STDERR

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 Data Redirection (continued)

• Data can be redirected from standard channels

• Pipe
– Connects output channel of one command to the
input channel of another command
– Example: $ ls /etc | sort

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 Data Redirection (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 25

 Data Redirection (continued)

• Mail command
– Basic e-mail client
– Use from command line to create e-mail message
– Format: mail -s "subject line" e-mail_address

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 Editing Text with vi
• Text editor
– Single most important utility for system
administrator
• Many different text editors are available for Linux
• Text-mode editors:
– vi
– emacs
– pico
– Joe

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 Editing Text with vi (continued)

• Very powerful program

• Available on virtually every Linux system
• Not easy to use
• Must learn to use at least basic features in order
to work as Linux system administrator
– Memorize keystroke sequences
– Work without any onscreen prompts

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 Editing Text with vi (continued)

• To start:
– vi command
– Can be followed by name of file to edit
• Modal editor
– Keystrokes are interpreted differently depending
on mode you are working in

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 Editing Text with vi (continued)

• Modes:
– Command mode
– Insert mode
– Replace mode
• Begin in command mode
– Return to command mode by pressing Esc key

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 Editing Text with vi (continued)

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 Editing Text with vi (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration 32

 Editing Text with vi (continued)

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 Editing Text with vi (continued)

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 Printing from the Command Line

• Quickly configure printer attached to parallel port

• Print files directly from command line

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 Setting Up a Printer

• Print queue
– Printer definition
– Associate physical printer with named printer
definition
• Set up printer via GNOME desktop interface
– Choose system settings
– Print
– Follow steps in dialog

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 Printing From a Command Line

• lpr command
– Print from command line
– Uses series of filters based on type of file to print
• lpoptions command
– Save commonly used list of options

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 Summary

• Shell
– Command interpreter used to start programs
– Many shells are available
• Tab completion
– Helps to quickly enter long file and directory
names
• Command history
– Quickly reenter previously entered command

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 Summary (continued)

• Scripts executed when:

– User logs in
– New shell opened
• Aliases
– Shell replaces text on command-line entry with
different text
• Shell expands text on command line in several
ways

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 Summary (continued)

• Environment variables store values that

programs can access
• Flow of data between programs can be changed
using redirection operators on command line
• Linux supports numerous text editors
• After setting up printer, print files from command
line using lpr command

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