Administering Networking OS — Working With Files and Directories #6

College Online Material

Working With Files and Directories

Files and Directories

• File contains data (text, graphics, etc)
• Directories store filenames
• Top-level directory is / (root)

Directory Path

• Direction to a specific file or dir.
• The direction was given from / are called “absolute” paths
• The direction given from the current directory is called “relative” paths

The Home Directory

• Each user has a home directory
• Typically /home/bob for a user named bob
• A place to store your own files
• Normally, users can’t access the home dir. of other users
• ~ symbolizes the home dir.

Current Directory

• The directory that your shell is currently in
• Can be displayed with the pwd command

Changing Directories

• Use cd command
• With no arguments, take you to your home dir.
• ~bob would refer to bob’s home dir.

Absolute Vs. Relative Pathnames

• Absolute pathnames always provide directions from the root directory
• Relative pathnames always provide direction from the current directory
• To refer to one dir. above current dir, use the .. char
• To refer to the current dir, use the . char

Manipulating Files

Listing Files in A Directory

• List files with the ls command
• The different file type may be highlighted by colored filenames
• The display of filenames in color is the result of the — color option

Common ls Options

• Example

$ ls -al

-a display all files, including hidden files

-l long display listing

-h Give file sizes in human-readable sizes

-R Recursive listing

-S Sort output based on file size

-t Sort output based on modification time

-d Don’t display directory contents

Copying Files

• The cp command copies files

cp [source] [destination]

–v option to display copy process

–i to prompt overwrites

–n to avoid overwrites

–r to copy directory structures

Moving Files

• The mv command files

mv [source] [destination]

• The mv command also is used to rename files
• The supported option that works the same as the cp command

–v option to display copy process

–i to prompt overwrites

–n to avoid overwrites

Creating Files

• Editors can be used to create files
• Use touch command to create an empty file
• The touch command all updates the modification timestamp of a file

$ touch a.txt
$ touch auth.cfg a.txt b.pdf

Removing Files

• The rm command is used to delete files
• File deletion is permanent
• Use -i to avoid accidental deletion when using globs
• Delete dir. with the -r option or rmdir if the directory is completely empty

$ rmdir anime
$ rm -rf passwd

Making Directories

• Use mkdir command to create directories

$ mkdir anime