Posts for May 2010
Find files with setuid or setgid
You should check to make sure there are no unneeded setuid and setgid files on your computer. They might be a potential security risk.
How long did that command take
Bash has a built in command to tell you how long a command took to execute. There is also a gnu version for those not running Bash.
Save the output of commands
There are many reasons you may want to save the output of various commands. You may be establishing a baseline, documenting, keeping records, or just manipulating existing files. Learn how to do it and learn about saving errors too.
The power of grep
The grep command allows you to search files and filter command output based on your search criteria. This command is such a time saver, it is possibly my favorite Linux-only command.
Watching your logs in real time
It can be very useful to see logged messages as they are logged. You can get a better feeling for what event triggered the message. You can easily view appended log messages using a basic Linux command, tail.
Intro to piping
Piping is one of the many great features of Linux that makes its command line so superior. You can send the output of one command to the input of another.
How many lines is this?
Using the wc command to count lines, words, characters and bytes in files and command output.
Intro to setuid and setgid
setuid and setgid are useful file permissions. Learn what they are, how to add and remove them and check if they were set successfully.
Enable syntax highlighting in vi
Vi supports syntax highlighting for many types of files including programming language and configuration files. You can turn it on and off whenever you need it.
Require wheel membership to su
Learn how to limit access to su and make it more difficult to guess your root password.
Backup & Restore your Master Boot Record (MBR)
Learn how to backup and restore your hard drives' Master Boot Record (MBR) using Linux.
Creating tinydns (djbdns) records
Creating DNS records for tinydns is pretty easy using the included scripts. Detailed explanation and examples on using each one. One final example putting everything together.
Install tinydns (djbdns) and its requirements
Tinydns (djbdns) is a DNS server designed for security. It has a smaller memory footprint than BIND. Learn how to install it and its prerequisites from source.
Vi show/hide line numbers
Vi can display line numbers to the left of each line. Learn how to show and hide those numbers.
Vim basic modes
Vim has 6 basic modes each serving a different purpose with different commands available. Learn the basics and differences of each mode.
