Note that this exercise is meant to be performed in the lab with the
assistance of your instructor. However, if you do not finish, you
must finish on your own time.
- Log On to the Linux System
We'll go over how to do this in class.
- Check Your Disk Quota and Clean Your Directory
OIT allocates a fixed amount of disk space (called your "disk quota") to each
of the gl system users. It is a good habit to check your disk quota from time
to time to make sure that you are not coming close to your allocation.
To do this, type: quota -v and press enter.
If you have already used a large portion of your quota (e.g., the %Used is 90% or
higher), you should delete unnecessary files. To do this, type oitcleaner and
press enter at the linux prompt.
- Getting Ready to Use the xemacs Text Editor
Before you begin the next part of this exercise, you need to copy a file
into your directory. This file is called .emacs and activates certain
emacs features (do not worry about what features for now). To copy the file, type the
follwing command exactly as it appears:
cp /afs/umbc.edu/users/d/b/dblock/pub/.emacs .
Note that the command has 3 parts (separated by spaces):
- The first part is cp followed by a space,
- the second part is the path to the file /afs/umbc.edu/users/d/b/dblock/pub/.emacs
followed by a space (there is no space in the path itself at all),
- and the third part is the period at the end of the command.
To check that the file is now in your directory, type: ls -a and press enter
- Use the xemacs Text Editor to Create an Autobiography
You will be using the xemacs text editor to create a file called
mybio.txt. The file will contain information about yourself.
- Begin by stating your name, major, and class standing (e.g., sophomore).
- Then, answer the following questions
- Where are you from?
- Why did you choose your major?
- What is your favorite food?
Do not leave out any of this information!
- Finally, you should use the Internet to find answers to the questions below.
Each answer need not be more than a few sentences. Your answers should
be in your own words, not quoted directly from a source.
Please number each answer.
- Search for information about Computer Science. After reading several
sources, what would you give as a definition of Computer Science?
- Read about different areas of study in Computer Science.
Pick one area of study you think sounds interesting. Describe the field
of study and explain why you think it is interesting. Does it relate to your
major in any way?
- Research careers in Computer Science. List and briefly describe two
career opportunites in the field of Computer Science.
- JavaScript is referred to as a scripting language. What is a scripting language?
Give 3 examples of other scripting languages.
- Find and include a link to some topic related to computers that you think is different, unusual, or somehow noteworthy.
(Clean links only, please! Links to pornographic sites will result in a low score (possibly zero) for this assignment)
To create your autobiography file, do the following.
- Enter the emacs editor by typing: xemacs mybio.txt
- Simply type in the information specified above. Edit any mistakes using
the Backspace or Delete key to backspace and the Ctrl-d (where Ctrl is the Control key) sequence to
delete a character. When you get to the end of a line, hit the enter key at a reasonable spot
instead of the letting the text wrap around to the next line. Remember that xemacs is simply a
text editor and does not format things nicely for us.
- Save your work as you go by pressing Ctrl-x and then Ctrl-s.
- To save your work and exit xemacs press Ctrl-x and then Ctrl-c. If you have made changes since you
last saved, it will ask you if you want to save the file, press 'y' for yes.
- You will know that you have exited emacs and are again talking to the Linux system if you see the linux1[#]% or linux2[#]% or linux3[#]% prompt.
- You can check that the file mybio.txt is in your directory by
typing: ls
- Use the pine E-mail Client to Send an E-mail With an Attachment
You are now going to use pine to send an e-mail to me that has
the mybio.txt file that you created as an attachment. You are also going
to send a copy of the email to yourself.
To accomplish this, do the following.
- Enter pine by typing: pine
- If this is the first time you are opening pine you will probably
see a screen that welcomes you to pine. You should type the
letter 'e' to exit the welcome message screen.
- Next, the pine main menu should appear. Type: c to begin
composing a new e-mail.
- Next to To:, send it to your instructor
- Next to Cc:, type: yourusername@umbc.edu
- Next to Attchmnt:, type: mybio.txt
- Next to Subject:, type: Autobiography for [your name] - Section #
- In the Message Text area, type: Here is my autobiography!
- To send the e-mail, type Ctl-x and then y.
- Type: q to exit out of pine.
- You are done when you receive the system prompt of linux1[#]% or
linux2[#]% or linux3[#]% back.
- Make a simple website
- From the terminal, type cd ~
This sends you back to your home directory.
- From here, type cd ../pub/www
This changes your current durrectory to one directory "up", then to pub, then to www.
If you are ever confused about where you are, type pwd to show your absolute path.
- In this directory, open and write a text file named index.html that has a
simple message in it, such as "hello world".
- Navigate your browser to http://userpages.umbc.edu/~myusername/ and check to see if your message is there.
- The pub/www directory is where you can put a student webpage.
- Log Off the Linux System
To log off of the system, type logout. Make sure you
log off of the computer as well.