File Directory Management

Cybersecurity Linux Lesson 1.2.5

Users will learn to navigate and manage the files
and directories contained within the Linux
system

  • Linux systems have a resourceful CLI that contains multiple file and directory operations
    • These allow
      • Creation
      • Deletion
      • Moving
      • Copying
      • And other manipulations of files and directories

Several commands assist users in knowing where they are and what files are located there while traversing the file directory:

pwd (print working directory):

Shows the users current location while
working in the directory

ls (list):

Shows the files and directories located in the current
working directory. Like many command in Linux systems, list has additional options that can be added to include more information
• ls –a shows hidden files/directories
• ls -l shows the long format
• ls –R shows recursive files/directories
The list command has many additional options that can be explored

tree

The tree command will print a visual map of the current working directory as well as any subdirectories
• tree -d will only list directories
• As with the list command, tree offers other options that can be explored as well using the command tree -- help

cd

The change directory command allows users to navigate around
• cd <Directory Name> moves the user to the listed directory
• Using the absolute or relative path moves you to that directory without going step by step as seen in the command cd Documents/Sub_Directory • cd .. moves the user up one directory
• cd by itself will return the user to the home directory (~/)

mkdir

The make directory command allows users to create new directories within the terminal • mkdir <Directory_Name> will create a directory within the current working directory
• mkdir /Documents/Test will create a directory within the Documents folder
• The command can be used with relative or absolute paths

touch

The touch command allows users to create new files within the terminal
• touch <File1> will create a file within the current working directory
• touch <File2> <File3> will create two files within the current working directory and can be extended as needed to include more files • touch /Documents/File4 will create a file within the Documents folder

cat

The cat, or concatenate command allows users to view files within the terminal
• cat <File> will print the contents of the file into the terminal

mv

The move command can move files or directories wherever specified
• mv <file/directory_name> <new_location> will move the file to the designated location
• When used without a designated new location the move command can be used to rename a file or directory in the current working directory if a new name is added instead such as seen with mv <file> <new_file_name>

cp

The copy command can copy files or directories wherever specified
• cp <file/directory_name> <new_location> will copy the file/directory to the designated location
• When copying a directory, the –r option must be included to include the files within the directory unless it is empty

rm

The remove command is used to delete files or directories
• rm <file_name> deletes a file or directory
• The remove command will only remove a directory if the –r option is added • Adding –i as an option will add a check before each file to verify deletion
• rmdir <directory_name> can also be used to delete empty directories