Module Code & Module Title
Level 5 – Operating Systems
Assessment Type
Logbook 7
Semester
2025/26 Spring/Autumn
Student Name: Amar Kumar Rauniyar
London Met ID: 24046346
College ID: NP01NT4A240105
Assignment Due Date: Monday, December 8, 2025
Assignment Submission Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Submitted To: Sarika Dahal
Word Count (Where Required): 1500
I confirm that I understand my coursework needs to be submitted online via Google Classroom under the relevant
module page before the deadline in order for my assignment to be accepted and marked. I am fully aware that late
submissions will be treated as non-submission and a mark of zero will be awarded.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................2
2. Summary – Workshop Task................................................................................................3
3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................................4
STEP – BY – STEP EXPLANATION.................................................................................................5
4. CREATE A SCRIPT FILE.........................................................................................................5
5. DISPLAYING US...................................................................................................................6
6. DISPLAY ALL LOGGED USERS.............................................................................................. 7
7. GETTING USER INFORMATION...........................................................................................8
8. System Time.......................................................................................................................9
9. Listing And Viewing File................................................................................................... 10
10. CONTENT IN STANDARD OUTPUT................................................................................11
11. CREATING AND MODIFYING FILES................................................................................12
12. INTERACTIVE INPUT.....................................................................................................13
13. Combining Files............................................................................................................14
14. Exit the Script...............................................................................................................16
15. CONCLUSION................................................................................................................17
16. REFERENCES.................................................................................................................18
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Script Starting command with named "hiscript"..............................................................7
Figure 2 Shows the Username with command "Amar"..................................................................8
Figure 3 Shows every person currently login.................................................................................9
Figure 4 Shows user full details with the command.....................................................................10
Figure 5 Shows the current system time zone.............................................................................11
Figure 6 Shows file listing and documenting information............................................................12
Figure 7 Shows standard output of the file..................................................................................13
Figure 8 Shows simple file creation and overwrite file.................................................................14
Figure 9 Creating a multiline file..................................................................................................15
Figure 10 Combining content of both files in “test_combined”...................................................16
Figure 11 Shows the combined file information in one...............................................................17
Figure 12 Script end with exit command.....................................................................................18
1. INTRODUCTION
The Debian Project, is a global organization of volunteers committed to maintaining users also
provides freedom in software usage, modification, established GNU/Linux, a free and open-
source operating system. In August 1993, Ian Murdock founded Debian with the intention of
establishing a broadly accessible, non-commercial distribution. "Debian" is a combination of
Murdock's name and that of his then-wife, Debra, it symbolizes its collaborative origins.
One of Debian's main characteristics is Stable (for production systems), Testing (for new
features), and Unstable (for cutting-edge development). By supporting over 70,000
precompiled software packages controlled by the Advanced Package Tool (APT), it guarantees
seamless installation and upgrades across a range of hardware architectures, from personal PCs
to servers and embedded devices.
The project's commitment to freedom is embodied in the Debian Social and Free Software
Guidelines, which prioritize open-source ideals while permitting non-free components when
necessary.
2. Summary – Workshop Task
This assignment serves as an introduction exercise in Linux/Unix command-line operations,
introducing students to the basic terminal commands for file management, system interface,
and session logging.
Four sets of commands must be executed in order to complete the task:
(I) Using tools like script hiscript, whoami, who, finger, and date to set up a session and get
system data; (hiscript = entered script name)
(II) Using ls and cat variations to list and examine files;
(III) Using echo, cat, redirection, and concatenation to create and change text files;
(IV) Using exit to end the session. The result is saved in a script file named “hiscript” for
evaluation and focuses on practical abilities in a Debian or similar Linux system. By
emphasizing differences in command options (like ls variants), the exercise offers a basic
idea of the linux commands.
3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
AIMS:
This task's major purpose is to provide a new users with an organized introduction to the Linux
command-line interface (CLI), promoting in fundamental file handling and system navigation
while stressing the fundamentals of open-source operating systems like Debian. By copying the
actual administration environments, it boosts the confidence in the usage of terminal-based
tools, which is essential for server management, and troubleshooting in computing domains.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Start with recording a terminal session to record activity for auditing or in educational
purposes for this case.
2. Obtain and examine user and system data to understand multi-user scenarios. Like file
listing commands to explore hidden components and directory hierarchies.
3. Examining the system files and create/edit user files using concatenation and
redirection.
4. Differentiate between the command versions and use them appropriately for efficient
[Link],with the overarching goals of advancing digital learning and open-
source activity.
STEP – BY – STEP EXPLANATION
4. CREATE A SCRIPT FILE
The command is script “hiscript”.
Explanation: The script command initiates the recording of all terminal input and output
into a specified file (hiscript in this instance). It records commands results for further
analysis, much like a session log. By default, timestamps are included if specified.
For example, the recording is started by typing script b1script. "Script started, file is
b1script" is the result.
Figure 1 Script Starting command with named "hiscript".
5. DISPLAYING US
The Command is whoami .
Explanation:Shows the current effective username which helps to identify the logged-in
user in a multi-user system. It's an easy way to confirm identity, especially in scripts or
when switching [Link] my case the user is “Amar”.
For example, the output might be "student" if that is your username. Utilization in the
actual world.
Figure 2 Shows the Username with command "Amar".
6. DISPLAY ALL LOGGED USERS
The command is “who”
Explanation: A list of every person who’s currently logged in, together with their
username, terminal, login time. It helps to detect unauthorized access and increase the
awareness of the shared systems.
Output: Amar pts/1 2025-12-07 07:53
For example, the output is "teacher pts/0 2005-11-06 12:00 (localhost)". In a lab setting,
it might show multiple people.
Figure 3 Shows every person currently login.
7. GETTING USER INFORMATION
The command is “finger”.
Explanation: This gives us the user information, such as full name, office location, login
time, and idle status. It's a legacy tool for user directories but useful for learning user
data. Replace "linuxnnn" with a valid [Link] our case the username is “Amar”.
Example: Output: "Login: student Name: Academic Student\nDirectory: /home/student
Shell: /bin/bash\nLast login: ...".
Note: On modern Debian, finger may need installation via apt install finger.
Figure 4 Shows user full details with the command.
8. System Time
The code command is “date”.
Explanation: "Day-Month-Date Time" is the default The format used to output the
current system date and time is "Timezone Year." Scripting, synchronization systems, and
timestamping events all require it.
For example, the output is “Wed Dec 7 12:34:56 UTC 2025". Customized: date + "-Y-
%m-%d" yields "2025-12-07."
Figure 5 Shows the current system time zone.
9. Listing And Viewing File
The instructions are ls, ls -a, and ls -a -l.
Eplanation: ls shows a directory's contents. In the absence of preferences, it shows non-hidden
files in alphabetical order. -a includes hidden files (dot files, [Link]). The long format data
that is added by -l includes permissions (like drwxr-xr-x), owner, size (bytes), modification time,
and name. Combining -a and -l offers complete visibility, which is crucial for system
administration.
The command work flow: ls hides dotfiles for convenience;
ls -a shows them ([Link] current dir,. for parent);
ls -a -l adds metadata for auditing.
For example, under the home directory: ls = "Documents Pictures";
ls -a = "....bashrc Documents";
ls -a -l = a detailed list like "-rw-r--r-- 1 student student
4096 Dec 7 12:[Link]".
Figure 6 Shows file listing and documenting information.
10. CONTENT IN STANDARD OUTPUT
The Command is “cat /etc/passwd”.
Explanation:cat (concatenate) displays file contents to standard output. /etc/passwd, a system
file listing user accounts (username:password placeholder:UID:GID:info:home:shell). It's read-
only for security; useful for understanding user management.
Example: Output excerpt: "root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash\nstudent:x:1000:1000:Academic
Student:/home/student:/bin/bash". Avoid editing directly; use useradd instead.
Figure 7 Shows standard output of the file.
11. CREATING AND MODIFYING FILES
The command is “echo "This is a one-line file" > Test 1”
Explanation: echo publishes text to stdout, while > reroutes it to create or overwrite a file. By
using the string to create test1, this demonstrates output redirection for simple file creation.
For instance, when cat test1 is run, "This is a one-line file" occurs.
Figure 8 Shows simple file creation and overwrite file.
12. INTERACTIVE INPUT
The following Commands is: cat > test2, multi-line input, and Ctrl+D at the end to terminate.
Explanation: cat > file allows interactive input until ending with (Ctrl+D) by rerouting stdin to a
file. Without an editor, it's a rapid method of creating multi-line files.
Example: Press Ctrl+D after entering "This is file two. It has several lines. Three lines, in fact."
The content is verified by cat test2.
Figure 9 Creating a multiline file.
13. Combining Files
Commands: - ls test*, cat test1, test2
- cat test1 test2 > test_combined,
cat test_combined
Justification: The wildcard (*) is used to list files that start with "test" in ls test*. The
contents of both files are concatenated and shown by cat test1 test2 without being
altered.
For example, ls test* → "test1 test2"; cat test1 test2 → "This is a one-line file" This is the
second file.
Explanation: Reroutes concatenated output to a new file and combines contents. The
second cat affirms.
This illustrates the process of merging files for data aggregation.
Cat test_combined → combined text from both files, for example.
Figure 10 Combining content of both files in “test_combined”.
Figure 11 Shows the combined file information in one.
14. Exit the Script
The command used is “exit”.
Explanation: In a standard terminal window: It usually closes the window. It disconnects you
from the remote server. It ended a script recording session.
Why does it say "Script done"?
The text "Script done" indicates that the system was previously running the script command.
The script command in Linux is used to record everything that happens in your terminal in a
text file. When you are inside this recording mode, a new shell is started. When you type exit,
you are closing that recording shell, saving the file, and returning to your original command
prompt.
Figure 12 Script end with exit command.
15. CONCLUSION
This logbook provided an effective explanation of the Linux command-line interface (CLI) in a
Debian setting. By completing the given tasks, important objectives in file management, user
identification, and system navigation were achieved and documented.
The session started with an audit using the script command, with an emphasis on logging for
transparency. User tools like whoami, who, and finger showed multi-user management,
whereas date focused on timestamping in logs.
The Unix "everything is a file" concept was shown with file manipulation operations
including redirection (>) for creation and concatenation, ls for auditing, and cat for reading..
In conclusion, this logbook documents the commands used and verifies the growth of
fundamental Linux administration abilities, laying the groundwork for next server and open-
source management.
16. REFERENCES
The Debian Project. (n.d.). Debian Social Contract and Free Software Guidelines.
Retrieved from [Link]
Linux Man Pages. (2025). man pages for script, ls, cat, who, and finger. Linux
Documentation Project. (Accessible via terminal command man [command]).
GNU Operating System. (n.d.). Coreutils - GNU core utilities. Free Software Foundation.
Nemeth, E., Snyder, G., Hein, T. R., & Whaley, B. (2017). UNIX and Linux System
Administration Handbook (5th ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional.