Module 0

Software Requirements

Hardware Requirements

Grading

I do my best to try and return all assignments within a week (7 days) of the due data. Though, please keep in mind that at times I have weeks that are busier than others, so it might take me a couple extra days. If you have notice an assignment has not been graded after 7 days you have my permission to email me to ask me about it.  

Tech Support

If you experience any issues with software or your computer system during this class you can always stop by The Hub . If they are unable to solve your issue please reach out to me ASAP and I will try to help solve the issue to the best of my ability.

The Hub is located in DA 205A (right next door to the ICS Offices). They are opened Monday through Thursday 8 - 4 pm. You can also reach them by email at leeward.ics.helpdesk@gmail.com or by phone at 808-454-4736.

Due to COVID-19 the The Hub is currently not operational. Hopefully things will change soon.


Disability Services Office

The goal of assistive and learning support services is to “level the playing field” to provide equal access to education for all at Leeward Community College. Accommodations given to students with disabilities in no way afford them an unfair advantage. Rather, they are in place to assist students with disabilities to overcome the disadvantages that would otherwise hinder their success.

Website: http://www.leeward.hawaii.edu/dso

Contact Information:

DISABILITY SERVICES OFFICE

Room LC 213

Services: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (excluding holidays)

Services provided online, by phone or by e-mail.

In-Person Access: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Email: leedso@hawaii.edu


Using the NetLab System

You will be required to use the NetLab system to complete various labs. The labs provide you with hands-on experience with Linux and various commands. Keep in mind that the versions of Linux the NetLab uses are a bit outdated, but the commands covered are still very useful. If you want you can read this really long PDF about using the NetLab and all the options available to you. Hopefully, the demo in the session video is all you need. 

When doing the labs you might be introduced to other commands that I have not included details/examples about. I have tried to provide a focus on what I feel are the important commands to help you gain a basic understanding of Linux. While doing the labs it is still a great idea to make sure you are trying out each command and learning a bit about it. You never know when the command might be useful. 

Forum Discussions

During this course we will be using the Forum tool in Laulima to hold conversations. While in the Forum please make sure you follow these netiquette guidelines.

During each forum post you will be required to post your own response and then at least two responses to your peers. These responses should be will throughout and not just a generic response.

To familiarize yourself with the forum please complete the self introduction post by the end of the first week. Please make sure you change your profile picture so that I can help put faces to your names. You will have to click on the "Home" tab in Laulima and select "Profile" to be able to change your picture.

My Linux Journey

You are taking a course focused on Linux. You might be wondering, why should I learn this "new" OS. This report is from 2020, but it still speaks the truth. I hope that answers your question about why you should learn Linux. It can get you a job.

What made me decide to learn Linux? I got my first laptop (and computer) in 1998, it had Windows 95 on it. At that time I only knew how to use Windows and didn't really know of anything else. I started to really get interested in computers when I moved to Hawaii, and I met a friend of a friend that ran a Linux server. He gave me an account on it and I would play around on it, not really knowing what I could do. I eventually started to look into how I can run Linux on my own system. This lead me in late 1999 trying to install Linux for the first time on my own. The distribution I tried to install was Slackware (I was trying to install Slackware 3.5 and it was all on 3.5" floppy disks) this was the one my friend recommend for me to use. I was not successful in installing Linux until Slackware 7.0 was released in early 2000. I recall using Linux before it even supported USB (and my laptop did support USB). At this point in time I dual booted my computer running both Windows and Linux. I did this until about 2001, when I switched over to Linux as my primary OS. I ran Linux as my sole OS until I purchase my first at Mac the end of 2005. I still run Linux and use it often, and I hope you learn to love it too.

What are some of the things I've done with Linux (these are items that I can remember):

What distributions (distros) have I run or am running currently:

And more that I can't even recall! I like to try out different distros to see what they do different.

I hope my love of Open Source and Linux can be shown to you during this course, and I hope you learn to love them as much as I do.

One of the great things about Linux is that it is very powerful and free! Also, another great reason is that Windows likes to borrow ideas from various Linux projects as well.