Learn the commands you will use constantly while administering a server
You should be able to demonstrate the result described in the lesson and explain why each step was necessary.
Step-by-step
Know where you are
Use pwd to print the working directory and ls -la to inspect hidden files and permissions.
Move safely
Use cd to navigate and prefer absolute paths when running administrative commands in tutorials.
Read before editing
Use less, cat, head, and tail to inspect configuration and logs before changing them.
Copy before destructive changes
Use cp to make a timestamped backup before editing critical config files.
Understand ownership
Use ls -l, id, and stat to see which user and group own a file before changing permissions.
You should be able to demonstrate the result described in the lesson and explain why each step was necessary.
Troubleshooting
If a command or screen differs from the lesson, stop and verify the version you are using before forcing a change.
What you learned
You now understand the purpose of this part of the system and have a concrete result you can verify before continuing to the next lesson.