Overview
This course concentrates on the aspects of UNIX that are most needed by a program developer or UNIX programmer: the theory of the UNIX operating system as it informs the system administration. Students are required to install any UNIX/Linux of their choice onto their personal computers.
Outline
Part I: User's View
- Unit 1: UNIX Shell
- Unit 2: File Security
- Unit 3: Basic Shell Programming
Part II: System Administrator's View
- Unit 4: Processes
- Unit 5: The Network Models
- Unit 6: Useful Utilities and Files
- Unit 7: File System Backup
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to
- install a Linux operating system on a partition on a computer or dedicated hardware.
- explain UNIX operating system concepts.
- detail the process of booting and shutting down.
- use different utilities and commands in the UNIX operating system.
- write UNIX shell scripts and use complex regular expressions.
- carry out administrator duties such as backing up the file systems, managing accounts, controlling processes, specifying security, and managing networks.
Evaluation
To receive credit for COMP 325, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent), an average grade of 50 percent on Assignments 1–3, and at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 20% |
| Assignment 2 | 15% |
| Assignment 3 | 15% |
| Final Examination | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Sarwar, S. M., & Koretsky, R. M. (2016). UNIX: The textbook (3rd ed.). CRC Press.