Files Star Permissions Summary

Basic Shell Usage, part 2

ComS 252 — Iowa State University

Andrew Miner

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Viewing file contents

cat: concatenate files

▶ Displays contents of files (arguments) as ASCII text
▶ Binary files will display as “garbage”

prompt$ cat /etc/hosts

[Link] localhost [Link]
::1 localhost [Link]
prompt$ cat /bin/ls
A~
Aÿÿ:cX•: ??Öp$8(
4?G□<πw
E)L3X$Ëℵz proµpt$ µµµ
-baÿh: µµµ: coµµa□d □ot fou□d
proµpt$ reÿet

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Viewing file contents

cat: concatenate files

▶ Displays contents of files (arguments) as ASCII text
▶ Binary files will display as “garbage”

prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Viewing file contents (2)

hexdump: hexadecimal dump a file

▶ Displays a file in various formats
-C : “canonical” display, hexadecimal and ASCII
▶ Each line: 16 characters of the file, in columns
1. Hexadecimal byte count
2. Hexadecimal encoding of the 16 characters
3. ASCII encoding of the 16 characters (if printable)

prompt$ hexdump -C /etc/hosts

00000000 31 32 37 2e 30 2e 30 2e 31 20 20 20 6c 6f 63 61 |[Link] loca|
00000010 6c 68 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 68 6f 73 74 2e |lhost localhost.|
00000020 6c 6f 63 61 6c 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 0a 3a 3a 31 20 |localdomain.::1 |
00000030 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 68 6f 73 | localhos|
00000040 74 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 68 6f 73 74 2e 6c 6f 63 61 |t [Link]|
00000050 6c 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 0a |ldomain.|
00000058
prompt$ hexdump -C /bin/ls

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Viewing file contents (2)

hexdump: hexadecimal dump a file

▶ Displays a file in various formats
-C : “canonical” display, hexadecimal and ASCII
▶ Each line: 16 characters of the file, in columns
1. Hexadecimal byte count
2. Hexadecimal encoding of the 16 characters
3. ASCII encoding of the 16 characters (if printable)

0001c820 00 53 06 08 e8 c2 01 00 00 0c 00 00 00 00 00 00 |.S..............|
0001c830 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 5d 00 00 00 |.... .......]...|
0001c840 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e8 c2 01 00 |................|
0001c850 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 |................|
0001c860 00 00 00 00 0f 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
0001c870 00 00 00 00 f8 c2 01 00 09 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
0001c880 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |............|
0001c88c
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Copying (1)

cp: copy files

Usage:
1. cp source target
source : an existing file
target : name for the copy

prompt$ cat [Link]

This is a simple text file
prompt$ cp [Link] [Link]
prompt$ ls
[Link] [Link]
prompt$ cat [Link]
This is a simple text file
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Copying (2)

cp: copy files

Usage:
2. cp src1 src2 ...srcn Directory
src1 : an existing file
..
.
srcn : an existing file
Directory : An existing directory
▶ Copies each source file into Directory
▶ The copy has the same name as the original

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Example: cp into a directory

prompt$ ls
[Link] [Link] [Link]
prompt$ mkdir Copies
prompt$ cp [Link] [Link] [Link] Copies
prompt$ ls
[Link] Copies [Link] [Link]
prompt$ ls Copies
[Link] [Link] [Link]
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Useful switches for cp

-i : interactive
▶ Ask before overwriting any existing target file
-p : preserve
▶ Preserves the modification time (and other attributes)
▶ Otherwise, the copy has the current time
-R : recursive
▶ If any source is a directory, recursively copies it
▶ Otherwise, source directories are skipped

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

What about: cp -R dir1 dir2

1. If dir2 does not exist:

▶ Creates dir2
▶ Recursively copies files from dir1 into dir2
2. If dir2 does exist:
▶ Makes copy of dir1 inside dir2

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Moving (1)

mv: move files

Usage (just like cp):
1. mv source target
source : an existing file
target : new name for the file

prompt$ cat [Link]

This is a simple text file
prompt$ mv [Link] [Link]
prompt$ ls
[Link]
prompt$ cat [Link]
This is a simple text file
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Moving (2)

mv: move files

Usage (just like cp):
2. mv src1 src2 ...srcn Directory
src1 : an existing file or directory
..
.
srcn : an existing file or directory
Directory : An existing directory
▶ Moves each source item into Directory

prompt$ mv [Link] [Link] [Link] /tmp

prompt$ ls /tmp/
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Removing

rm: remove (delete) files

▶ Files to remove are passed as arguments
-i : interactive
▶ Ask before removing
-r : recursive
-R : recursive
▶ Will recursively remove files in subdirectories
▶ Be careful with this

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Example: rm

prompt$ ls -aF
./ .bashrc [Link] .history .viminfo
../ core hello.c math168/
[Link]* cs229/ hello.h se101/
[Link] cs252/ hello.o .ssh/
prompt$ rm -i [Link] core hello.o
remove [Link]? n
remove core? y
remove hello.o? y
prompt$ rm -r [Link] [Link] se101
prompt$ ls -aF
./ .bashrc hello.c math168/
../ cs229/ hello.h .ssh/
[Link]* cs252/ .history .viminfo
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Un-removing a file
If I rm a file by mistake, can I get it back?
Short answer: NO
So be careful with rm

Long answer: maybe

▶ Depends on the filesystem and how files are deleted
▶ There are undelete utilities (by filesystem type)
▶ Need to (cleanly) disconnect the disk right away!
▶ Prevents the deleted file from being overwritten

System administrator answer

I can get you a copy from last night’s backup

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Using *

We can list out several files using *

▶ Will generate a list of matching files
▶ Means, “fill in with zero or more characters”
▶ Usually does not match a leading .
▶ Can be used with any utility that takes lists of files

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Examples with *

▶ Alice’s pictures (start with IMG) to ~alice/images

▶ Bob’s pictures (start with DSC) to ~bob/images
▶ Remove all other files
prompt$ ls -aF --color
./ DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link]
../ DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link]
.catalog DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link] IMG [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link] IMG [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link] IMG [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link] VID [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] IMG [Link]
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Examples with *

▶ Alice’s pictures (start with IMG) to ~alice/images

▶ Bob’s pictures (start with DSC) to ~bob/images
▶ Remove all other files
prompt$ mv IMG* ~alice/images
prompt$ mv DSC*.jpg ~bob/images
prompt$ ls -af --color
./ DSC [Link] DSC [Link] VID [Link]
../ DSC [Link] DSC [Link]
.catalog DSC [Link] DSC [Link]
DSC [Link] DSC [Link] DSC [Link]
prompt$ rm *
prompt$ ls -af --color
./ ../ .catalog
prompt$

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Who can do what

▶ Until now, we have ignored a very important question:

▶ Who is allowed to do that?
▶ E.g., Is chuck allowed to cat alice’s files?
▶ E.g., Is bob allowed to remove alice’s files?
▶ E.g., Can bob create a file in alice’s home directory?
▶ UNIX handles these questions using file permissions

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

File permissions
▶ First column of “ls -l” gives the file permissions
▶ Remember: first character gives the file type
▶ Next 3 characters: can the file owner
slot 2: Read the file? r: yes -: no
slot 3: Modify the file? w: yes -: no
slot 4: Execute the file? x: yes -: no
▶ Next 3 characters: can members of the file group
slot 5: Read the file? r: yes -: no
slot 6: Modify the file? w: yes -: no
slot 7: Execute the file? x: yes -: no
▶ Last 3 characters: can everyone else
slot 8: Read the file? r: yes -: no
slot 9: Modify the file? w: yes -: no
slot 10: Execute the file? x: yes -: no
ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2
Files Star Permissions Summary

Permission example

prompt$ ls -l [Link]
-rw-r----- 1 alice hackers 2995 Feb 04 1999 [Link]
prompt$

For the file [Link]:

▶ The file is owned by alice
▶ alice may read and write the file, but not execute it
▶ The file group is hackers
▶ If bob is a member of group hackers,
then bob may read the file, but not write or execute it
▶ If bob is not a member of group hackers,
then bob may not read, write, or execute the file

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Permission example

prompt$ ls -l [Link]
-rw-r----- 1 alice hackers 2995 Feb 04 1999 [Link]
prompt$

For the file [Link]:

▶ The file is owned by alice
▶ alice may read and write the file, but not execute it
▶ The file group is hackers
▶ If bob is a member of group hackers,
then bob may read the file, but not write or execute it
▶ If bob is not a member of group hackers,
then bob may not read, write, or execute the file

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Permission example

prompt$ ls -l [Link]
-rw-r----- 1 alice hackers 2995 Feb 04 1999 [Link]
prompt$

For the file [Link]:

▶ The file is owned by alice
▶ alice may read and write the file, but not execute it
▶ The file group is hackers
▶ If bob is a member of group hackers,
then bob may read the file, but not write or execute it
▶ If bob is not a member of group hackers,
then bob may not read, write, or execute the file

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Permission example

prompt$ ls -l [Link]
-rw-r----- 1 alice hackers 2995 Feb 04 1999 [Link]
prompt$

For the file [Link]:

▶ The file is owned by alice
▶ alice may read and write the file, but not execute it
▶ The file group is hackers
▶ If bob is a member of group hackers,
then bob may read the file, but not write or execute it
▶ If bob is not a member of group hackers,
then bob may not read, write, or execute the file

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Permission example

prompt$ ls -l [Link]
-rw-r----- 1 alice hackers 2995 Feb 04 1999 [Link]
prompt$

For the file [Link]:

▶ The file is owned by alice
▶ alice may read and write the file, but not execute it
▶ The file group is hackers
▶ If bob is a member of group hackers,
then bob may read the file, but not write or execute it
▶ If bob is not a member of group hackers,
then bob may not read, write, or execute the file

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Permission meaning

For files
read : necessary to view or copy a file
write : necessary to modify a file
execute : necessary to execute a file

For directories
read : necessary to examine entries (“ls” the directory)
write : necessary to modify the directory
▶ Create a file
▶ Rename a file
▶ Remove a file
execute : necessary to access a directory (“cd” it)

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Necessary permissions for some examples

cp src dest
▶ Need read permission for src
▶ Need write permission for working directory
▶ Otherwise we cannot create file dest

mv src dest
▶ Need write permission for working directory

rm src
▶ Need write permission for working directory

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Superuser

User account root is the “superuser” account

▶ File permissions do not apply
▶ root can read, modify, execute, rename, delete any file
▶ root can pretty much do anything on the system
▶ This is necessary for system administration
▶ Backing up files
▶ Installing new disks
▶ etc. . .

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Changing permissions

chmod: change file permissions

Usage:
1. chmod [ugoa][-+=][rwx] file1 file2 ... filen
u : just the user (file owner) permissions
g : just the group permissions
o : just the other (everyone else) permissions
▶ o does not mean “owner”
a : all (user, group, and other)
- : turn off permissions
+ : turn on permissions
= : set exactly permissions

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Examples: chmod 1

chmod ug+r [Link]

Turns on read permission for user and group

chmod u=rw [Link]

Sets user permissions to rw-

chmod a-x [Link]

Turn off execute permission for user, group, and other

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Changing permissions (2)

chmod: change file permissions

Usage:
2. chmod [mode] file1 file2 ... filen
mode : three octal digits
▶ First digit: user permissions
▶ Second digit: group permissions
▶ Third digit: other permissions
▶ For each digit
read : add 4
write : add 2
execute : add 1

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Examples: chmod 2

chmod 640 [Link]

6 : 4 + 2 + 0 means rw- for user
4 : 4 + 0 + 0 means r-- for group
0 : 0 + 0 + 0 means --- for other

chmod 755 public/

7 : 4 + 2 + 1 means rwx for user
5 : 4 + 0 + 1 means r-x for group
5 : 4 + 0 + 1 means r-x for other

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

What about publicly writeable directories?

▶ Consider /tmp: preferred place for temporary files
▶ Files are automatically removed
▶ Want anyone able to put files there
▶ Everyone should have write access to /tmp
▶ But that means anyone can delete any file
▶ Solution: set the “sticky bit”
▶ Only the file owner (or root) may delete a file
▶ To set this up for /tmp:
prompt$ chmod 777 /tmp
prompt$ chmod +t /tmp
prompt$ ls -alF /tmp
total 98
drwxrwxrwt 6 root root 4096 Jan 1 2000 ./
.
.
.
prompt$
ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2
Files Star Permissions Summary

Who may chmod a file?

1. root
2. The file owner
3. Nobody else

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Changing the group or owner of a file

chown: change owner and group of files
Usage:
▶ chown owner file1 ... filen
Change the owner of the specified files
▶ chown owner:group file1 ... filen
Change the owner and group of the specified files
▶ chown :group file1 ... filen
Change the group of the specified files

chgrp: change group of files

Usage:
▶ chgrp group file1 ... filen
Change the group of the specified files
ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2
Files Star Permissions Summary

Who can chown or chgrp a file?

Who can change the owner of a file?

1. root
2. Nobody else
Who can change the group of a file?
1. root
2. The file owner
3. Nobody else
What group can it be changed to?
▶ root: anything
▶ Ordinary user: any group the user belongs to

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

Summary of today’s commands

cat : Concatenate a file (to the display).

chgrp : Change file group.
chmod : Change permissions.
chown : Change file owner.
cp : Copy files or directories.
hexdump : Show hex contents of a file.
mv : Move files or directories.
reset : Reset a trashed terminal.
rm : Remove files or directories.

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

An appropriate xkcd comic: [Link]

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2

Files Star Permissions Summary

End of lecture

ComS 252 — Iowa State University Basic Shell Usage, part 2