Topic
Some of us have written a script before……some of us haven’t. Shell scripting is a necessary skill to have in your Linux toolbox. Scripts are used to help you automate your job as a system administrator. If you are finding that you doing the same task over and over again, you should consider creating a script.
Shell scripts receive input from a user or file and output the results to the screen. Some common applications of scripts are:
o Creating your own utilities.
o Automating command input or entry.
o Customizing and automating administrative tasks.
o Creating applications
o Creating system administration reports on process and memory usage, also on key things you care about in logs such as failed login attempts, etc.
o Creating alerts on key things you need to monitor such as memory, disk space, etc.
Questions to Answer
Before you begin, complete the following research:
• Research a practical example of where shell scripting is used. Some examples were presented above. Make sure not to repeat an example from your classmates.
• Find a useful Linux system administration shell script on the Internet.
Now answer
• Share your findings and explain the value of the shell script and how it works.
• Highlight the different parts of the shell script you found, and see if you recognize any of the commands used in the script. Explain the commands that you found in the shell script.
