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5 Command Line Utilities to Manage Archival & Compression in Linux

Zip Archive Compressed Files
I must admit that when I first determined to learn how to create and un-package archive files from the command line, it was a daunting prospect.

It was not so much that I didn’t understand archival and compression, but I more about the fact that I didn’t understand the difference between the utilities available in the command line.

Once I figured out the difference, actually using each one turned out to be a piece of cake (and it was good, too!)

So to make a long story short, I’ve settled on the 5 utilities that can do pretty much anything you would ever want to do on the subject.

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How to Work With Archive, Compressed & Zip Files

Zip Archive Compressed FilesThere are file types that exist for no purpose other than to package other individual files together into a bundle, and even to compress that bundle’s file size.

These files are called archive files, or compressed files.

Archive files contain one or more files, neatly packaged together.

Compressed files contain one or more files, packaged in a file size smaller than the combined files’ original sizes.

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How to Manage File Ownership, Groups & Permissions in Linux (Part 2 of 2)

Linux File PermissionsIn the first part of this series on file permissions, I didn’t exactly get to the part about permissions.

Instead, I presented some details about users, groups, and file details that laid the groundwork for part two, which is today’s lesson.

This is when we actually get to explore the various aspects of file permissions that, when combined, allow the owner of a file (or root!) to be able to control access to it.

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How to Manage File Ownership, Groups & Permissions in Linux (Part 1 of 2)

Linux File PermissionsFile permissions determine who has access to what, as well as how much access they have to it.

Such details are very important on a multi-user operating system such as Linux, for the sake of both security and management.

The possibilities are endless — and exciting to contemplate. Permissions can be widened so that files are able to be viewed and even edited by all users on a system (Warning: security nightmare!), or tightened so that not even the owner of a file can view it.

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30 Commands to Manage Linux Users and Groups

Users and GroupsLinux is a multi-user operating system.

This means not only that multiple user ids can be created (common across all mainstream OS’s today), but that they can all access the same Linux machine simultaneously.

You are, of course, limited to roughly 4,294,967,296 user names, but as long as you’re only creating a single user name for 59.65% of the world’s 7.2 billion population, you shouldn’t run into any problems.

User names are unique on each computer and/or service. This explains why you can use whatever user name you want on your own machine, but why you might have trouble even finding an available user name at your chosen email service provider — chances are somebody else already got the one you wanted.

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Linux Command Line Shortcuts Cheat Sheet (Free Download)

Linux Command Line Shortcuts Cheat Sheet PreviewYou had to know it was coming. What’s a shortcut without a cheat sheet full of them?

This cheat sheet is a compilation of the Linux command line shortcuts (keyboard and otherwise) mentioned in the past few articles.

It’s printer-friendly, for convenience!

The cheat sheet is available exclusively to my mailing list subscribers; you can subscribe at any time to receive the download.

Linux Command Line Shortcuts & Keyboard Shortcuts

Command Line TerminalThe downside to using the command line is all the typing that it involves. Even if you enjoy typing, it can get tedious after awhile.

That is why I have so much fun learning about all of the shortcuts that can be used in the command line, to cut down on the amount of time spent typing.

Not only are there tricks available that can do half of the work for you, but there are also keyboard shortcuts that can help you to navigate the command line in half the time.

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Master the Linux Command Line With These 6 Tricks

Master Linux Command Line TricksOne of the best ways that I know to truly embrace the command line is to have some fun with it. And what is more fun than learning about the available tricks and shortcuts that can be used?

Did you know that you don’t have to type in a complete file name, but that a single key-stroke could fill out the name for you?

Did you know that a single keyboard shortcut can clear your terminal screen of previous commands/results and other command-line clutter?

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15+ Tools to Manage Files From the Linux Command Line

Command Line TerminalIn the Linux command line, working with files is made easy by the multitude of file-manipulation commands that are available.

For each task you need to perform, there is a solution; for many, there is more than one solution.

Among the commands that we’re exploring today — which are all, in one way or another, file-related — you might not only find what you’re looking for, but also something that you never knew you wanted to look for!

Although the availability of commands may vary between different distributions of Linux, most of these are standard enough that they should work for you.

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