3 PARROTS

3 PARROTS

A man wanted to buy his son a parrot as a birthday present. 
The next day he went to the pet shop and saw three identical parrots in a cage. 
He asked the clerk, "how much for the parrot on the right?

The owner said it was Rs. 2500. 
"Rs. 2500.", the man said. "Well what does he do? 
"He knows how to use all of the functions of Microsoft Office 2000, responds the clerk. 
"He can do all of your spreadsheets and type all of your letters."

The man then asked what the second parrot cost.

The clerk replied, Rs. 5000, but he not only knows Office 2000,

but is an expert computer programmer.

 Finally, the man inquired about the cost of the last parrot. 
The clerk replied, "Rs. 10,000." 
Curious as to how a bird can cost Rs. 10,000, the man asked what this bird's specialty was. 
The clerk replies, "Well to be honest I haven't seen him do anything. 
But the other two call him " BOSS"!!

Linux Commands

Starting & Stopping
shutdown -h now Shutdown the system now and do not reboot
halt Stop all processes - same as above
shutdown -r 5 Shutdown the system in 5 minutes and reboot
shutdown -r now Shutdown the system now and reboot
reboot Stop all processes and then reboot - same as above
startx Start the X system
Accessing & mounting file systems
mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom
/mnt/cdrom
Mount the device cdrom and call it cdrom under the /mnt directory
mount -t msdos /dev/hdd
/mnt/ddrive
Mount hard disk “d” as a msdos file system and call it ddrive under the /mntdirectory
mount -t vfat /dev/hda1
/mnt/cdrive
Mount hard disk “a” as a
VFAT file system and call it cdrive under the /mnt
directory
umount /mnt/cdrom Unmount the cdrom
Finding files and text within files
find / -name  fname Starting with the root directory, look
for the file called fname
find / -name ”*fname*” Starting with the root directory, look
for the file containing the string fname
locate missingfilename Find a file called missingfilename
using the locate command - this
assumes you have already used the
command updatedb (see next)
updatedb Create or update the database of files
on all file systems attached to the linux
root directory
which missingfilename Show the subdirectory containing the
executable file  called missingfilename
grep textstringtofind
/dir
Starting with the directory called dir ,
look for and list all files containing
textstringtofind
The X Window System
xvidtune Run the X graphics tuning utility
XF86Setup Run the X configuration menu with
automatic probing of graphics cards
Xconfigurator Run another X configuration menu with
automatic probing of graphics cards
xf86config Run a text based X configuration menu
Moving, copying, deleting & viewing files
ls -l List files in current directory using
long format
ls -F List files in current directory and
indicate the file type
ls -laC List all files in current directory in
long format and display in columns
rm name Remove a file or directory called
name
rm -rf name Kill off an entire directory and all it’s
includes files and subdirectories
cp filename
/home/dirname
Copy the file called filename to the
/home/dirname directory
mv filename
/home/dirname
Move the file called filename to the
/home/dirname directory
cat filetoview Display the file called filetoview
man -k keyword Display man pages containing
keyword
more filetoview Display the file called filetoview one
page at a time, proceed to next page
using the spacebar
head filetoview Display the first 10 lines of the file
called filetoview
head -20 filetoview Display the first 20 lines of the file
called filetoview
tail filetoview Display the last 10 lines of the file
called filetoview
tail -20 filetoview Display the last 20 lines of the file
called filetoview
Installing software for Linux
rpm -ihv name.rpm Install the rpm package called name
rpm -Uhv name.rpm Upgrade the rpm package called
name
rpm -e package Delete the rpm package called
package
rpm -l package List the files in the package called
package
rpm -ql package List the files and state the installed
version of the package called
package
rpm -i --force package Reinstall the rpm package called
name having deleted parts of it (not
deleting using rpm -e)
tar -zxvf archive.tar.gz or
tar -zxvf archive.tgz
Decompress the files contained in
the zipped and tarred archive called
archive
./configure Execute the script preparing the
installed files for compiling
User Administration
adduser accountname Create a new user call accountname
passwd accountname Give accountname a new password
su Log in as superuser from current login
exit Stop being superuser and revert to
normal user
Little known tips and tricks
ifconfig List ip addresses for all devices on
the machine
apropos subject List manual pages for subject
usermount Executes graphical application for
mounting and unmounting file
systems
/sbin/e2fsck hda5 Execute the filesystem check utility
on partition hda5
fdformat /dev/fd0H1440 Format the floppy disk in device fd0
tar -cMf /dev/fd0 Backup the contents of the current
directory and subdirectories to
multiple floppy disks
tail -f /var/log/messages Display the last 10 lines of the system
log.
cat /var/log/dmesg Display the file containing the boot
time messages - useful for locating
problems. Alternatively, use the
dmesg command.
* wildcard - represents everything. eg.
cp from/* to  will copy all files in the
from directory to the to directory
? Single character wildcard. eg.
cp config.? /configs will copy all files
beginning with the name config. in
the current directory to the directory
named configs.
[xyz] Choice of character wildcards. eg.
ls [xyz]* will list all files in the current
directory starting with the letter x, y,
or z.
linux single At the lilo prompt, start in single user
mode. This is useful if you have
forgotten your password. Boot in
single user mode, then run the
passwd command.
ps List current processes
kill 123 Kill a specific process eg. kill 123
Configuration files and what they do
/etc/profile System wide environment variables for
all users.
/etc/fstab List of devices and their associated mount
points. Edit this file to add cdroms, DOS
partitions and floppy drives at startup.
/etc/motd Message of the day broadcast to all users
at login.
etc/rc.d/rc.local Bash script that is executed at the end of
login process. Similar to autoexec.bat in
DOS.
/etc/HOSTNAME Conatins full hostname including domain.
/etc/cron.* There are 4 directories that automatically
execute all scripts within the directory at
intervals of hour, day, week or month.
/etc/hosts A list of all know host names and IP
addresses on the machine.
/etc/httpd/conf Paramters for the Apache web server
/etc/inittab Specifies the run level that the machine
should boot into.
/etc/resolv.conf Defines IP addresses of DNS servers.
/etc/smb.conf Config file for the SAMBA server. Allows
file and print sharing with Microsoft
clients.
/etc/X11/XF86Confi
g
Config file for X-Windows.
~/.xinitrc Defines the windows manager loaded by
X. ~ refers to user’s home directory.
File permissions
If the command ls -l is given, a long list of file names is
displayed. The first column in this list details the permissions
applying to the file. If a permission is missing for a owner,
group of other, it is represented by - eg.  drwxr-x—x
Read = 4
Write = 2
Execute = 1
File permissions are altered by giving the
chmod command and the appropriate
octal code for each user type. eg
chmod 7 6 4 filename will make the file
called filename R+W+X for the owner,
R+W for the group and R for others.
chmod 7 5 5 Full permission for the owner, read and
execute access for the group and others.
chmod +x filename Make the file called filename executable
to all users.
X Shortcuts - (mainly for Redhat)
Control|Alt  + or - Increase or decrease the screen
resolution. eg. from 640x480 to
800x600
Alt | escape Display list of active windows
Shift|Control F8 Resize the selected window
Right click on desktop
background
Display menu
Shift|Control Altr Refresh the screen
Shift|Control Altx Start an xterm session
Printing
/etc/rc.d/init.d/lpd start Start the print daemon
/etc/rc.d/init.d/lpd stop Stop the print daemon
/etc/rc.d/init.d/lpd
status
Display status of the print daemon
lpq Display jobs in print queue
lprm Remove jobs from queue
lpr Print a file
lpc Printer control tool
man subject | lpr Print the manual page called subject
as plain text
man -t subject | lpr Print the manual page called subject
as Postscript output
printtool Start X printer setup interface
~/.Xdefaults Define configuration for some X-applications. ~ refers to user’s home
directory.
Get your own Official Linux Pocket Protector - includes
handy command summary. Visit:
www.powerup.com.au/~squadron

GROUP DISCUSSION:

To give you a brief about GD[what/why?]

A GD is a method  to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that an institute desires its students possess. This way institutes judge if the candidate fits into its cultural setup, or if the candidate’s personality is going to add a different flavor to the existing culture.

Points that a GD brings out about candidates personality-

 Ability to work in a team
 Communication skills [including listening, speaking and expressing]
 Reasoning ability
 Leadership skills
 Initiative
 Assertiveness
 Flexibility
 Creativity
 Ability to think on ones fee

How to approach a GD

Always use time given for before discussion starts judiciously and efficiently

Step 1:   Read/ listen to the topic very carefully

Step 2:   Identify the main ideas and themes about the topic

Tip:- try to remember to link your examples to point from the readings and experiences you had relating them to the main topic

Step 3:   Write your points on the sheet provided and try to structure them [5-6 points are enoug

Roles people play during a GD

1. Initiatingt the GD started by introducing the topic to the groups and adding his points

2. Facilitating participation of all the groups members, If  anyone or few dominate a group moderator tries to control that,

3. Keeping the content of discussion around the core issue

4. Giving and asking for information & reactions & critiques

5. Discussing and questioning each other’s interpretations of materials

6. Summarizing what the group has said and moving on giving new direction to the discussion

7. Final conclusion

Strategies you may adopt

Competing without a strategy will take you nowhere, unless you are planning to reach nowhere.

Depending upon the comfort level with the topic you must decide in the beginning which role will you be playing in a particular GD. Same strategy for all the GDs that you may be participating in may not be a good strategy as a person a different level of comfort with different topics. So choose a role carefully rather strategically. If you are comfortable playing multiple roles and very swiftly you can switch roles and use your strengths to your advantage.

Normally, opening a GD involves these very important things:

1. Define the topic of the GD if there is a need to define it for others (clarity)
2. Set boundaries/parameters that you may feel will help the GD to be discussed without ambiguity.
3. In case you have a story/ incident/ experience for the topic, then start with that.
4. Creative GD will be started with your interpretation and the supporting thought process for the interpretation.

No matter what role you choose, but you have to make sure you put your own points forward and do your job by adding some valuable points to the discussion.

Tip:- 1. As most of the candidates pounce on the opportunity to open the topic and lot of people speak simultaneously and no one is heard. Better strategy could be to choose roles from 2-6 so that it will be easier to pitch in you points.

2. It is always good to substantiate your point with some facts. Most Business Schools ensure that they pick up those students who have some data on the topic or related discussions wherein the students can compliment their point of view or the stand they might take. This approach gives an impression that candidate has a rational thought process and knows how to built arguments.

Dos and Don’ts

• You must ensure that the group hears you. If the group hears you, so will the evaluator. That does not mean that you shout at the top of your voice and be noticed for the wrong reasons.
• You have to be assertive. If you are not a very assertive person, you will have to simply learn to be assertive for those 15 minutes. Remember, assertiveness does not mean being bull-headed or being arrogant.
• Participate in as many practice GDs as possible before you attend the actual GD. There is nothing like practice to help you overcome the fear of talking in a GD.

• The quality of what you said is more valuable than the quantity.

• Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. Be yourself.
• A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator wants to hear you speak.
• Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say.
• Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject.
• Don’t start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.
• Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else’s point and then move onto express your views.
• Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.
• Your body language says a lot about you – your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.
• Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.
• Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis.
• Don’t lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don’t take the discussion personally.
• Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object’ or `I disagree’. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…’ or `One difference between your point and mine…’ or “I beg to differ with you”
• Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak and listen to their views. Be receptive to others’ opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.
• If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.

Tip:- 1. Be yourself. Try not to react and get into a heated argument rather respond and give a very cogent argument

2. Read a lot and make yourself comfortable about the latest issues