Book Image

Linux Utilities Cookbook

By : James Kent Lewis
Book Image

Linux Utilities Cookbook

By: James Kent Lewis

Overview of this book

<p>Linux is a stable, reliable and extremely powerful operating system. It has been around for many years, however, most people still don't know what it can do and the ways it is superior to other operating systems. Many people want to get started with Linux for greater control and security, but getting started can be time consuming and complicated. <br /><br />A practical, hands-on guide that provides you with a number of clear step-by-step examples to help you solve many of the questions that crop up when using an operating system you may not be familiar with.</p> <p>Presenting solutions to the most common Linux problems in a clear and concise way, this helpful guide starts with spicing up the terminal sessions by command retrieval and line editing, and shell prompt variables. We will then get to know the different desktops (GUIs) available for Linux systems and which is the best fit for you. We will then explore the world of managing files and directories, connectivity, and what to do when it goes wrong. We will also learn a range of skills, from creating and managing user accounts to securing your system, managing and limiting processes, and letting information flow from one process to another using pipes. Later, we will master disk management, working with scripts and automating tasks quickly, and finally, understand the need for a custom kernel and tips on how to build one.</p> <p><br />Based on the author's extensive experience, there is a section on best practices that every Linux user should be familiar with.</p>
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
Linux Utilities Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Logical Volume Management (LVM)


LVM for Linux allows one to manage disks or arrays of disks as one large pool of storage. An LVM consists of one or more physical volumes along with one or more logical volumes.

Directories such as /root and /home for example, are located in a logical volume. Several commands exist to manage the LVM. Some operate on physical volumes, some operate on logical volumes, and some on both.

The following list can be used as a quick reference guide for the LVM commands:

  • pvcreate: It initializes a disk or partition

  • pvchange: It changes the allocation permissions of one or more physical volumes

  • pvck: It checks the physical volume metadata

  • pvdisplay: It displays the attributes of a physical volume

  • pvmove: It moves physical extents

  • pvremove: It removes a physical volume

  • pvresize: It resizes a disk or partition

  • pvs: It reports information about physical volumes

  • pvscan: It scans all the disks for physical volumes

  • vgcfgbackup: It backs up the volume group descriptor area

  • vgcfgrestore...