MA194 -- Using Unix Course
MA194 - Using Unix

The Midterm

The midterm is also available in
text form suitable for downloading, printing and using as a bird-cage liner.
The midterm is due by 4:00 PM Monday, March 4. Email your answers to ma194@ms.uky.edu with the subject line of "MIDTERM ANSWERS"

Each question is worth a total of 10 points. Some questions may require you to use the 'script' command. If information is not available for a given section of the question, be sure to note that and explain why.

  1. Using the altavista website, find the text of the recent Telecommunications Bill. Save the text to a file, edit out everything but the section(s) dealing with the V-chip. Email that to ma194=vchip@ms.uky.edu with the subject line "VCHIP"

  2. Using nslookup, dig, traceroute and ping (as well as any other commands you find necessary), create a small network map of the following machines:
    	t2.mscf.uky.edu
    	t6.mscf.uky.edu
    	snoopy.ate.uky.edu
    	franklin.ate.uky.edu
    	thomas.loc.gov
    	c-span.org
    	whitehouse.gov
    	ftp.cc.gatech.edu
    
    
    Let each machine be a 'node' on the graph with at least the following information:
    	site name
    	IP number
    	Administrative or Technical Contact for the site or domain
    	any users logged in (if any)
    	The travel time for infomation between the site and pigpen.ate.uky.edu
    
    
    For the mapping aspect, plot the route between each of these machines and pigpen.ate.uky.edu, paying particular attention to routes with common paths. (That is, if two machines share a common route up to a certain place, point that out.)

  3. Using anonymous ftp, retrieve the file :
    	ftp.cc.gatech.edu:/pub/linux/games/sokoban-src.tar.gz      
    
    Show the route packets took to get from that machine to yours.

    Unbundle the package and list the contents of the package. Change to the 'sokoban' directory and type 'make'. Record the results.

  4. Name three responsibilities of an operating system.

  5. Define each of the following:

  6. What command(s) would you use to do the following:

  7. How would you permanently change your shell prompt to be:
    		;-)X->--<
    
    (Also known as the winking Bob Simon smiley doing jumping jacks)
    
    

  8. How would you set/change your TERM environment variable? How would you make the change permanent?

  9. Explain what stdin, stdout and stderr are and show how you would redirect each in a command. What is the difference between redirection and piping?

  10. Explain what a 'PPP connection' is, including what someone needs in order to use it and any benefits of using it. Be as verbose as you like, this is an essay question.

  • Extra credit: (1 pt each)

    What is sokoban?

    How do you enter two distinct commands on the same line?

    What was the hardest question on this test, why was it the hardest question and do you think you got it right?