Brittney Davis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CYSE 270 Linux Systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n
August 20, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
E-Portfolio Assignment Part 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CYSE 270 Linux Systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bLab 1 Install Linux VM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab introduced me to virtual machines and gave me hands-on experience setting up Linux for the first time, creating a virtual environment I would use throughout CYSE 270. During this lab, I installed Kali Linux as a virtual machine using Oracle VirtualBox,, which allowed me to run a Linux operating system virtually on my computer. This provided the environment I needed to complete the remaining labs in the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once I downloaded the virtual machine, I was instructed to open the Linux terminal and practice several basic commands that were provided in the assignment. I used the echo command to display text, date to show the system’s current date and time, ls to view a directory’s contents, and pwd to identify my current working directory. By practicing these commands I was able to gain a basic understanding of how to interact with Linux through the command line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the difficulties I encountered during this lab was becoming familiar with working inside a virtual machine and using the Linux terminal. Since this was my first introduction to the environment, I had to make sure to pay attention to how the virtual machine worked and how commands were entered and displayed in the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab was important because it provided the foundation for the rest of my CYSE 270 class. I learned how to use virtual machines to create a separate environment on my laptop that I could work in while using another operating system, and I became familiar with several basic Linux commands. These skills prepared me for the more advanced Linux system administration and cybersecurity concepts introduced later in the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab gave me experience working with the Linux command line and using the Linux file system. I practiced using commands to move between directories and perform different file and directory operations. This helped me become more familiar with completing tasks through the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the skills I learned was how Linux commands can be used to navigate and manage information within the file system. Working through the assignment also helped me understand the importance of entering commands correctly because small mistakes can cause a command to produce an error or a different result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab helped build my confidence with the Linux terminal and provided a foundation for the more advanced Linux commands used in later assignments. Understanding how to navigate and work from the command line is an important skill that I am able to continue developing as I advance in cybersecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab was my first introduction to the VI editor in Linux and gave me hands-on experience editing files from the command line. During this lab, I copied a file to my home directory, opened the file using VI, and practiced modifying its contents. I learned that VI is different from traditional text editors because it uses different modes to perform commands and enter text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the lab, I was able to practice important VI skills. I learned how to switch between command and insert modes, navigate to different locations within a file, insert new text and lines, search for words, move between search results, delete words and lines, copy and paste text, and also replace multiple occurrences of text. I was also able to practice saving my changes and exiting the editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of my biggest challenges was remembering which mode I needed to be in before entering a command. Since some commands perform different actions depending on the current mode, I had to pay close attention while completing each step. As I continued practicing, I became more comfortable returning to command mode with the Escape key and using VI commands to navigate and edit the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab helped me become more comfortable editing files using the Linux terminal. I learned that VI can be a useful tool for quickly modifying configuration and text files. This is an important skill that I learned for Linux system administration and cybersecurity because many administrative tasks require working with files directly from the command line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab taught me how user and group accounts are managed in Linux. During the assignment, I practiced creating and modifying user accounts, working with groups, changing group memberships, managing ownership, and removing accounts. This gave me a better understanding of how Linux administrators control who has access to a system and its resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important concepts I learned was that users and groups play an important role in Linux security. Administrators can organize users into groups and use those groups to help control access to files and other system resources. Working through the different commands also showed me how important it is to verify changes after modifying an account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab also helped me understand the relationship between account administration and cybersecurity. Properly managing users, groups, and access is an important part of protecting a computer system from unauthorized access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab gave me hands-on experience with password security by demonstrating how weak passwords can be vulnerable to password-cracking attacks. During the lab, I created multiple Linux users with passwords of different levels of complexity. I then worked with password hashes and used John the Ripper along with the rockyou.txt wordlist to test whether the passwords could be cracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most interesting concepts I learned was the relationship between password complexity and password security. The activity demonstrated why simple or commonly used passwords can create a security risk. I also gained experience using a cybersecurity tool from the Linux command line and working with password hashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab helped me understand why strong password policies are important in cybersecurity. It showed me how attackers and security professionals can test password strength and confirmed the importance of using passwords that are difficult to guess or discover through common password-cracking techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab helped me develop a better understanding of Linux file and directory permissions. I practiced viewing and modifying permissions and learned how read, write, and execute permissions determine what different users can do with files and directories. I also worked with more advanced permission concepts, including SGID and the sticky bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n File permissions were one of the areas that required me to pay close attention to the commands I entered and the permissions assigned to the user, group, and others. Working through the different tasks helped me better understand how changing a permission affects who can access or modify a resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My biggest takeaway from this lab was understanding how important permissions are to Linux security. Incorrect permissions could allow someone to access or change information they should not be able to use. This lab helped me see how Linux administrators use permissions as part of controlling access and protecting system resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab introduced me to managing local storage in Linux. I worked with storage devices and learned how Linux identifies disks and partitions. I also practiced creating partitions, working with the ext4 filesystem, and mounting and unmounting storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab called for careful attention because storage commands can affect disks, partitions, and filesystems. Working through the assignment helped me understand the steps involved in preparing storage so that Linux can use it and why mounting is necessary before a filesystem can be accessed from a particular location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab helped me understand how Linux manages storage. These skills are useful for system administration and cybersecurity because it is important to understand where information is stored, how file systems are organized, and how storage devices are accessed by the operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab introduced me to shell scripting and showed me how Linux commands can be combined into scripts to complete tasks. Instead of entering every command individually, I learned how a script can contain instructions that Linux executes automatically. I also worked with conditional statements and file tests that allowed the script to make decisions based on specific conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important skills I obtained from this lab was learning to think about commands as a sequence of steps. Shell scripting required me to pay attention to the structure and syntax of the script because an error could prevent it from running correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, this lab helped me understand how scripting can make Linux administration more efficient. I can see how shell scripting would be useful in cybersecurity for automating monotonous tasks, checking system conditions, and performing administrative processes more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab taught me how tasks can be automated in Linux. I practiced making backups using tar, working with compression, and using crontab to schedule commands to run automatically. I also learned how automated processes can be used to manage and clean up files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important concept I learned was how scheduled tasks can reduce the amount of repetitive work a system administrator has to perform manually. Crontab allows commands or scripts to run according to a schedule, which can be useful for tasks such as backups and system maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab showed me how Linux automation can improve efficiency and consistency. In cybersecurity and system administration, automated backups and scheduled maintenance can help protect important information as well as ensure that required tasks are performed regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This assignment helped me better understand networking fundamentals and subnetting. I practiced working with IP addressing and subnetting calculations to understand how networks can be divided into smaller networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subnetting required me to carefully work through the calculations and understand how different parts of an IP address relate to the network. This helped me see that networking involves both understanding the concepts and being able to apply them correctly when configuring or analyzing a network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This assignment improved my understanding of how devices and networks are organized. Networking knowledge is especially important in cybersecurity because security professionals need to understand how systems communicate before they are able to effectively identify network problems, configure security controls, or investigate suspicious network activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab gave me hands-on experience examining and configuring networking information in Linux. I practiced using commands to view network interfaces, routing information, DNS settings, and hostname information. I also explored differences between NAT and bridged network arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most useful parts of this lab was seeing how networking concepts appear on an actual Linux system. Instead of only learning about IP addresses, interfaces, routes, and DNS, I was able to use commands to examine this information directly and compare how network settings changed under different configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This lab helped connect the networking concepts I learned in the course with practical Linux administration. Understanding how to examine a computer’s network configuration is an important cybersecurity skill because it can be used when troubleshooting connectivity, analyzing systems, and finding potential network security issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall Takeaway for CYSE 270<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My overall takeaway from CYSE 270 is that the course helped me become more comfortable using Linux and understand how it relates to cybersecurity. Throughout the labs, I gained hands-on experience with the Linux command line, file management, VI editor, users and groups, file permissions, password security, storage, scripting, task automation, and networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I progressed through the course, I became more confident with my knowledge of entering commands, understanding their purpose, and troubleshooting mistakes. I also learned how important system configuration, permissions, and access controls are when it comes to protecting information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the labs were able to provide me with practical Linux skills and a stronger foundation in cybersecurity. I can use the knowledge and experience I gained in future cybersecurity courses and as I continue working toward a career in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brittney Davis CYSE 270 Linux Systems August 20, 2026 E-Portfolio Assignment Part 2 CYSE 270 Linux Systems \u200bLab 1 Install Linux VM This lab introduced me to virtual machines and gave me hands-on experience setting up Linux for the first time, creating a virtual environment I would use throughout CYSE 270. During this lab, I… <\/p>\nLab 2 Working with Command Line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 3 <\/strong>Working with VI editor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 4 Group and User Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 5 \u2013 Password Cracking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 6 \u2013 File Permissions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 7 \u2013 Storage Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 8 \u2013 Shell Script<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 9 \u2013 Task Automation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 10 \u2013 Networking Basics and Subnetting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lab 11 \u2013 Basic Network Configuration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n