Lab 1 was all about setting up the virtual machine and making sure that it was able to run with the correct settings. It was really simple to do and I was able to learn the skills of setting up a VM.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bN-lxi9ftNHbi2XUNvQG2SfVYDj5aTsoneTgRPo_yLI/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 2 was learning about command lines, which is the basics of Linux that is always being used. It was my first time actually doing something with Linux and it was fairly simple to understand. We learned about removing directories, switching directories, long list, and just the general dive into starting Linux.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eLaFMIv7-KdwQUyTPHxKgUWHFvcXegF6WxayX7qESIY/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 3 Vi Editor, was our introduction into being able to understand how to edit inside a file. I learned how to move through VI editor and learned how to start writing. Overall it was just an introduction into the basics, so it wasn’t anything difficult.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18CZT_fUkS88D33ujVRzmDrl-dVFAmIVXieHZYEQlYIA/edit?tab=t.0

Lab 4 involved user and group accounts, this is where Linux started to get a little more complicated with having to create group accounts and giving certain permissions. Adding users was very simple, it was just the group part were starts to get confusing a bit. Overall I figured it out and it wasn’t to bad after constantly practicing it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dk94v8NHy11GOzcXby4zbIr5IygQmphaLODkRGVyVcU/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 5 was all about password cracking, it was also a very simple and fun learning experience. Creating a bunch of random passwords, then adding the dictionary to our VM so that we could allow the program to automatically start cracking the passwords, was simple. Overall it was a great learning experience.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rsngEt5x5a5i6E3W03yYmEmAuHb9JN-6oRzCRDHwGKE/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 6 dealt with file permissions and this was kind of difficult for me, because I understood what I was doing but I was still making mistakes that had confused me. I didn’t switch to the user account sometimes and that ended up creating more things for me to do and I had the problem of what I wrote in VI not showing up. I did get help with it and I started to understand the mistakes that I made, overall not bad, just obvious mistakes on my part.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cWqBMxtpZaE0JacQfjEmJPUqw4Vq_A2rjHmrcL9-3_E/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 7 was about managing storage, for me it was easy. I understood the whole process of partitioning and mounting and being able to check for the mounting. Overall it was simple to learn about storage management and I kind of enjoyed it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uprEtcnGryA5XrGHitIPK8Sa9zWVdbnLQj4pHOSFeXM/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 8 was shell scripting, it was difficult for me because I’m not that good with scripting in general. There was some similarities to python which did help me understand a bit more, but for me practicing a lot and being more hands on with scripting helps me better myself. Overall it was difficult for me, but I keep practicing and getting better.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sg0CryaadHXwMm_8DR_dV4tHahRtNjL2D5JXEmflDr8/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 9 talked about task automation, the scripting part was difficult for me, but the setting up crontab and understanding it was very simple. I’ve gotten better with scripting, so it isn’t as hard for me, but I do still need to practice more. Overall not a difficult learning experience.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k3goLI52evsQgTSQoIB5K7vfrKXeGGdNKXxHiBfHXZI/edit?usp=sharing

Lab 10 was all about networking and subnetting, it was easy for me. I’m taking Networking and programming so we have been learning about it a lot and doing the physical math for it. I did make mistakes because I wasn’t paying attention and it ended up throwing a lot of stuff off, it’s a mistake that I needed to learn to slow down. Overall very easy.

Lab 11 was networking basic configuration, it was really easy for me. I learned about it in Networking and not a lot more about it, I completely understand the different ports, pinging, routing. I also understand IP, IPv4, IPV6, Network mask, and MAC address. Overall it was a very easy because of my prior knowledge on the topic.

My plans after graduating is currently to go for penetration testing and to continue going for more certifications. I’m planning going for Security+ in the spring to get a certification down, and trying to go for an internship, I also want to try to go for a government job because I have a lot of government workers in my family that work in IT that can help start on my government clearance.

CYSE 270 was fairly easy and I didn’t think it would be because I always had the notion that Linux was very hard, and that wasn’t completely true at least for what I have learned in the class. Professor Mohammed was a big reason for why it was not as difficult because he made it interesting by showing us how stuff worked and having it on the lectures, but he also interacted with the class a lot instead of just reading the PowerPoint until the class ended. Linux was something that I really enjoyed learning about and being able to play around with, it made me feel like I was doing more than just playing with a computer. I would say that my favorite part about Linux was learning about security policies and password cracking, because they both made it feel like being a hacker and understanding how black hat hackers operate and what they might use to attack. I really enjoyed the class and the professor, and being told about what happens in CYSE 301 makes me kind of excited for it next semester.