Help a *nix n00b, pleeeeaaase?

[BatmanNate]

Hey guys. I got a few questions that I couldn't figure out entirely from the FAQ's. First of all, I'm running SME 5.5 (I believe it uses the redhat 7.2 kernel). Anyhow, here's the questions:

I've set up samba and mounted my NT share already, however I need to stick it in the fstab to it loads that way. My only problem is that I'm not realy familiar with VI (I always used ee b/c i'm a n00b and linux doesn't have ee 🙁) and I need to know how and where in the file I add my line or what even i have to press to add text using vi.

Now I have a group, and I want to change it's home directory, or at least make it so that any user in this group cannot navigate down the tree from the home directory. How is this done?

Any help would be great, thanks in advance.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate

My only problem is that I'm not realy familiar with VI (I always used ee b/c i'm a n00b and linux doesn't have ee 🙁) and I need to know how and where in the file I add my line or what even i have to press to add text using vi.

5 cent vi summary:

esc - when in doubt, press it until it beeps - then you are in "beep mode"

the following commands assume that you are in "beep mode"

i - puts you into "insert mode" so that you can edit text
x - deletes the character underneath the cursor
:w - saves your file
:Q! - quits without saving
ZZ - saves and exits
u - undo

/etc/fstab is pretty loose about syntax, though most people keep their root directory listed first, and other stuff after that. Tabs and spaces are interchangeable. Each entry must be a single line, even if that means it's long and wraps around.

Now I have a group, and I want to change it's home directory, or at least make it so that any user in this group cannot navigate down the tree from the home directory. How is this done?

I'm not sure what you're describing - can you maybe sketch out an example?

edit: What do I do to disable smilies? "quit without save" should be colon-q-exclamation

 

[burnedout]

If you aren't familiar with vi, I suggest you use pico.

 

[IcemanJer]

spend a few minutes with "vimtutor" and you'll be able to do all the basic stuff with vim
just launch vimtutor from any prompt

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: burnedout
If you aren't familiar with vi, I suggest you use pico.

Learning vi is a very good step on the way to learning about *NIX.
While I agree there are alot of editors out there that are more newbie friendly, vi can be your best friend at times, and you know it'll always be available on any *NIX system(well any system you're likely to run into anyways😉).

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: burnedout
If you aren't familiar with vi, I suggest you use pico.

Learning vi is a very good step on the way to learning about *NIX.
While I agree there are alot of editors out there that are more newbie friendly, vi can be your best friend at times, and you know it'll always be available on any *NIX system(well any system you're likely to run into anyways😉).

All of us who did anything with Unix, learned vi. However, in order to expedite a quick fix for a newbie, use something simpler if available.

Man, I remember trying to talk an admin assistant through configuring a file over the phone using vi last year. What a freakin' trip! Finally she gave up on vi (as I did on her), used pico, viola.... problem solved. Don't get me wrong. Fundamentals are important. Fixing the immediate problem rules.

 

[Sunner]

INstead of having her give up on vi, you should have told her to use ed, after spending 30 minutes with that, she'd love the simplicity of vi 😉

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: Sunner
INstead of having her give up on vi, you should have told her to use ed, after spending 30 minutes with that, she'd love the simplicity of vi 😉

you haven't seen complexity until you've used Emacs....

 

[Sunner]

Please don't compare Emacs and ed.

 

[Bremen]

Could be worse, Sunner. He could be comparing vi and emacs... personally I love the beep mode explanation thingy ;0)

 

[TonyRic]

That is the best basic explanation of vi I have ever heard. 🙂

edlin in dos was a godsend in the 80's, vi came naturally when I came over from the darkside.

 

[BatmanNate]

Thanks for the feedback, guys! I'm getting more comfortable with VI now, and I've got most everything set up at running with a little help from a buddy. Thanks for the responses!

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: Sunner
INstead of having her give up on vi, you should have told her to use ed, after spending 30 minutes with that, she'd love the simplicity of vi 😉

😀

LOL, you guys made the morning with some of the comments. Haven't thought about edlin in years. Haven't really been forced to either. 😉

And yes, credit where credit is due.... good job on the explanation cleverhandle.