Week 3 – Learning Linux the Right Way

sayed — Fri, 01 May 2026 07:17:14 +0000

This week I spent time working on Linux user and group management, and honestly, it changed how I look at system security. At first, things like /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow just looked like normal files, but once I understood why passwords are separated and protected, it made me realize how much thought goes into even the basic design of an operating system.

One thing that stood out to me was working with group management. I made a small mistake while using the usermod command and almost removed a user from all their groups because I forgot the -a flag. That moment taught me something important: in Linux, small commands can have big consequences. It’s not just about knowing commands, it’s about understanding what they actually do.

What I like about learning Linux is that it’s very real. You’re not just memorizing theory—you’re actually working with systems the way professionals do. Every mistake becomes a lesson, and every fix builds confidence.

I decided to share this post because it reflects my learning process, not just the results. As I continue growing in networking and cybersecurity, I want to document both my progress and the challenges I overcome along the way.

Week 1 – Linux User and Group Management

sayed — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:44:35 +0000

I worked on learning Linux user and group management this week. My main goal was to understand how to create users, assign them to groups, and manage permissions correctly. These are important skills for system administration because they control access and security.

One challenge I faced was removing a user from multiple groups. I tried using some commands, but the user still appeared in the group list. This confused me because I expected the command to remove all group memberships.

After troubleshooting, I learned that I needed to remove the user from each group individually using the command:

gpasswd -d username groupname

After running this command for each group and verifying with:

groups username

the issue was fixed. The user was no longer part of those groups.

This week helped me understand how Linux handles users and groups and how important it is to verify changes. I also learned that troubleshooting is a key part of learning.

DEV Community: sayed

Week 3 – Learning Linux the Right Way

Week 1 – Linux User and Group Management