CSCI-A110 Lab 2
File System and Network Fundamentals

Part A: Fixing Microsoft Windows Quirks

Prerequisites: Coursepack, chapters 1–3; Fluency, chapters 1–2.

Microsoft Windows "out of the box" hides certain directories and most file extensions, which we want to see because we are not dummies. If you are using another operating system, skip this part.

Instructions for Windows 7 (if you need pictures, see BleepingComputer.com's tutorial How to show hidden files in Windows 7—I would suggest declining the offer of a "free virus scan," however!):

1. From the Windows Start button, select Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, click on Appearance and Customization.
3. Under "Folder Options," click on Show hidden files and folders
4. In the "Folder Options" window, "View" tab:
   1. Click on the radio button "Show hidden files, folders, and drives"
   2. Uncheck the box for "Hide extensions for known file types"
   3. Uncheck the box for "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)"; then click on "Yes".
   4. Click on OK.
5. Close the Control Panel.

Also in Windows Explorer, navigate to your home folder and add it to Favorites (right click on Favorites).

Instructions for Windows XP:

1. Open "My Computer."
2. Open the "Tools" menu and choose "Folder Options ..."
3. Select the "View" tab.
   1. Check the radiobutton for "show hidden files and folders."
   2. Uncheck the checkbox for "Hide extensions for known file types."
   3. Click on the button for "Apply to All Folders".
   4. Click on the "OK" button.

Part B: Managing Files

Prerequisites: Coursepack, chapters 1–3; Fluency, chapters 1–2; and do Part A first.

1. Starting a file manager. A file manager is a program that enables users to work with files, for example, finding files, copying them, renaming or moving them, and deleting them.

   Start running a file manager. Windows 7 users may do this by launching "Windows Explorer" from the Task Bar (in Windows XP, opening the "My Computer" icon on the desktop).

2. Finding a file. Use the file manager to navigate to your home directory (What's this?) where you should see an icon representing the file "lab1.txt" that you saved.

3. Creating a directory. Use the file manager to create a new directory, named "A110" (without the quotation marks), in your home directory.

4. Moving and copying the file. Use the file manager to move your file "lab1.txt" into the "A110" directory.

   Still using the file manager, open the A110 directory, and make a copy of the file "lab1.txt". The file manager will probably give it a name like "lab1.txt copy"; just leave it with that name.

5. Screenshot and print. Take a screenshot of the A110 directory open in the file manager. Use the screenshot procedure from Lab 1, except you may use Alt-PrntScrn so that the screenshot shows only the single window. (But if you want to show the whole desktop, that's okay.) Print the window or screen screenshot.

About Libraries in Windows 7

Windows 7 introduces a new feature of the file system called "Libraries." A "library," in this sense, is a kind of virtual file folder which may pull together files from various real file folders. You start with four libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. For this assignment, I do not want you to use "libraries" because I want you to know exactly where you are storing your files. However, you may wish to use libraries for later assignments or for work outside this class. For more information about Windows 7 libraries, see Lifehacker's Get to Know Windows 7 Libraries Inside and Out.

IP Addresses

The Internet Protocol, version 4 (IPv4) is a set of rules that govern how computers communicate with each other through the Internet. In IPv4, each host is identified by a number having four parts, such as 101.29.54.68. This number is the computer's IP address or IP number. These numbers are hard to remember, so we use the Domain Name Service (DNS) to look them up for us. DNS finds the IP number for a given host name. This happens mostly behind the scenes: for example, when you aim your web browser at http://google.com/, the web browser asks DNS for the IP address of google.com, so you don't even notice—unless something goes wrong.

1. Find the IP address of MIT's web server, which has the host name www.mit.edu.

   There are two ways you can look up an IP address. Take your choice.

   1. Using a web browser and an nslookup gateway. Use a web browser to contact one of the servers which provide nslookup service through the web. Tell the server the hostname you are looking for and ask it for the IP address. Here are some servers' URLs:

      • http://www.webreference.com/cgi-bin/nslookup.cgi
      • http://glass.cprm.net/cgi-bin/nslookup.cgi
      • http://codeflux.com/tools
      • http://www.mob.net/~ted/tools/dns.php3

   2. Alternatively, using the nslookup command. Every operating system has a non-graphical command interpreter, called a shell, terminal, or command prompt. Open a shell. Windows users can do this by running "Command prompt", under "Accessories" in the program menu. Type the line

                    nslookup www.mit.edu

      into the command prompt, and press ENTER.

      Reference: In Windows, how can I find the IP address of another networked computer?

2. Write down the IP address.

3. Test the IP address. In a web browser, go to the URL formed by prefixing http:// to the IP address you have found, for example, http://101.102.103.104 (of course, this isn't really it). You should see the MIT homepage.

Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is a live CD operating system: it boots from a CD and then runs from memory; it does not have to be installed on the hard drive (although it can be), and the Puppy CD does not even have to remain in the drive. Puppy is one of many distributions of the free Linux-GNU operating system. Puppy's special aims are to be user-friendly, fast, and use minimal system resources so that it works well with older computers.

In this lab assignment, we will use Puppy to configure our computer's network connection. Puppy also contains some application programs which you might like to use, but that is not required.

The instructor will be providing a few Puppy CDs for this lab assignment.

Connecting to the Internet

We cannot configure the Windows operating system's network connection without being Windows system administrators. That is why we are using Puppy to practice this aspect of networking.

1. Print a certificate. Before booting Puppy, use Windows to print this certificate. You will need it for your instructor to sign after you've demonstrated your network connection, and you won't be able to print it from Puppy (at least, not without extra work of configuring Puppy for printing).

2. Booting Puppy. Insert the Puppy CD into the CD drive (the top drive, if more than one) and close it. Tell Windows to reboot (restart) the computer.

   If the computer is configured to boot from the hard drive: Early in the boot process, the computer will invite you to press F12 to select an alternate boot device. You will have just one or two seconds to press F12, so do it quickly. Then select "boot from CD" (or something to that effect).

   If you miss the chance to press F12, the computer will boot (Windows) from the hard drive, and you will have to reboot and try again.

3. The hardware network connection. While the computer is rebooting, unplug the Ethernet network cable from the machine. The plug end of this cable has an 8P8C modular connector (pictures and details), also called RJ45 connector, which resembles the kind plugged into telephone jacks, but is slightly larger.

   Then reconnect the cable.

   Of course, it is not really necessary to unplug and replug the network cable if it is already plugged in. We are just doing this so we will know how!

4. While Puppy is booting, it will ask you to configure the keyboard (US) and the video card (either Xorg or Xvesa, 1024x768x24 if available). After Puppy has booted up, you may remove the CD from the drive.

   Congratulations! You are now "root", the Linux superuser or system administrator.

5. Return the Puppy CD. As soon as Puppy has finished booting up, remove the Puppy CD and return it to the instructor's desk so that other students can use it.

6. The software network connection.

   1. To configure the network connection, click on the "Connect" icon on the desktop. Choose "Connect to Internet by network interface."
   2. In the Puppy Network Wizard window which then opens, click on "eth0" (which means Ethernet card #0). Then click on "Test eth0". After the test succeeds, click on "Auto DHCP".
   3. After configuring the network connection, click "Yes" if you want to save the configuration or "No" if you don't. Your choice.

   For additional information, click on the "Help" icon on the Puppy's desktop and select "HOWTO get onto the Internet."

7. Testing the connection. From the menu, start the Seamonkey web browser and visit your favorite web site. Then demonstrate your connectivity to me (your instructor) in the lab, and get my signature on the certificate (which you should have printed before booting Puppy). Also, write the IP address that you found for www.mit.edu on the certificate.

8. You may now explore the Puppy system further, or if you prefer, reboot Windows.

   When you are ready to leave Puppy, find the command to reboot the computer in the Menu at the bottom of the screen. The shutdown/reboot procedure will ask you if you want to save your personal files on the hard drive. Answer no, you do not want to save any files.

   Be sure to reboot or shut down the computer and remove the Puppy CD before leaving the lab.