Overview
Course Overview
This course is an introduction to the UNIX operating system for end users and is complementary to the other Cisco networking courses, such as routing and switching. Although it may be helpful, it is not necessary to have taken the Cisco networking courses prior to taking this one. Basic knowledge of UNIX will broaden the skills of the Cisco academy students to include a major network operating system. This course will provide a strong foundation for those who wish to move on to more advanced courses in UNIX system administration. You will become familiar with powerful UNIX command line utilities as well as the graphical Common Desktop Environment (CDE). By successfully completing this course, you will be well on your way to becoming a power user and will feel comfortable with most varieties of UNIX including Sun's own Solaris.

UNIX Careers
Knowledge of UNIX is valuable in Information Technology (IT) today. Many of the world's most powerful computer networks and Internet sites are based on UNIX, and there is a tremendous demand for people with skills in UNIX system administration. UNIX is a world-class operating system that supports mission critical applications. One inhibitor to the growth of UNIX is the lack of trained, qualified personnel who know and understand the UNIX environment. Knowledge of Cisco networking technology along with knowledge of the UNIX network operating system is a strong combination when seeking employment. UNIX system administrators or "sysadmins" are among the highest paid IT professionals. To gain an appreciation for the demand of UNIX professionals and to find out the types of UNIX job opportunities available, look at the want ads in any major newspaper or any job search site on the Internet.

Chapter 1 Overview
In this first chapter, you will learn about the history and the main components and capabilities of the UNIX operating system. You will review operating systems in general and see how UNIX compares to other types of operating systems. This chapter also introduces Sun Microsystems' version of the UNIX operating system known as the Solaris Operating Environment or commonly referred to as Solaris.