A Professor Wingman Class 404
NetMgmt.Lab

Week 3

Command-Line Basics

The command line is a tool for gathering information, testing connections, and documenting system behavior.

Lesson recap

The command line is intimidating until it isn't. Every command in this course follows the same shape: a verb (the program), some flags that change its behavior, and a target. Once you can navigate folders, view network information, and ping the loopback address, you can do roughly 60% of entry-level help-desk troubleshooting from a black-and-white window. This week is short on theory and heavy on muscle memory — type the commands, read the output, and learn to copy the output (not a screenshot of the output) into your reports whenever possible.

Learning goals

  • Open the command line on Windows or Linux
  • Use commands to view computer identity
  • Navigate between folders
  • Display basic system and network information
  • Run a loopback ping
  • Explain command results in basic technical language

Key terms

Command Line

A text-based way to interact with a computer.

Command Prompt (cmd)

Classic Windows command-line program.

PowerShell

Modern Windows shell — more powerful, scripts in .ps1 files.

Terminal

Linux/macOS command-line program (often running bash or zsh).

Directory

Another word for folder.

Working Directory

The folder the shell is currently 'in' (shown by pwd / cd).

Output

The result displayed after a command runs.

Flag / Switch

An option that changes a command's behavior, e.g. -a, /all.

Curated videos

Windows Command Line Tutorial — Introduction

thenewboston

Beginner's Guide To The Linux Terminal

DistroTube

Commands

hostname
whoami
cd dir
pwd ls -la
ping 127.0.0.1
ping 127.0.0.1
ipconfig > Week03_ipconfig.txt
cls # Windows clear # Linux

Checkpoint checklist

Sign in to save your progress across devices.
  • Open command line and identify computer
  • View and navigate folders
  • View network information
  • Run loopback ping
  • Create command-line practice report
  • Saved required evidence
  • Answered the reflection questions

Pro tips from the instructor

  • ★Use the up-arrow key to recall previous commands — you'll save hours over the semester.
  • ★Tab-completion works in PowerShell and Linux: type a few letters of a file name and press Tab.
  • ★Paste output text into your report, not screenshots. Text is searchable; PNGs aren't.
  • ★Linux ping runs forever by default — use `ping -c 4` to send only 4 packets like Windows does.

Try this — stretch exercises

Optional hands-on practice that goes beyond the workbook. Check items off as you complete them — progress saves in this browser.

0/2
  • Find your default gateway with `ipconfig | findstr Gateway` (Windows) or `ip route | grep default` (Linux).
  • Pipe a long output through `more` (Windows) or `less` (Linux): `systeminfo | more`.

Files to save this week

  • 📁 Week03_Hostname_YourLastName.png
  • 📁 Week03_IPConfig_YourLastName.png
  • 📁 Week03_LoopbackPing_YourLastName.png
  • 📁 Week03_CLIPracticeReport_YourLastName