Local tools or server tools?
 

Hi,

I'm using Slackware 12.1 with the default install and all updates and patches applied.

I'm currently taking an internet Linux course. The course involves me logging into their server via ssh or telnet and executing commands from the CL. I'm observing slight differences in the behavior I'm observing vs the behavior I'm supposed to observe. (For instance, I should be asked for confirmation before rewriting a file, but it's not.)

When I log into their server, am I using the tools on my system (grep, ls, which, find, echo, and so on) to interact with their system? Or, since I'm logged in there, am I using their tools installed on their server to interact with their system? Is there a way to verify what's happening?

Is there a way to force my system to use their tools?

Thanks,
-Joe G.

When you log into another system via ssh or telnet, you are working on their system, using their versions and accessing their files, not yours.

There are always slight differences between the various Linux flavors.
Check which version / distribution they use on their system.
might give you some info and
should show the version of bash they're using.

You are using the tools on their system. Once you ssh into that system, you are essentially sitting at that system and opening up a terminal.

The differences could just be from older documentation/instructions.

It seems unanimous.

Thank you niels.horn and bassmadrigal! :)

-Joe G.

You probably have an alias established for the cp command. At a command line (both systems), type the command alias. On your system you likely will find the alias cp='cp -i', which means the cp command is in interactive mode. Likewise for the rm command.

Hi Woodsman!

uname -a on their system gives:
Linux zippy.ccac.edu 2.6.9-78.13.EL #1 Wed Oct 8 12:45:16 EDT 2008 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

It's likely they are using FC2 or RH equivalent. (Though if you browse there, it presents itself as a Sun server page.)

This is the output on their system:
alias l.='ls -d .*'
alias ll='ls -l'
alias which='alias | /usr/bin/which --tty-only --read-alias --show-dot --show-tilde'

uname -a on mine gives:
Linux slackware 2.6.24.5-smp #2 SMP Wed Apr 30 13:41:38 CDT 2008 i686 Intel(R) Celeron(R) D CPU 3.33GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

This is the output on mine:
alias d='dir'
alias dir='/bin/ls $LS_OPTIONS --format=vertical'
alias ls='/bin/ls $LS_OPTIONS'
alias mc='. /usr/share/mc/bin/mc-wrapper.sh'
alias v='vdir'
alias vdir='/bin/ls $LS_OPTIONS --format=long'

It doesn't appear that cp is alias'ed.

It appears as though I'll need to pass '-i' when using their server with cp, rm, rmdir and so on.

Thank you, :)
-Joe G.

Whoever was running the course was probably just a bit sloppy with their course documentation and setup. It may be that the guy who created the documentation had those aliases set up in his profile and therefore documented that behaviour, but that they haven't made the logons used by their actual customers the same.

Hi GazL,

That makes sense. My user's profile probably is different on the server. They must have "missed one."

Thanks, :)
-Joe