Devices

Learn about Linux devices and how they interact with the kernel and user space.

0 of 7 lessons complete

Practice in terminal (Ubuntu sandbox) ↗

Syllabus

  1. 01 /dev directory Learn how Linux exposes device interfaces and pseudo-devices through nodes under `/dev`.
  2. 02 device types Learn to distinguish character and block device nodes from pipes, sockets, and regular filesystem objects.
  3. 03 Device Names Learn how Linux names common storage devices, partitions, logical devices, and persistent device links.
  4. 04 sysfs Learn how sysfs exposes the Linux kernel's live device, driver, bus, and class model under `/sys`.
  5. 05 udev Learn how udev processes kernel device events to apply policy, permissions, and persistent links.
  6. 06 lsusb, lspci, lsscsi Learn how to inspect USB topology, PCI functions, SCSI-layer devices, and their active drivers.
  7. 07 dd Learn how `dd` copies block streams and how to prevent destructive input, output, and size mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Linux represent hardware devices?

Linux exposes devices through special files in /dev and information in sysfs, while udev dynamically manages device nodes and related events.

Which hardware inspection tools are included?

The course introduces lsusb, lspci, and lsscsi for identifying USB, PCI, and SCSI devices, along with common Linux device naming conventions.

Is the dd command safe to practice?

dd can overwrite disks when given the wrong destination. Review every input and output path and practice only with disposable files or devices you can safely replace.