To run Linux commands, you need to get to the Linux command line prompt.
To get to the Linux command line prompt from a Linux desktop, you open a terminal emulation window.
Linux Tips: You can also go to a virtual terminal and run Linux commands. But when you are a new Linux user, a terminal emulation window is easier to work with.
Linux Terminal Emulation Windows
When you open a terminal emulation window, you get a "window" on the desktop. A terminal emulation window can be moved around on the desktop and resized to be made larger or smaller. And you can even have multiple terminal emulation windows open at the same time!
This window shows the Linux command line prompt, at which you can run Linux commands (by typing in commands and pressing Enter). After running a Linux command, this window also shows the output of the command (very important).
Linux Tips: Linux commands are the best way to do Linux system administration. Running Linux commands gives you lots of practical, hands-on Linux training.
Methods of Opening a Linux Terminal Emulation Window (a.k.a. Terminal or Console)
There are over 130 Linux distributions (versions)!
The method of opening a terminal emulation window on your Linux desktop is dependant on the Linux distribution (version) you are using and the Linux desktop you are using. Two popular Linux desktops are the GNOME desktop and the KDE desktop.
To open a terminal emulation window, boot your Linux system to a desktop and then:
look for an icon on the desktop that looks like a computer screen and click on it
right-click on the desktop and look for a menu item with the words "Linux terminal", "Linux console", or similar
search the menus on the desktop for the words "Linux terminal", "Linux console", or similar, and select the
menu item
Linux Concepts and Terms:
A terminal emulation window is also referred to as a "Linux terminal" or "Linux console".
Linux commands are sometimes referred to as "Linux terminal commands" and "Linux console commands".
The Linux command line prompt is sometimes referred to as the CLI for "command line interface".
Once you have a terminal emulation window open, you will see a Linux command line prompt, which looks similar to this ]$ and the prompt may look different on your system.
For example, the prompt may look like this ]# or something else similar.
Linux Tips: In our Linux command examples, we are using ]$ to represent the prompt. You don't type in the prompt, you type in the command at the right of the prompt and then press the Enter key to run the command.
Examples of Opening a Terminal Emulation Window in Several Popular Linux Distributions
Ubuntu Linux / Red Hat Linux / Fedora Linux with the GNOME desktop:
select the Applications Menu ; select Accessories ; select Terminal.
Debian Linux with the GNOME desktop: right-click on the desktop and select Terminal.
SUSE Linux with the KDE desktop: click on the "Konsole" icon on the desktop (that looks like a computer screen).
What would it be like if you could watch a clearly narrated Linux video tutorial showing several methods of opening a Linux "terminal" / "console" and working at the Linux command line, in several Linux distributions.
To actually see the steps being done and have them clearly described to you in a very pleasant and sometimes even humorous manner.
How useful would it be if you could pause the Linux video and then easily try these methods yourself - well, now you can!
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