UNIX and Linux Forensic Analysis DVD Toolkit

Chapter 2. Understanding Unix

Solutions in this chapter:

• Unix, UNIX, Linux, and *nix
• Highlights of the Linux Security Model
• The *nix File System Structure
• File Systems
• Summary

Introduction

“So what the heck do I do with this thing?”

Perhaps someone's dropped a *nix-based computer on your desk for analysis. Don't feel bad. We've either been there ourselves, or seen colleagues faced with their first experience with an unfamiliar computer system. For the majority of professionals whose first—and sometimes only—computing experience comes from the world of Microsoft Windows, the prospect of using or investigating a Unix or Unix-like machine can ...