Navigating Windows and Linux Operating Systems

Introduction

• Speaker: Cindy Quach, Site Reliability Engineer at Google
  • Responsible for management and support of Google’s internal mobile fleet
  • Background in IT as a support specialist, systems administrator, and operations engineer
  • Personal journey:
    • First interaction with computers in middle school
    • Built her own computer through trial and error
    • Realized potential career in tech during college

Transition to System Administration

• Realization of knowledge gap upon joining Google’s Linux Team
• Challenges faced using command line
• Progression in role:
  • Contributing to open-source projects
  • Using command line became intuitive

Course Goals and Structure

• Focus on practical aspects of operating systems (OS)
• Topics to be covered:
  • Using Windows and Linux OS
  • Interacting with OS through the command line

Command Line Basics

• Text commands vs. Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Encouragement to become proficient with practice

Key Learning Areas

• File systems
• User permissions and roles
• Package managers
  • Understanding and comparing different types for Windows and Linux
• Process management
• Remote connection tools
• OS deployment

Learning Approach

• Practice is essential to mastery
• Recommendation to use both Windows and Linux OS during the course
• Use of Quick Labs for hands-on exercises if direct access to OS is unavailable

Conclusion

• Importance of becoming an OS power user
• Encouragement to actively engage and practice throughout the course