Linux batch Command with Practical Examples

Introduction

In this lab, you will learn how to use the Linux batch command to automate repetitive tasks. You will start by understanding the basics of batch processing in Linux, including creating and running batch files using Bash scripts. Then, you will explore how to utilize conditional statements and loops in batch processing to make your scripts more versatile and efficient. By the end of this lab, you will be able to leverage the power of batch processing to streamline your workflow and save time on routine operations.

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Skills Graph

Understand the Basics of Batch Processing in Linux

In this step, we will explore the basics of batch processing in Linux. Batch processing is the execution of a series of programs (commands) without manual intervention, often used to automate repetitive tasks.

First, let's understand the concept of a batch file. A batch file is a text file that contains a series of commands to be executed in sequence. In Linux, we can create a batch file using a shell script, such as a Bash script.

To create a simple batch file, open a text editor and create a new file named batch_example.sh in the ~/project directory:

nano ~/project/batch_example.sh

Add the following content to the file:

#!/bin/bash
echo "This is the first command in the batch file."
echo "This is the second command in the batch file."
echo "This is the third command in the batch file."

Save and close the file.

Now, make the script executable:

chmod +x ~/project/batch_example.sh

To run the batch file, execute the script:

~/project/batch_example.sh

Example output:

This is the first command in the batch file.
This is the second command in the batch file.
This is the third command in the batch file.

As you can see, the batch file executed all three commands in sequence.

In the next step, we will learn how to automate repetitive tasks using Bash scripts.

Automate Repetitive Tasks with Bash Scripts

In this step, we will learn how to automate repetitive tasks using Bash scripts. Bash scripts are powerful tools that allow you to streamline your workflow and save time by automating routine operations.

Let's start by creating a simple script that generates a list of files in the current directory and saves it to a file.

Open a text editor and create a new file named list_files.sh in the ~/project directory:

nano ~/project/list_files.sh

Add the following content to the file:

#!/bin/bash

echo "Generating a list of files in the current directory..."
ls -l > ~/project/file_list.txt
echo "File list saved to ~/project/file_list.txt"

Save and close the file.

Make the script executable:

chmod +x ~/project/list_files.sh

Now, run the script:

~/project/list_files.sh

Example output:

Generating a list of files in the current directory...
File list saved to ~/project/file_list.txt

Check the contents of the file_list.txt file:

cat ~/project/file_list.txt

The script has generated a list of files in the current directory and saved it to the file_list.txt file.

In the next step, we will explore the use of conditional statements and loops in Bash scripts to add more functionality and flexibility to our automation tasks.

Utilize Conditional Statements and Loops in Batch Processing

In this step, we will explore the use of conditional statements and loops in Bash scripts to add more flexibility and control to our batch processing tasks.

Let's create a script that checks the file size of a specific file and performs different actions based on the file size.

Open a text editor and create a new file named file_size_check.sh in the ~/project directory:

nano ~/project/file_size_check.sh

Add the following content to the file:

#!/bin/bash

FILE_PATH="~/project/file_list.txt"
FILE_SIZE=$(du -h "$FILE_PATH" | cut -f1)

echo "Checking the size of $FILE_PATH..."

if [ "$FILE_SIZE" -lt "1" ]; then
  echo "The file is less than 1 KB. Uploading to the server..."
  ## Add your upload logic here
elif [ "$FILE_SIZE" -lt "10" ]; then
  echo "The file is between 1 KB and 10 KB. Compressing the file..."
  ## Add your compression logic here
else
  echo "The file is larger than 10 KB. Skipping the file."
fi

Save and close the file.

Make the script executable:

chmod +x ~/project/file_size_check.sh

Now, run the script:

~/project/file_size_check.sh

Example output:

Checking the size of ~/project/file_list.txt...
The file is less than 1 KB. Uploading to the server...

In this script, we first define the file path FILE_PATH and then use the du command to get the file size in a human-readable format. We then use conditional statements (if, elif, else) to check the file size and perform different actions based on the size.

In the next step, we will learn how to use loops in Bash scripts to automate tasks that need to be performed multiple times.

Summary

In this lab, you first learned the basics of batch processing in Linux, which involves executing a series of commands without manual intervention to automate repetitive tasks. You created a simple Bash script to demonstrate the execution of multiple commands in sequence.

Next, you explored how to automate repetitive tasks using Bash scripts. You created a script that generates a list of files in the current directory and saves it to a file, demonstrating the power of Bash scripting to streamline your workflow and save time. Finally, you learned about using conditional statements and loops in batch processing, which allows for more advanced automation and decision-making within your scripts.

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet