Files and paths · Lesson 4 of 36 · 8 minutes

Find files

Search the simulated filesystem by root and filename pattern.

Open the lab Course map

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learner@clairos:~ $

↑ history · Tab complete · Ctrl+C cancel · Esc, Tab to leaveExit 0

Your objectives

Hints are always available. Wrong turns never cost XP.

1
Find auth logs
Run find /var -name auth.
Hint & worked example
Search directory trees by criteria rather than relying on one shallow listing.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
find /var -name auth
```
Remember: Quote wildcard patterns so find receives them instead of the shell expanding them first.
2
Find hello files
Run find /home -name hello.
Hint & worked example
Search directory trees by criteria rather than relying on one shallow listing.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
find /home -name hello
```
Remember: Quote wildcard patterns so find receives them instead of the shell expanding them first.
3
Inspect found file
Run stat /home/learner/projects/hello.txt.
Hint & worked example
Inspect a file or directory metadata record, including ownership, permissions, and size.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
stat /home/learner/projects/hello.txt
```
Remember: Metadata and file contents answer different questions.

Understand the pattern

Fast file discovery is a core troubleshooting skill.

find: Search directory trees by criteria rather than relying on one shallow listing.
Quote wildcard patterns so find receives them instead of the shell expanding them first.
stat: Inspect a file or directory metadata record, including ownership, permissions, and size.
Metadata and file contents answer different questions.

Worked example and expected result

$ find /var -name auth

/var/log/auth.log

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ find /home -name hello

/home/learner/projects/hello.txt
/home/learner/scripts/hello.sh

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ stat /home/learner/projects/hello.txt

Path: /home/learner/projects/hello.txt
Type: file
Mode: -rw-r--r--
Owner: learner
Group: learners
Size: 31 bytes

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

Try a variation

Repeat this workflow in the sandbox with a different scratch filename. Keep the system fixtures unchanged and compare the observed output with your expectation before moving on.

Explain it

In “Find files”, which interpretation is safe?Quote wildcard patterns so find receives them instead of the shell expanding them first.A command appearing in history proves it completed successfully.A successful first check guarantees that every dependent service is healthy.

Apply it elsewhere

Before adapting the find workflow from “Find files” to another server, what should you do?Paste the training paths unchanged into production.Skip output inspection whenever the command is familiar.Confirm the current directory, target identity, permissions, and the installed command behavior first.

Keep the momentum.

Complete the lab, then explain and apply the pattern.

Next: Directory size map Try an incident drill

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