Permissions and users · Lesson 21 of 33 · 8 minutes

SSH directory audit

Review SSH directory and file modes together.

Open the lab Course map

Mastery 0/3Run itExplain itApply it

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
Inspect SSH directory
Run stat ~/.ssh.
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 ~/.ssh
```
Remember: Metadata and file contents answer different questions.
2
Inspect authorized keys
Run stat ~/.ssh/authorized_keys.
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 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
```
Remember: Metadata and file contents answer different questions.
3
List SSH files
Run ls -la ~/.ssh.
Hint & worked example
List directory entries; -a includes hidden names and -l adds ownership and permission detail.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
ls -la ~/.ssh
```
Remember: A listing is not proof that you can read or modify every listed file.

Understand the pattern

Junior operators build confidence by gathering evidence before changing systems.

stat: Inspect a file or directory metadata record, including ownership, permissions, and size.
Metadata and file contents answer different questions.
ls: List directory entries; -a includes hidden names and -l adds ownership and permission detail.
A listing is not proof that you can read or modify every listed file.

Worked example and expected result

$ stat ~/.ssh

Path: /home/learner/.ssh
Type: dir
Mode: drwx------
Owner: learner
Group: learners
Size: 3 items

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

$ stat ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

Path: /home/learner/.ssh/authorized_keys
Type: file
Mode: -rw-------
Owner: learner
Group: learners
Size: 40 bytes

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

$ ls -la ~/.ssh

--rw------- learner learners    40 authorized_keys
--rw------- learner learners    87 config
--rw------- learner learners    84 known_hosts

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 “SSH directory audit”, which interpretation is safe?A successful first check guarantees that every dependent service is healthy.Metadata and file contents answer different questions.A command appearing in history proves it completed successfully.

Apply it elsewhere

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

Keep the momentum.

Complete the lab, then explain and apply the pattern.

Next: Known hosts review Try an incident drill

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