For authentication/authorization you can read chapter 2 from Pfleeger's book and follow the eclass notes for practice with Linux (exploits will be reviewed next time).

For the exercises in the x02_lab_*.zip file you just need Linux to run them.  It's not difficult to complete the exercises, if you know a) basic commands under Linux and b) C programming under Linux, i.e. compiling program a.c by using: gcc a.c and running the executable using: ./a.out

For the exercises in chapter 4 of Basin's book (also related to authentication) you need the VMs (discussed in chapters 2 & 3). But since most of these exercises are similar, you can possinbly skip this chapter.

Please, let me know if you have problems 

Enjoy.
