Linux server administration
Linux server administration is one of the server administration learning projects. Linux server administration studies the use of the Linux operating system as an all purpose server.
What is Linux?
Linux, or GNU/Linux, refers to any Unix-like computer operating system which uses the Linux kernel. It is one of the most prominent examples of open source development and free software as well as user generated software; its underlying source code is available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute freely. See the Linux article at Wikipedia for much more information
Choosing a distribution
Linux distributions are available in a very wide variety. Choosing only one is a difficult task. Popular examples that have been around for a while are Red Hat, Debian, Slackware and Mandrake (now called Mandriva Linux). Others like Knoppix, Ubuntu and SUSE are also popular choices, but there are many, many others. See the Comparison of Linux distributions at Wikipedia for an exhaustive list
NOTE: Wikiversity runs from Wikimedia servers using several distributions including Red Hat, Ubuntu and the Fedora core.
A curriculum for the first 6 months of using Linux
This is for future contributers to add to and develop.
Level 1 : Introduction to Linux
- What is Linux?
- How Linux Began and Origins of Linux
- The GNU Project
- Platforms, Applications & Distributions
- Linux Resources
- Minimum System Requirements
- The Fedora Project
- Red Hat Linux 7,8,9 vs. Enterprise 3.x
- Chapter 1 Review
Level 2 : Linux Installation
- Is Your Hardware Compatible?
- System Requirements Table
- Initiating an Installation
- Hard Disk Requirements
- Selecting an Installation Method
- Virtual Consoles
- Initiation Installation from Boot Media
- Welcome Screen and Boot Options
- Language Selection
- Keyboard & Mouse Configuration
- Installation Type Options
- Disk Partitioning Setup
- Boot Loader Configuration
- Network Configuration
- Firewall Configuration
- Language Support Selection
- Time Zone Configuration
- Root Password Configuration
- Authentication Configuration
- Desktop Configuration
- Demo - Fedora Installation
- Chapter 2 Review
Level 3 : Red Hat Package Manager "RPM"
- What is RPM?
- Demo - Reflection X
- Downloading RPM's
- RPM's 5 Modes of Operation
- Installing with RPM
- Installation Errors/Remedies
- Uninstalling Packages
- Upgrading RPM's
- Freshening RPM's
- Querying RPM's
- Verifying RPM's
- Additional RPM Resources
- Chapter 3 Review
Level 4 : Managing Users
- Linux User Types
- Adding Users
- Usernames
- Passwords
- User Home Directories
- UID and GID
- User Groups
- User Primary vs. Private Groups
- Sharing
- Files Built When Users are Created
- Files Checked by Bash
- Activating the User Manager GUI
- System Created Users & Groups
- Command Line User Deletion
- Chapter 4 Review
Level 5 : Partitioning and Filesystems
- Devices & Device Nodes
- IDE Devices
- SCSI Devices
- IDE Device Naming
- SCSI Chain
- Filesystem Management Commands
- Partition Planning
- Partition Types
- Supported Filesystems
- Creating Filesystems
- Formatting Floppies
- More Filesystem Details
- Link Count
- Mounting Filesystems
- Unmounting Filesystems
- Mount Command Options
- Mounting Remote Filesystems
- fstab File
- Swap Space
- Special Case: Swap
- Special Case: Automounter
- Quotas
- Maintenance & Repair
- Adding a New Hard Drive
- Recovering a Partition
- Demo -fstab File
- Chapter 5 Review
Level 6 : Backup and Restore
- Types of Backups
- Device Naming Conventions
Tools for Backup & Restore
- mtools
- tar - For Tape Archives
- cpio - Copy Input/Output
- dd - Convert Files
- dump Command
- dump Command Examples
- Testing Your Restore
- Incremental Backup Strategy
- Other Backup Tools
- Common Backup Mistakes
- Drive Imaging
- Linux Recovery Skillset
- Demo - Backup & Restore
- Chapter 6 Review
Level 7 : Startup and Shutdown
- The Boot Process
- Run Levels
- Configuring Process Fields
- Inittab Example
- In The Beginning.Init
- The /etc/rc.d Directory
- /etc/rcX.d Script Sequencing
- Stop & Stop Services
- The /etc/rc.d/rc.local File
- Shutting Down Properly
- Methods of Rebooting
- Booting into Single-User Mode
- Creating a Boot Diskette
- Demo - Startup & Shutdown Procedures
- Chapter 7 Review
Level 8 : Compiling the Kernel
- What is the Linux Kernel?
- Why Compile the Kernel?
- Before You Get Started
- Four Kernel Upgrade Paths
- Check Your Tool Kit
- 4 Stages to Compile the Kernel
- Patching the Kernel
- Demo - Manually Compile the Kernel
- Chapter 8 Review
Level 9 : Scheduling
- 2 Major Scheduling Daemons
- The /etc/crontab File
- Simple /etc/crontab Example
- Complex /etc/crontab Example
- An Actual /etc/crontab File
- Sample /etc/cron.daily Directory
- Use /etc/cron.allow or /etc/cron.deny
- Starting & Stopping cron
- The at Command
- Anacron
- Starting & Stopping Anacron
- Sample /etc/anacrontab File
- Demo - Scheduling
- Chapter 9 Review
Level 10 : Basic Networking Concepts
- Platform Compatibility
- Physical Network Support
- Protocol Suite Support
- Network Device Names
- Network Kernel Modules
- ifconfig Command
- ifup & ifdown Scripts
- Interface Configuration
- Non-root User Control
- Multiple IP's on a Single Interface
- Client DHCP/BOOTP
- Global Parameters
- Configuration Utilities
- Network Tools
- Demo - Reconfigure Network Information
- Demo - Sysconfig Directory
- Chapter 10 Review
Level 11 : Printing
- Linux Printing over the Last 2 Years
- Setup Printing
- Common Unix Printing System "CUPS"
- Printing Flow in a CUPS Environment
- CUPS Browser Interface
- Linux-Supported Printers
- Printer Configuration Tools
- User Command Interface
- Starting & Stopping Printing Services
- lpr Examples
- lpq Examples
- lprm Examples
- lpc Usage
- Printing from Linux Applications
- redhat-config-printer
- Availability
- Troubleshooting Printing
- Chapter 11 Review
Level 12 : Linux Security
- Basic Levels of Security
- Physical Security
- Grub Security
- User-based Security
- User Accounts & Patterns
- Typical User No-No's
- Delegating Root Authority
- Password Security
- Pluggable Authentication Modules "PAM"
- Permissions
- Controlling Permissions
- Files & Filesystem Security
- Filesystem Monitoring
- Avoiding Trojan Horses
- Encryption
- Introduction to iptables
- iptables Examples: Filters
- iptables Examples: SNAT/DNAT
- Response Strategies
- Demo - Base Permissions
- Chapter 12 Review
Level 13 : Popular Linux Services
- SAMBA Naming
- SAMBA Overview
- SAMBA Components
- Exploring/Browsing Directories
- Browsing Resources with Linux Commands
- Letting Linux Use a Windows Printer
- Official SAMBA Website
- Apache Web Server
- Apache Naming Confusion
- Apache Configuration Files
- Official Apache Website
- What is Squid?
- Demo - Connecting to a Linux Machine
- Demo - Getting a list of Running Services
See also
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