Linux System Administration
Price: Contact SST for pricing | Duration: 5 days
Prerequisites: Students should be experienced Unix or Linux users. Knowledge of the Linux file system and commands equivalent to attendance in the SST UNIX/Linux Fundamentals course is required.
Description: This hands on Linux administration course teaches students how to install, maintain, configure and tune a Linux system in a networked environment. Students will not only learn to perform basic administrative tasks such as adding and managing users, creating and maintaining file systems, maintaining shell and Perl scripts, and imposing a security policy, but will also learn to perform more advanced tasks including rebuilding the kernel, installing and supporting the X Window System, and installing and supporting network facilities such as NFS, DNS and DHCP. Students will also learn how to install and configure the Samba file sharing package and the Apache web server.
The course includes comprehensive hands on practice installing and configuring SuSE 10.1 and RedHat Fedora Core 6. Labs include adding and deleting users, backing up and restoring the system, rebuilding the kernel, automating the scheduling of tasks, maintaining file systems, managing remote access, and installing and tuning Samba and Apache, as well as working with modern system logging utilities such as syslog-ng. Class participants will also discuss common security issues, and be introduced to several tools, such as PAM modules, that can help secure the operating environment. Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to competently maintain a Linux system in a networked business environment.
System Administration Overview
- Unix, Linux and Open Source
- Duties of the System Administrator
- Superusers and the Root Login
- Sharing Superuser Privileges with Others (su and sudo Commands)
- TCP/IP Networking Fundamentals
- Online Help
- Boot Sequence
- System Startup and Shutdown Scripts
- The /etc/inittab File
- Run Levels
- chkconfig Command
- Shutdown Commands
- Handling Power Failures
- Identifying Software Packages
- Using rpm to Manage Software
- Using Debian Software Commands
- Installing and Removing Software
- Identifying Devices
- Displaying Device and System Information (PCI, USB)
- Plug and Play Devices
- Device Configuration Tools
- Setting Policies
- User File Management
- The /etc/passwd file
- The /etc/shadow file
- The /etc/group file
- Adding Users
- Modifying User Accounts
- Deleting User Accounts
- Working with Groups
- Setting User Environments
- Global Restart Control Files
- User Restart Control Files
- X Windows Environment Files
- File Permissions
- Directory Permissions
- Octal Representation
- Changing Permissions
- Setting Default Permissions
- SUID Bit
- SGID Bit
- Setting the Sticky Bit
- Shell Script Fundamentals
- Bourne Shell Syntax Overview
- Shell Script Examples
- Fundamentals of Perl
- Using Perl for Administration
- Perl Script Examples
- Backup Concepts and Strategies
- User Backups with tar and cpio
- System Backup Options
- The restore Command
- Rescuing Disks
- Mail System Choices
- Installing and Configuring sendmail
- TCP/IP Fundamentals
- Review of Internet Addressing
- Network Services Overview
- Commonly Available Services
- Fundamental Network Configuration Files
- Network Control Scripts and Daemons
- Enabling Services Using xinetd
- What is Apache?
- Configuring the Apache Web Server
- Common Directives
- Apache Virtual Hosting
- Security Overview
- Maintaining System Security
- Server Access
- Common System Hacking Options
- Physical Security
- Network Security
- Security Tools
- Preventing Break-Ins
- PAM Security Modules
- Scanning the System
- Maintaining File Integrity
- Installing and Configuring tripwire
- Security Scanning Using nessus
- Securing Linux Using LIDS
- Hardening the System Using Bastille
- Using Firewalls
- Packet Filtering with iptables
- Masquerading with iptables
Installation and Configuration
- Planning: Hardware and Software Considerations
- Site Planning
- Installation Methods and Types
- Installation Classes
- Partitions
- File System Overview
- Swap Partition Considerations
- Other Partition Considerations
- Linux Loaders: LILO, MILO, SILO, GRUB
- Software Package Selection
- Adding and Configuring Peripherals
- Printers
- Modems
- Graphics Controllers
- Basic Networking Configuration
- The Emergency Boot Disk
- X Window System Introduction
- Installation and Upgrading X Windows
- Configuring XFree86
- Utilities for Configuring X Windows
- Configuring the Graphics Driver and Mouse
- Selecting and Installing a Window Manager
- Desktop Environments
- Motif Development Kit Installation
- Conventional Directory Structure
- Mounting a File System
- The /etc/fstab File
- Special Files (Device Files)
- Inodes
- Hard File Links
- Soft File Links
- Creating New File Systems with mkfs
- The lost+found Directory
- Repairing File Systems with fsck
- The Journaling Attribute
- File and Disk Management Tools
- Linux Kernel Components
- Classes of Kernels
- Applying Kernel Update Patches
- Kernel Configuration Options
- The Kernel Configuration Tool
- Recompiling the Kernel
- Characteristics of Processes
- Parent-Child Relationships
- Examining Running Processes
- Background Processes
- Controlling Processes
- Signaling Processes
- Killing Processes
- Automating Processes
- cron and crontab
- at and batch
- System Processes (Daemons)
- Common Problems and Symptoms
- Troubleshooting Steps
- Repairing General Boot Problems
- Repairing LILO Problems
- Repairing the GRUB Boot Loader
- Memory Allocation
- Hard Drive Problems
- Repairing Corrupted Shared Libraries
- System Logs
- syslogd
- Configuring the syslogd Daemon
- Network File System (NFS)
- How to Configure the NFS Server
- Exporting NFS Shares
- How to Configure the NFS Client
- Purpose of NIS
- How to Configure NIS
- Implementing the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
- DHCP Configuration with Fixed and Leased Addresses
- Purpose of DNS
- Working with DNS
- How to Configure DNS
- The rndc.conf File
- Zone Files
- Running the named Daemon
- Networking Commands: telnet, ftp, rsh, rlogin, rcp
- Installing and Configuring Secure Shell (ssh)
- The Apache web server
- Using Samba to Connect Homogeneous File Systems (Linux-to-Linux)
- Using Samba to Connect Heterogeneous File Systems (Linux-to-Windows)
- Configuring Samba
- Uing the smbclient Command
- Mounting SMB Shares