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Training Course Summary:

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 the system, 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. Upon completion of this course, students will be prepared to competently maintain a Linux system in a networked business environment.

Pre-Requisites:

Students should be experienced Unix or Linux users. Knowledge of the Linux file system and commands equivalent to attendance in the HOTT UNIX/Linux Fundamentals course is required.

Training Course Overview/Content:

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
Booting and Shutting Down Linux
Boot Sequence
System Startup and Shutdown Scripts
The /etc/inittab File
Run Levels
chkconfig Command
Shutdown Commands
Handling Power Failures
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

Managing Software and Devices
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
X Window System Administration
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

Managing Users and Groups
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
The Linux File System
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 File Security
File Permissions
Directory Permissions
Octal Representation
Changing Permissions
Setting Default Permissions
SUID Bit
SGID Bit
Setting the Sticky Bit
Working with the Linux Kernel
Linux Kernel Components
Classes of Kernels
Applying Kernel Update Patches
Kernel Configuration Options
The Kernel Configuration Tool
Recompiling the Kernel

Shell and Perl Scripting
Shell Script Fundamentals
Bourne Shell Syntax Overview
Shell Script Examples
Fundamentals of Perl
Using Perl for Administration
Perl Script Examples
Controlling Processes
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)

System Backups
Backup Concepts and Strategies
User Backups with tar and cpio
System Backup Options
The restore Command
Rescuing Disks
Setting Up Mail
Mail System Choices
Installing and Configuring sendmail
Troubleshooting the System
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

Basic Networking
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
The Apache Web Server
What is Apache?
Configuring the Apache Web Server
Common Directives
Apache Virtual Hosting
NFS, DHCP, and DNS
Network File System (NFS)
How to Configure the NFS Server
Exporting NFS S