Linux server administration

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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 Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Fedora core
Debian
Slackware
Mandrake (now called Mandriva Linux)
Ubuntu
SUSE

Others like Knoppix offers live CD experience. See the Comparison of Linux distributions at Wikipedia for an exhaustive list

NOTE: Wikiversity runs from Wikimedia servers using several distributions including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu.

A curriculum for the Linux users and administrators

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 Management: fdisk, linux/mdadm, disk usage, blkid, lsblk
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: NTP services
Root Password Configuration
Authentication Configuration
Desktop Configuration
Demo - Fedora Installation
Directory structure^[1]
Chapter 2 Review

Level 3 : Package Managers: 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
Other package management systems: dpkg, apt, yum
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
Files: (touch (command))
Formatting devices: Floppies / USB
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
LVM and ZFS
Demo -fstab File
Chapter 5 Review

Level 6 : Backup and Restore

Types of Backups
Device Naming Conventions
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
Processes: ps and pstree utils
Stop & Stop Services: systemd
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
crontab command
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
File and directory permissions
Controlling Permissions
Files & Filesystem Security
Filesystem Monitoring
Avoiding Trojan Horses
Encryption
Introduction to iptables: filters and SNAT/DNAT
hardening^[2]
Response Strategies
Demo - Base Permissions
Chapter 12 Review

Level 13 : Popular Linux Services

SAMBA Naming, overview and components
Exploring/Browsing Directories
Browsing Resources with Linux Commands
Letting Linux Use a Windows Printer
Official SAMBA Website
Web Servers:
- Apache Web Server: Naming confusion and configuration files
- Nginx
What is Squid?
Demo - Connecting to a Linux Machine
Demo - Getting a list of Running Services

Level 14 : Operation and Monitoring

Configuration management
Monitoring tools: (Nagios, Zabbix), w:Icinga

Level 15 : Performance and Troubleshooting

Level 16: Benchmarking tools

What is Linux?

Choosing a distribution

A curriculum for the Linux users and administrators

See also