Enterprise Linux Systems Administration

Course Description

Intended for students already comfortable with working in the Unix environment, this in-depth course helps students acquire the variety of skills needed to set up and maintain Unix computers. The class covers subjects ranging from initial installation of Linux to day-to-day administrative tasks such as management of user accounts and disk space, and even imparting the troubleshooting skills future system administrators will need to cope with unexpected behavior.

Courseware supports latest versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora Core.

Prerequisites

Individuals wishing to take this class should already have a solid grounding in UNIX concepts. Fundamentals such as an understanding of the Linux filesystem, process management, and the ability to manipulate and edit files is considered a must and will not be covered in class. An understanding of network concepts, and the TCP/IP protocol suite is helpful.

Course Contents

Linux Installation

• Pre-Installation Considerations
• Hardware Compatibility
• Multi-OS Booting
• Partition Considerations
• Partition Planning
• Filesystem Considerations
• Journaled Filesystems
• Installation Choices
• CD-ROM Installation
• Network Installation
• Local Hard Drive Installation
• FC Personal Desktop Class
• FC Workstation Class
• FC Server Class
• FC Custom Class
• Install Program Interface
• Installation Diagnostics
• Language Selection
• Keyboard Configuration
• Fedora Install Options
• Automatic Partitioning
• Partitioning with Disk Druid
• Installing a Boot Loader
• Network Configuration
• Security Configuration
• Language Support Selection
• Root Password Configuration
• Time Zone Configuration
• Package Group Selection
• Installing Packages
• Install Finished
• First Boot
• Finalizing GUI Configuration
• Video Card Configuration
• Monitor Configuration
• Authentication Configuration
• Lab - Installation

PC Hardware and Linux

• Kudzu
• PC System Hardware
• USB Devices and Configuration
• Linux Device Files
• Configuring New Hardware
• Kernel Modules
• Handling Module Dependencies
• Configuring Kernel via /proc
• Kernel Hardware Info - /sys/
• /sys/ structure
• Lab - PC Hardware and Linux

Post-Install System Configuration

• Configuration Utilites and Files
• Network Services
• Managing System Time and Network-Wide Time
• Continual Time Sync - NTP
• Configuring NTP Clients
• Managing Software
• RPM Features, Architecture, and Package Files
• Working With RPMs
• Querying and Verifying with RPM
• Package Dependencies
• Intro to YUM
• Using the YUM command
• Configuring YUM
• YUM Repositories and Resources
• Configuring Printers
• Common UNIX Printing System
• Defining a Printer
• Kickstart
• Creating Kickstart Files
• Using Kickstart files
• Lab - Post-Install Config

Boot Process and SysV Init

• Booting Linux on PCs
• LILO Options
• GRUB Configuration
• Kernel Boot Parameters
• /sbin/init
• System init Styles
• /etc/inittab
• rc.sysinit
• /etc/init.d and /etc/rcX.d
• rc
• Typical SysV Init Script
• The rc.local file
• Managing Daemons
• Controlling Startup Services
• Shutdown and Reboot
• Lab - Boot Process

User/Group Administration and NFS

• User/Group Concepts
• User Private Group Scheme
• User Administration
• Modifying Accounts
• Group Administration
• Password Aging
• Default User Files
• Controlling Logins
• PAM, PAM Services, and PAM Control Statements
• su, Wheel, and sudo
• DS Client Configuration
• File Sharing via NFS
• NFS Server Configuration
• NFS Clients
• Automounting Filesystems
• Lab - User Administration

Filesystem Administration

• Partition Tables
• File System Creation
• Mounting File Systems
• Filesystem Maintenance
• Persistent Block Devices
• udev
• Resizing Filesystems
• File Deletion and Undeletion
• Swap
• Disk Usage
• Configuring Disk Quotas
• Checking Disk Quotas
• Filesystem Attributes
• File Access Control Lists
• Manipulating FACLs
• Viewing FACLs
• Backing Up FACLs
• Backup Hardware, Software, and Examples
• Tape Libraries
• Lab - Filesystem Admin

LVM and Raid

• Logical Volume Management
• Implementing LVMs
• Manipulating VGs and LVs
• Advanced LVM Concepts
• Graphical LVM Tool
• RAID Concepts, Tools, and Implementation
• RAID Monitoring/Control
• Lab - RAID and LVM

Task Automation & Process Accounting

• Automating Tasks
• at / batch
• at Access Control
• cron, crontab, and crontab Format
• /etc/cron.* Directories
• anacron
• Viewing Processes
• Managing Processes
• System Logging
• /etc/syslog.conf
• Log Management
• Log Anomaly Detector
• Process Accounting
• Using Process Accounting
• Limiting System Resources
• System Status - Memory, I/O, and, CPU
• sar
• Lab - Cron & Process Admin

Client Networking

• Linux Network Interfaces
• Ethernet Hardware Tools
• Runtime configuration change
• Configuring Routing Tables
• ARP
• Advanced Configuration
• Starting and Stopping Interfaces
• Virtual IP Interfaces
• Enabling IPv6
• Interface Bonding
• 802.1q VLANS
• Network Profiles and ifup
• IP Stack Configuration
• DNS Clients
• Network Services via DHCP
• DHCP Clients
• dhcpd.conf Syntax
• Red Hat Configuration Tools
• Network Diagnostics
• Point-to-Point Protocol
• PPP Configuration Files, Chat, and Secrets Files
• Lab - Client Networking

The X Window System

• The X Window System
• Xorg
• Configuring X
• X Fonts
• Using Fonts
• Display Manager Selection
• XDMCP
• Using Unix Remotely
• X Security
• Specialized X Servers
• Starting X Apps Automatically
• Lab - X

Security Concepts

• Security Concepts
• Tightening Default Security
• Staying Current
• Using up2date
• Security Advisories
• SELinux Secuity Framework
• Choosing a SELinux Policy
• SELinux Commands
• Booleans
• Graphical Policy Tools
• inetd / xinetd
• Xinetd Features
• TCP Wrappers
• hosts.allow & hosts.deny
• hosts.* Syntax Shortcuts
• Advanced TCP Wrappers
• Basic Firewall Activation
• Stateful Packet Filter: iptables
• Netfilter Rule Syntax
• Targets
• Common match_specs
• Stateless Firewall Example
• Connection Tracking
• Stateful Firewall Example
• Lab - Security Lab

Linux Kernel Compilation

• Why Compile?
• Getting Kernel Source
• Preparing to Compile
• Configuring the Kernel
• General Options
• Disk Configuration
• Network Configuration
• Expansion Port Configuration
• Multimedia Configuration
• Kernel Documentation
• RH 2.4 Kernel Extensions
• Compiling the Kernel
• Compile and Install Modules
• Installing the Kernel
• Tips and Tricks
• Lab - Kernel Compilation

Troubleshooting

• Basic Troubleshooting
• Gathering Information
• Information from df and mount
• Information from Log Files
• Information Regarding Network Settings
• Information from ps, chkconfig, dmesg, w, and netstat
• Useful Debugging Aids
• Common Problems
• Incorrect File Permissions
• Inability To Boot
• Corrupt File Systems
• Typos in Configuration Files
• Disks Full?
• Runaway Processes
• Shared Libraries
• The Rescue Environment
• Lab - Troubleshooting

Student feedback

"Easy to understand, David (instructor) was well organized & added additional information that added to the class & the labs worked!"

If you have any questions about this or any other class, ask us and we'll be happy to help.