Description
For all the incredible progress that Linux has been making in the desktop arena, the biggest impact of Linux is in the server marketplace, where it has been competing with both Windows and UNIX products. For many years now, several vendors have been providing a professional maintenance and support contracts for Linux, and this facilitated a reliable deployment of Linux machines in high availability ‘mission critical’ enterprise installations.
This course will guide the delegates through the complete process of building a Linux server. We will start by installing a very basic, minimal system. As we progress through the course, we will continue building an effective server machine, by adding and configuring most commonly used server applications, tools and programs. Many third-party applications will be referred to. Some will be installed and discussed with fair amount of detail, some will be mentioned and given only a brief recognition.
The course platform will be a distribution best lending itself to the smallest initial footprint. However, the discussions, material and exercises address every major Linux strand, and wherever specific tool, technique or method is relevant, Red Hat and other distribution specifics will be pointed out.
This course, together with the Essentials of Linux Administration, and Advanced Linux Administration has been designed to meet objectives of the industry standard Linux certification from Linux Professional Institute, specifically playing part in preparation for LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 exams.
Target audience
All existing Linux administrators, analysts, or system architects responsible for building, deploying and maintaining servers based on a Linux operating system. Also, experienced UNIX or network administrators who need to port their skills to Linux.
Course Content
Introductions
Course pre-requisites; Linux server market; Introduction to distributions considered in this course – Red Hat and Debian derivatives (CentOS and Ubuntu); Understand your kernel; Webmin - common denominator GUI administration; Web resources and forums
Server Installation
What’s a server...; Server choices: Red Hat, SUSE, Debian, LFS; Installing bare-bone server: no GUI, only SSH service installed
Basic Server Maintenance
Working as super-user: su vs. sudo; Interesting directories: /boot, /proc, /etc/sysconfig; Kernel parameters: changing values dynamically in /proc and changing values permanently with sysctl command; Review of essential OS-level tools: process, network and service control tools; Software packages – formats and management tools
Software Management
Linux Software Package; Packaging in Red Hat and SUSE; Packaging in Debian and Ubuntu; Installing, checking status and removing packages; Installing software supplied as source code; Handling kernel patches; Automatic software updates; Using yum in Red Hat and SUSE; Using APT tools in Debian and Ubuntu
Getting Connected
Obtaining IP configuration: RARP, BOOTP, DHCP; Network time protocol; Hardware vs. software clock; Daemons and configuration
Configuring DNS
DNS – purpose and principles; Configuring a client to use a nameserver: setting your domain and order of searching; Downloading and installing BIND9 software components; Implementing a nameserver; Writing resource records; Setting up the server software; Debugging your nameserver
Samba Server
What is SAMBA: SMB protocol and its purpose; Installing and configuring SAMBA components: configuration file: /etc/samba/smb.conf, special and user sections, the [global] section; SAMBA daemon and diagnostic tools: smbd, nmbd, smbstatus, testparm, SWAT; SAMBA client tools: nmlookup, smbclient, smbtree, smbtar; Viewing SAMBA shares in Windows
Building a Local Repository
Repository replication types: local repository, proxy mirror, full mirror; Repository structures: RPMs and DEBs are organised differently; Creating local repository; Pros and cons for having local repository; Steps in building the local repo, for YUM or APT
Grasping LDAP
LDAP introduction: the need and origins; Database and LDAP schemas: object classes and attribute grouping, schema files; Client and server installation; Software elements and configuration; Client/server communication; Command line administration tools
Backup Tools and Applications
Standard copying and saving tools: dd, rsync, pax; Backup applications: BackupPC, Bacula, Amanda.
Overview of File Integrity Tools
AppArmor ; etckeeper; logwatch
Server Monitoring
Kernel parameter tuning and tracing; Traditional system performance tools: sar, family of *stat tools; Add-on applications: Nagios, Munin, Zabbix, others...
Overview of Serving Mail
Protocols & Services; Network super-daemons: inetd, xinetd ; TCP wrapper with tcpd; Network time protocol; Hardware vs. software clock; Daemons and configuration