Mastering Linux System Administration

Book description

Achieve Linux system administration mastery with time-tested and proven techniques 

In Mastering Linux System Administration, Linux experts and system administrators Christine Bresnahan and Richard Blum deliver a comprehensive roadmap to go from Linux beginner to expert Linux system administrator with a learning-by-doing approach. Organized by do-it-yourself tasks, the book includes instructor materials like a sample syllabus, additional review questions, and slide decks. 

Amongst the practical applications of the Linux operating system included within, you’ll find detailed and easy-to-follow instruction on: 

  • Installing Linux servers, understanding the boot and initialization processes, managing hardware, and working with networks 
  • Accessing the Linux command line, working with the virtual directory structure, and creating shell scripts to automate administrative tasks 
  • Managing Linux user accounts, system security, web and database servers, and virtualization environments 

Perfect for entry-level Linux system administrators, as well as system administrators familiar with Windows, Mac, NetWare, or other UNIX systems, Mastering Linux System Administration is a must-read guide to manage and secure Linux servers. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. About the Authors
  6. About the Technical Editor
  7. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
    2. The Mastering Series
    3. How to Contact Wiley or the Authors
  8. Part 1: Basic Admin Functions
    1. Chapter 1: Understanding the Basics
      1. What Is Linux?
      2. Linux Distributions
      3. The Bottom Line
    2. Chapter 2: Installing an Ubuntu Server
      1. Pre‐Installation Requirements
      2. Finding the Software
      3. Running the Installation
      4. Checking the Installation
      5. The Bottom Line
    3. Chapter 3: Installing and Maintaining Software in Ubuntu
      1. Exploring Package Management
      2. Inspecting the Debian‐Based Systems
      3. Using Snap Containers
      4. Installing from Source Code
      5. The Bottom Line
    4. Chapter 4: Installing a Red Hat Server
      1. Pre‐Installation Requirements
      2. Finding the Software
      3. Running the Installation
      4. Checking the Installation
      5. The Bottom Line
    5. Chapter 5: Installing and Maintaining Software in Red Hat
      1. Exploring Red Hat Packages
      2. Automated Package Management
      3. Working Directly with Packages
      4. Using Flatpak Containers
      5. The Bottom Line
    6. Chapter 6: Working with the Shell
      1. Exploring the Shell
      2. Working with Commands
      3. Environment Variables
      4. The Bottom Line
    7. Chapter 7: Exploring Linux File Management
      1. Filesystem Navigation
      2. Linux Files
      3. File and Directory Listing
      4. Directory Handling
      5. File Handling
      6. File Features
      7. Finding Files
      8. Archiving Files
      9. The Bottom Line
    8. Chapter 8: Working with Text Files
      1. The vim Editor
      2. The nano Editor
      3. Working with Data Files
      4. The Bottom Line
  9. Part 2: Intermediate Admin Functions
    1. Chapter 9: Managing Hardware
      1. Device Driver Modules
      2. Communicating with Devices
      3. Working with Devices
      4. Using Hot Pluggable Devices
      5. The Bottom Line
    2. Chapter 10: Booting Linux
      1. Understanding the Boot Process
      2. The GRUB2 Bootloader
      3. Configuring the GRUB2 Bootloader
      4. The systemd Initialization Process
      5. The Bottom Line
    3. Chapter 11: Working with Storage Devices
      1. Storage Basics
      2. Partitioning Tools
      3. Formatting Filesystems
      4. Mounting Filesystems
      5. Managing Filesystems
      6. Storage Alternatives
      7. The Bottom Line
    4. Chapter 12: Configuring Network Settings
      1. Network Settings
      2. Using Network Command‐Line Tools
      3. Basic Network Troubleshooting
      4. Advanced Network Troubleshooting
      5. The Bottom Line
    5. Chapter 13: Managing Users and Groups
      1. Understanding Linux Permissions
      2. Using Access Control Lists
      3. Managing User Accounts
      4. Maintaining the Environment
      5. Managing Groups
      6. The Bottom Line
    6. Chapter 14: Working with Processes and Jobs
      1. Looking at Processes
      2. Monitoring Processes in Real Time
      3. Managing Processes
      4. Running Programs in Background Mode
      5. Running Programs Without a Console
      6. Job Control
      7. Scheduling Jobs
      8. The Bottom Line
    7. Chapter 15: Managing Log Files
      1. The systemd Journaling System
      2. The rsyslog Legacy System
      3. The Bottom Line
    8. Chapter 16: Managing Printers
      1. The Common Unix Printing System
      2. Installing and Configuring CUPS
      3. Using CUPS
      4. The Bottom Line
  10. Part 3: Advanced Admin Functions
    1. Chapter 17: Exploring Ubuntu Security
      1. Locking Down Root
      2. Using OpenSSH on Ubuntu
      3. The AppArmor System
      4. Network Security Using Firewalls
      5. The Bottom Line
    2. Chapter 18: Exploring Red Hat Security
      1. Working with Root Access
      2. Using SELinux
      3. Network Security Using Firewalls
      4. The Bottom Line
    3. Chapter 19: Writing Scripts
      1. Beginning a Shell Script
      2. Using Variables
      3. Adding Conditional Expressions
      4. Using Loops
      5. Using Functions
      6. The Bottom Line
    4. Chapter 20: Managing Web Servers
      1. Linux Web Servers
      2. The Apache Web Server
      3. The nginx Server
      4. The Bottom Line
    5. Chapter 21: Managing Database Servers
      1. Linux Database Servers
      2. Installing and Using MySQL/MariaDB
      3. Installing and Using PostgreSQL
      4. The Bottom Line
    6. Chapter 22: Exploring the Virtualization Environment
      1. Hypervisors
      2. Containers
      3. Software Packaging
      4. The Bottom Line
  11. Appendix: The Bottom Line
    1. Chapter 1: Understanding the Basics
    2. Chapter 2: Installing an Ubuntu Server
    3. Chapter 3: Installing and Maintaining Software in Ubuntu
    4. Chapter 4: Installing a Red Hat Server
    5. Chapter 5: Installing and Maintaining Software in Red Hat
    6. Chapter 6: Working with the Shell
    7. Chapter 7: Exploring Linux File Management
    8. Chapter 8: Working with Text Files
    9. Chapter 9: Managing Hardware
    10. Chapter 10: Booting Linux
    11. Chapter 11: Working with Storage Devices
    12. Chapter 12: Configuring Network Settings
    13. Chapter 13: Managing Users and Groups
    14. Chapter 14: Working with Processes and Jobs
    15. Chapter 15: Managing Log Files
    16. Chapter 16: Managing Printers
    17. Chapter 17: Exploring Ubuntu Security
    18. Chapter 18: Exploring Red Hat Security
    19. Chapter 19: Writing Scripts
    20. Chapter 20: Managing Web Servers
    21. Chapter 21: Managing Database Servers
    22. Chapter 22: Exploring the Virtualization Environment
  12. Index
  13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Mastering Linux System Administration
  • Author(s): Christine Bresnahan, Richard Blum
  • Release date: July 2021
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9781119794455