Chapter 1. Getting Started with Linux
Linux system administration means different things to different people. Administration, for this book, means the daily actions that a Linux system administrator (sysadmin) must take to manage and support users, maintain system health, implement best practices for security, install software, and perform housekeeping tasks. This chapter covers Linux installation, initial setup, and system exploration using simple shell commands.
You’ll spend a significant portion of your time at the command line, also known as the command-line interface (CLI). Linux system administrators rarely install or use GUIs on their supported server systems. This chapter introduces you to the CLI and some simple commands to navigate the filesystem, locate important files, and familiarize yourself with the Linux CLI.
Installing Linux
One of the first things every Linux system administrator learns is how to install Linux. There’s no single correct way to install Linux, but a few guidelines and suggestions will make your life easier as your users’ needs change.
While this section won’t go into detailed step-by-step instructions on installing Linux, the basic steps are outlined here. For most junior-level sysadmins, system installation generally occurs via automated means such as Kickstart or another enterprise-level delivery system.
Preparing Your System for Linux
If this is your first time installing Linux, I suggest that you install it into a virtual machine (VM).
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