Linux Network and System Administration

As more corporations migrate their network services to open-source and Linux based solutions, the demand for highly skilled Linux engineers is now greater than ever.

Learn how to configure Linux with the goal to optimise its functionality, reliability, performance and security.

As 'root' you will learn to perform System Administration tasks using the terminal such as user account management, filesystem backup and restore, device configuration, automating tasks, and get acquainted with shell scripting using Perl and Bash and troubleshooting along the way.

Topics also include an in-depth explanation of networking protocols, Inter-Process Communication, network configuration and tools for internet connectivity, overview of Linux network security and firewall, and installation of a LAMP server.

A personal laptop is required to enrol on this course.

Who is it for?

This linux systems administrator training course is ideal if you are already working as a support analyst or looking to build your skills in Linux administration.

Timetable

This course takes place on evening a week for 10 consecutive weeks.

City Short Courses follow the academic year, delivering courses over three terms. These include:

• Autumn - October
• Spring - January
• Summer - April

Benefits

• Delivered by an industry professional
• Taught in small groups
• Awarded a City, University of London certificate

• Installing a Linux distribution: criteria for choosing a distribution, disk partitioning, BIOS settings, authentication settings, and Installation of packages (applications).
• Overview of the Unix file system; bash shell; console commands; directory structure and important configuration files.
• The boot up sequence of Linux, how to manage services and servers.
• Device issues: how to setup external hard drives and identify newly connected devices.
• Basics of system administration: 'root' privileges; user accounts and management; backup and restore; overview of storage media and performance issues, automating tasks.
• System Security issues: ownerships and permissions for files, directories, users, groups, processes.
• PERL scripting language and writing useful administrative scripts; data structures, control loops, handling files, regular expressions.
• InterProcess Communication: Pipes, UNIX sockets; TCP/IP protocols suite; fundamentals of Internet architecture, Server/Client models.
• Configuring Linux: for networking in Local Area Networking and Wide Area Networking using TCP/IP, DNS configuration, routing table and tools to get statistics for your network.
• Network Security Issues: The embedded security of Linux systems and how to configure it according to our needs, firewalls, IPtables commands.
• Setting up the Apache web server with php and MySQL, enabling the userdir module and your site. Introduction to Mail servers, FTP servers, SSH server and Webadmin for remote system configuration.

You will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate if you attend over 70 per cent of the classes. The course is not formally accredited.

Assessment

Informal assessment will take place through group discussion, class room activities, and questions and answers sessions as guided by your tutor.

Familiarity with IT concepts and experience of networked environments in a support, development or managerial role

English requirements

Applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• Matt Welsh, Lar Kaufman, Matthias Kalle Dalheimer, Terry Dawson (1999) Running Linux, O'Reilly.
• Mike Loukides, Tim O'Reilly, Jerry Peek, et al, (1993) UNIX Power Tools, O'Reilly.
• Eric S. Raymond (2001) The Cathedral & the Bazaar
• Recommended websites will be made available during the course.