Book Image

Linux for System Administrators

By : Viorel Rudareanu, Daniil Baturin
Book Image

Linux for System Administrators

By: Viorel Rudareanu, Daniil Baturin

Overview of this book

Linux system administration is an essential aspect of maintaining and managing Linux servers within an organization. The role of a Linux system administrator is pivotal in ensuring the smooth functioning and security of these servers, making it a critical job function for any company that relies on Linux infrastructure. This book is a comprehensive guide designed to help you build a solid foundation in Linux system administration. It takes you from the fundamentals of Linux to more advanced topics, encompassing key areas such as Linux system installation, managing user accounts and filesystems, networking fundamentals, and Linux security techniques. Additionally, the book delves into the automation of applications and infrastructure using Chef, enabling you to streamline and optimize your operations. For both newcomers getting started with Linux and professionals looking to enhance their skills, this book is an invaluable hands-on guide with a structured approach and concise explanations that make it an effective resource for quickly acquiring and reinforcing Linux system administration skills. With the help of this Linux book, you’ll be able to navigate the world of Linux administration confidently to meet the demands of your role.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Linux Basics
7
Part 2: Configuring and Modifying Linux Systems
13
Part 3: Linux as a Part of a Larger System

Log rotation

Log rotation is a crucial process in Linux systems to manage log files efficiently. As applications and services generate log data over time, log files can grow significantly, consuming disk space and potentially leading to performance issues. Log rotation allows for the periodic compression, archival, and removal of old log files, ensuring the system maintains a manageable log history.

In Linux, log rotation is typically handled by a log rotation tool called logrotate. The configuration file for logrotate is located at /etc/logrotate.conf, and it includes references to individual log rotation configurations in the /etc/logrotate.d/ directory.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to configure log rotation in Linux:

  1. Install logrotate (if not already installed): Most Linux distributions come with logrotate pre-installed. However, if it’s not available on your system, you can install it using the package manager specific to your Linux distribution...