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

Chef server

The Chef server is the heart of the Chef infrastructure. It acts as the central repository for storing configuration data, cookbooks, policies, and node information. The server provides a web interface and API to interact with Chef resources. Administrators use the Chef server to manage nodes, roles, environments, and data bags, and to distribute cookbooks to nodes.

The Chef server utilizes a push/pull mechanism to manage the configuration of nodes (servers) in a system. This mechanism allows administrators to define desired states for nodes and enforce those states on the nodes:

  • Push mechanism: In the push mechanism, the Chef server actively pushes the configuration updates and recipes to the nodes. When administrators make changes to the configurations or define new recipes, they upload those changes to the Chef server. The Chef server then identifies the target nodes and pushes the updated configurations to them. This process can be initiated manually or through...