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

Basic System Settings

Linux is a highly customizable operating system, and it provides a vast array of configuration options that allow users to tailor their systems to their specific needs. In this chapter, we will explore some of the basic system configuration settings in Linux and how they can be customized to improve system performance, security, and usability.

Before you make any changes to a configuration file, you should always make a backup. When making a copy, append a .bak extension to it so that you know it’s a copy meant for safekeeping.

Eventually, you are almost guaranteed to make a blunder when modifying these files. It is essential to have a backup of any configuration files before making any changes.

Due to the impossibility of covering every configuration file in Linux, we will focus on the most common configurations instead:

  • The hosts configuration file
  • The resolv configuration file
  • The network-scripts configuration file
  • The dhclient...