Linux Administration Made Easy

by Steve Frampton, <3srf@qlink.queensu.ca>

1. Acknowledgements

• 1.1 A Plea for Help

2. Introduction

• 2.1 Legal and Other Disclaimers
• 2.2 Scope
• 2.3 Choosing a Linux Distribution

3. Linux Overview

• 3.1 What is Linux?
• 3.2 Breaking the Myths
• 3.3 One User's Perspective

4. Installation and Hardware Configuration

• 4.1 Creating an Installation Diskette
• 4.2 Booting Linux Installation Program
• 4.3 Partitioning Hard Drive(s)
• 4.4 Setting up Swap Space
• 4.5 Choosing Partitions to Format
• 4.6 Choosing Desired Packages to Install
• 4.7 Hardware Configuration
• 4.8 Booting with LILO
• 4.9 Multi-boot with Other Operating Systems
• 4.10 Downloading and Installing Red Hat Updates

5. Configuring the X Window System

• 5.1 Getting the X Window System Working with X-Configurator
• 5.2 Using the X Desktop Manager
• 5.3 Choosing a Window Manager for X
• 5.4 GNOME Installation and Configuration
• 5.5 KDE Installation and Configuration

6. General System Administration Issues

• 6.1 Root Account
• 6.2 Creating User Accounts
• 6.3 Changing User Passwords
• 6.4 Disabling User Accounts
• 6.5 Removing User Accounts
• 6.6 Linux Password & Shadow File Formats
• 6.7 System Shutdown and Restart

7. Custom Configuration and Administration Issues

• 7.1 Web Server and HTTP Caching Proxy Administration
• 7.2 Domain Name Server (DNS) Configuration and Administration
• 7.3 Internet User Authentication with TACACS
• 7.4 Windows-style File and Print Services with Samba
• 7.5 Macintosh-style File and Print Services with Netatalk
• 7.6 Network File System (NFS) Services
• 7.7 Configuration from A-Z with Linuxconf

8. Backup and Restore Procedures

• 8.1 Server Backup Procedures
• 8.2 Server Restore Procedures
• 8.3 Cisco Router Configuration Backups

9. Various & Sundry Administrative Tasks

• 9.1 Checking Storage Space
• 9.2 Managing Processes
• 9.3 Starting and Stopping Processes
• 9.4 Automating Tasks with Cron and Crontab files

10. Upgrading Linux and Other Applications

• 10.1 Using the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM)
• 10.2 Installing or Upgrading Without RPM
• 10.3 Strategies for Keeping an Up-to-date Server
• 10.4 Linux Kernel Upgrades
• 10.5 Upgrading a Red Hat Stock Kernel
• 10.6 Building a Custom Kernel
• 10.7 Moving to the Linux 2.2.x Kernels
• 10.8 Configuring the Apache Web Server
• 10.9 Configuring the Squid HTTP Caching Proxy Daemon
• 10.10 Configuring the Sendmail E-mail Daemon

11. Enterprise Computing with Linux

• 11.1 Performance Tuning
• 11.2 High Availability with RAID
• 11.3 Server Migration and Scalability Issues

12. Strategies for Keeping a Secure Server

13. Help! Trouble in Paradise!

• 13.1 Getting Linux Installed on new, Unsupported Hardware
• 13.2 File System Corruption after Power Outage or System Crash
• 13.3 Where to Turn for Help
• 13.4 Pointers to Additional Documentation