Linux Server Administration Made Easy with Hands-On Training

Lesson 1 • Getting Help and Documentation

Teaches man pages, info docs, and online resources for self-sufficiency. Reduces dependency on external support during real administration tasks.

Lesson 2 • Installing a Linux Server

Guides students through bare-metal and virtual machine installation. Connects hardware requirements to real deployment decisions.

Lesson 3 • Setting Up a Lab Environment

Configures VirtualBox or KVM-based labs for safe practice. Ensures every student has an isolated, repeatable workspace.

Lesson 4 • Linux Filesystem Hierarchy

Maps the standard directory tree and explains each directory's purpose. Provides the spatial awareness needed for all future file operations.

Lesson 1 • Pipes, Redirection, and Filters

Explains stdin, stdout, stderr, and chaining commands with pipes. Enables powerful one-liners for log analysis and data extraction.

Lesson 2 • Shell Variables and Environment

Covers environment variables, PATH configuration, and shell customization. Prepares students for scripting and consistent multi-session workflows.

Lesson 3 • Text Viewing and Editing

Teaches viewing file content and editing configuration files in the terminal. Essential for modifying server configs without a graphical interface.

Lesson 4 • File and Directory Operations

Covers creating, copying, moving, and deleting files and directories. Directly supports configuration management and log handling tasks.

Lesson 1 • User Account Management

Covers creating, modifying, and deleting user accounts via command-line tools. Directly maps to onboarding and offboarding workflows in production environments.

Lesson 2 • File Permissions and Ownership

Teaches octal and symbolic permission notation and ownership assignment. Ensures students can protect sensitive files and directories correctly.

Lesson 3 • Sudo and Privilege Escalation

Configures sudo policies to grant controlled administrative access. Reduces reliance on the root account while maintaining operational flexibility.

Lesson 4 • Group Management

Explains group creation, membership, and the role of primary vs. supplementary groups. Enables role-based access control across shared resources.

Lesson 1 • APT-Based Package Management

Covers apt and dpkg commands for Debian-family distributions. Equips students to manage software on Ubuntu and Debian servers.

Lesson 2 • System Updates and Patch Management

Establishes a routine for applying security and feature updates safely. Connects patch cadence to uptime and vulnerability management goals.

Lesson 3 • Compiling Software from Source

Walks through the configure-make-install workflow for source packages. Addresses scenarios where packaged versions are unavailable or outdated.

Lesson 4 • Package Management Concepts

Explains packages, repositories, and dependency resolution. Provides the conceptual model behind all package manager operations.

Lesson 1 • Logical Volume Management

Introduces LVM concepts and commands for flexible storage allocation. Allows resizing volumes without downtime on production systems.

Lesson 2 • Filesystem Creation and Mounting

Teaches formatting partitions and mounting filesystems manually and persistently. Directly enables adding storage capacity to a running server.

Lesson 3 • Disk Identification and Partitioning

Covers block device naming, partition tables, and partitioning tools. Builds the foundation for all storage provisioning tasks.

Lesson 4 • Disk Health and Quota Management

Covers SMART monitoring, filesystem checks, and disk quotas. Prevents data loss and enforces storage limits in multi-user environments.

Lesson 1 • Configuring Network Interfaces

Covers static and dynamic IP assignment using nmcli, ip, and config files. Enables reliable server connectivity across different distribution families.

Lesson 2 • Hostname and DNS Configuration

Configures hostnames, /etc/hosts, and resolver settings. Ensures servers resolve names correctly in both local and external networks.

Lesson 3 • Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

Applies diagnostic tools to isolate and resolve connectivity failures. Builds a systematic troubleshooting methodology for network issues.

Lesson 4 • Routing and Gateway Configuration

Explains default gateways, static routes, and routing table management. Supports multi-homed servers and complex network topologies.

Lesson 1 • Controlling Processes

Teaches sending signals, killing processes, and managing job control. Gives administrators direct control over misbehaving or runaway processes.

Lesson 2 • Scheduling Tasks with cron and systemd Timers

Configures recurring and one-time task scheduling for automation. Supports backup jobs, report generation, and maintenance windows.

Lesson 3 • Monitoring Processes and Resources

Covers real-time and snapshot tools for CPU, memory, and I/O usage. Enables proactive identification of resource bottlenecks.

Lesson 4 • Managing Services with systemd

Covers systemctl commands for starting, stopping, enabling, and inspecting services. Directly maps to daily service management in modern Linux environments.

Lesson 1 • SSH Hardening and Key-Based Authentication

Secures remote access by disabling weak settings and enforcing key authentication. Eliminates the most common vector for unauthorized server access.

Lesson 2 • SELinux and AppArmor Basics

Introduces mandatory access control frameworks that confine process behaviour. Adds a second layer of protection beyond standard file permissions.

Lesson 3 • Intrusion Detection and Vulnerability Scanning

Deploys host-based tools to detect file changes and known vulnerabilities. Provides early warning of compromise or misconfiguration.

Lesson 4 • Firewall Configuration with firewalld and iptables

Covers rule-based traffic filtering using firewalld zones and iptables chains. Restricts inbound and outbound traffic to only necessary services.