course topics

linux desktop productivity

• Understanding the X Windows environment & its components
• GNOME: Features, Control Center, Panel
• Sawfish - Window manager
• KDE: Features, Control Panel, Kpackage
• Overview of office applications

linux commands

• Generic command syntax
• Important commands and their use
• Text editing using vi editor

using the shell

• What is a shell?
• Everyday shell use
• Shell features: Piping & Redirection
• Environment variables
• PATH environment variable

fundamentals of linux administration

• Linux Kernel vs. Linux Distribution
• Linux Installation
• Concept of packages & basics of package management
• Disks and File systems
• Users and Groups
• Basics of Process control

writing shell scripts

• Reasons for scripting
• Writing a simple shell script
• Positional parameters
• Exit status and test conditions

networking fundamentals

• Understanding the different protocols that are part of the TCP/IP protocol suite such as TCP, IP, UDP, and ICMP
• Learning the fundamental configuration variables for TCP/IP networks such as IP addresses, IP subnets, subnet masks, etc.
• Setting up, configuring, and connecting a Linux computer to a TCP/IP network

administration: fundamentals

• Determining an appropriate Linux distribution
• Learning how to use basic file management commands
• Basic administration concepts such as users and groups
• Changing file ownership and permissions
• Configuring your system for basic usage
• Installing and working with rpm packages

development environment

• Understanding the development tools available on a Linux system
• Scriping with languages such as shell, perl, and python
• Understanding, installing, and upgrading shared libraries
• Compiling source

Kernel

• Understanding what the actual Linux kernel is
• Understanding what the Linux kernel version number means
• Configuring and compiling a custom kernel
• Patching the kernel
• Compiling and loading Linux kernel modules

administration: automation, startup, maintenance

• Controlling processes by adjusting their execution priority, terminating them, and sending them other signals
• Determining which daemons are running and what their purpose is
• Administering the X Windowing System including setting up the X Server, displaying remote clients on your display, and configuring access control for your display
• Automating processes with cron and at

network services

• Setting up a basic Apache HTTP Server
• Understanding the differences between the popular ftp servers and be able to set them up
• Setting up Samba clients and servers
• Setting up a basic DNS server
• Understanding differences between different mail servers and be able to do basic setup

security

• Setting up user authentication and making the system more secure using PAM and shadow passwords
• Finding out which TCP/IP ports are open, which services are responding to requests on those ports, and detecting vulnerabilities
• Using TCP/IP wrappers and firewall software to filter packets
• Choosing versions of network daemons and clients that are more secure
• Keeping up to date on the latest security vulnerabilities