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Linux System Administration
If you're an experienced system administrator looking to
acquire Linux skills, or a seasoned Linux user facing a new
challenge, Linux System Administration offers practical
knowledge for managing a complete range of Linux systems and
servers. The book summarizes the steps you need to build
everything from standalone SOHO hubs,
web servers, and LAN
servers to load-balanced clusters and servers consolidated
through virtualization. Along the way, you'll learn about
all of the tools you need to set up and maintain these
working environments.
Linux is now a standard corporate platform with users
numbering in the hundreds of millions, and there is a
definite shortage of talented administrators. Linux System
Administration is ideal as an introduction to Linux for Unix
veterans, MCSEs, and mainframe administrators, and as an
advanced (and refresher) guide for existing Linux
administrators who will want to jump into the middle of the
book. Inside, you'll learn how to:
Set up a stand-alone Linux server
Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot a DNS server
using BIND
Build an Internet server to manage sites, perform email and
file transfers, and more
Set up an email service for a small-to-medium-sized site,
complete with authentication
Install and configure Apache, PHP, and MySQL on a web server
built from scratch
Combine computers into a load-balanced Apache web server
cluster based on the free Linux Virtual Server
Set up local network services from distributed file systems
to DHCP services, gateway services, print services, user
management and more
Use Linux virtualization with Xen or VMWare to run multiple
kernels on one piece of hardware; manage each kernel's
access to processor time, devices, and memory
Create shell scripts and adapt them for your own needs
Back up and restore data with rsync, tar, cdrecord, Amanda,
and MySQL tools
Linux System Administration is not only knowledgeable and
practical, but convenient. The ingredients for this book had
been scattered throughout mailing lists, forums, and
discussion groups, as well as books, periodicals, and the
experiences of colleagues. Everything is now in one handy
guide. In the course of their research, the authors also
solved many problems whose solutions were completely
undocumented. They now pass their lessons on to you.
Preface
1. Requirements for a Linux System Administrator
About This Book
How Can We Help?
Where Do You Start?
Do You Need a Book?
Who Needs You?
What System Managers Should Know About Linux
What's Next
2. Setting Up a Linux Multifunction Server
Server Requirements
Installing Debian
Logging in Remotely
Configuring the Network
Changing the Default Debian Packages
Setting Up Quotas
Providing Domain Name Services
Adding a Relational Database: MySQL
Configuring Mail Securely with Postfix, POP3, and IMAP
Putting Apache to Work
Adding FTP Services with ProFTPD
Summarizing Your Web Statistics with Webalizer
Synchronizing the System Clock
Installing Perl Modules Needed by SpamAssassin
What's Next
3. The Domain Name System
DNS Basics
Getting into the BIND
Setting Up a DNS Server
Configuring an Authoritative DNS Server
Editing the Configuration Files
BIND Tools
Troubleshooting BIND
What's Next
4. An Initial Internet-Ready Environment
Installing ISPConfig
Setting Up a Server and Users with ISPConfig
Safeguarding a Linux Web Server
What's Next
5. Mail
Key Mail Service Terms
Postfix, Sendmail, and Other MTAs
The Postfix SMTP Mail Server on Debian
Adding Authentication and Encryption
Configuring POP3 and IMAP Mail Delivery Agents
Email Client Configuration
What's Next
6. Administering Apache
Static and Dynamic Files
A Simple LAMP Setup
Installation
Apache Configuration Files
Logfiles
SSL/TLS Encryption
suEXEC Support
Benchmarking
Installing and Administering Drupal
Troubleshooting
Further Reading
7. Load-Balanced Clusters
Load Balancing and High Availability
Scaling Without LB and HA
Further Reading
8. Local Network Services
Distributed Filesystems
Introduction to Samba
Configuring the Network
DHCP
Gateway Services
Print Services
User Management
9. Virtualization in the Modern Enterprise
Why Virtualization Is Popular
High-Performance Computing
Installing Xen on Fedora 5
Installing VMware
Virtualization: A Passing Fad?
10. Scripting
bash Beginnings
Useful Elements for bash Scripts
Scripting Language Shootout
Further Reading
11. Backing Up Data
Backing Up User Data to a Server with rsync
tar Archives
Saving Files on Optical Media
Backing Up and Archiving to Tape with Amanda
Backing Up MySQL Data
Appendix. bash Script Samples
Index
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