- •About the Author
- •Credits
- •How This Book Is Organized
- •Part I: Linux Basics
- •Part II: Installation
- •Part III: Configuration
- •Part IV: Administration
- •Part V: Maintaining the Linux System
- •How Each Chapter Is Structured
- •How to Use This Book
- •Conventions Used in This Book
- •What is Linux?
- •The origin of UNIX
- •Who started Linux?
- •Understanding Open Source
- •Understanding Closed Source
- •Understanding Artistic License
- •Is Freeware really free?
- •Is Shareware never free?
- •A comparison and contrast of licensing methods
- •The Growth of Linux
- •Linux on a Personal Computer
- •Graphical installation
- •Hardware detection
- •Graphical user interface
- •Linux limitations on the PC
- •Linux succeeds on the PC
- •Linux on workstations
- •Linux on servers
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Linux Kernel
- •Kernel versions
- •Kernel availability
- •Linux Distributions
- •Beehive
- •BlueCat
- •Caldera OpenLinux
- •Debian
- •Corel
- •DragonLinux
- •Elfstone
- •Gentoo
- •Hard Hat Linux
- •KRUD
- •LinuxPPC
- •Mandrake
- •Phat Linux
- •Slackware
- •StormLinux
- •SuSE
- •TurboLinux
- •Yellow Dog Linux
- •Mini and Specialty Distributions
- •Astaro
- •KYZO
- •FlightLinux
- •NetMAX
- •Packages and Packaging Solutions
- •Red Hat Package Manager
- •Debian Package Management System
- •Tarball
- •Linux Resources
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Linux In the Real World
- •Word Processing
- •Spreadsheets and databases
- •Web browsing
- •File transfer
- •More, more, and more applications
- •The Server and DNS
- •A Linux Web server
- •Linux e-mail server
- •File servers
- •Proxy, news, and search servers
- •FTP servers
- •Firewalls
- •Determining Linux Roles and Services
- •Comparing Linux with other operating systems
- •Hardware compatibility
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Installing Linux
- •Final Preparations for Installation
- •Verification
- •Package selection
- •Final hardware verification
- •Pre-installation partitioning planning
- •Installing Linux
- •Text or GUI installation
- •Basic setup of Linux
- •Selecting the machine type
- •Partitioning the hard disk drive
- •Installing a boot manager
- •Creating the Boot Diskette
- •Networking
- •Additional installation information
- •Accounts and passwords
- •Additional packages to install
- •GUI installation
- •Obtaining video card information
- •Configuring the X windows system
- •Selecting the windows manager or desktop environment
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Answers to Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Alternative to the GUI Installation
- •Command Line installation
- •Install the Linux system
- •Network installations of Linux
- •Review of a Linux Installation
- •Installation media
- •Initial selections
- •Installation type or class
- •Disk partitioning and formatting
- •Installing LILO
- •Network configuration
- •User accounts
- •Authentication methods
- •Package selection and installation
- •A Dual-Boot Installation of Linux
- •Linux with Microsoft Windows
- •Linux with Microsoft Windows NT and 2000
- •Linux and Solaris
- •Linux and other operating systems
- •Installing Additional Software with gzip and tar
- •Installing Additional Software with RPM
- •Removing software with RPM
- •Upgrading software with RPM
- •Query the RPM software
- •Verify the RPM software
- •Verify the package files
- •Upgrading the Kernel
- •Upgrading a Linux Kernel
- •System Log Files
- •The Final Test of the Installation
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •What is the X Window System?
- •The X Window System
- •X Client and Server communications
- •X Window Manager
- •Configuring X Window Systems
- •Custom X Window System Programs
- •Manual Configuration of the X Window System
- •Documentation
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Basic Network Services
- •TCP/IP Protocol Suite
- •Connection protocols needed
- •Other network protocols
- •Configuring Basic Network Services
- •Host name
- •IP addressing
- •DHCP
- •Netmask
- •Hardware resources
- •Routing and gateways
- •PPP, SLIP and PLIP connections
- •Server Tasks with
- •IP aliases for virtual hosts
- •Apache Web Server
- •Samba File Server
- •Home directories
- •Disk shares
- •Configuring Client Services
- •SMB/CIFS
- •NIS client configuration
- •NFS client configuration
- •Configuring Internet Services
- •Web browser
- •POP and SMTP
- •TFTP
- •SNMP
- •Remote Access
- •Rlogin
- •Telnet
- •OpenSSH
- •Documentation
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Adding Hardware
- •Memory
- •Swap
- •Adding a hard drive
- •Video and monitor
- •Printers
- •Configuration files
- •Setting environment variables
- •BASH
- •Documentation
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Basic User and Group Administration
- •What are users and groups?
- •Creating users
- •Change user information
- •Deleting users
- •Creating groups
- •Getting Around Linux
- •Navigating Linux
- •Common file and directory commands
- •Setting File and Directory Permissions
- •Mounting and Managing File Systems
- •Mount
- •Umount
- •Mounted file systems
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Multi-User Environment
- •The creation of Virtual Consoles
- •The Linux Terminal Server Project
- •Configurations for remote systems
- •Monitoring remote connections
- •Common Shell Commands
- •Basic shell scripts
- •Caution using root access
- •Navigating the GUI interface
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Linux Runlevels
- •init
- •Shutting down Linux
- •Managing Linux Services
- •Configuring Linux Printing
- •lpd daemon
- •/etc/printcap
- •Printing management
- •Using the vi Editor
- •vi operation modes
- •Editing text files
- •Using the
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Disk and File System Management
- •Repairing Partitions
- •System Automation and Scheduling
- •cron
- •Core Dumps
- •Analyzing core dumps
- •GNU Debugger
- •Managing Networking Interfaces
- •Installing System Packages and Patches
- •Compressed archive
- •Debian Package Installer
- •Slackware Package Installation
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Linux Processes
- •Core services versus non-critical services
- •Process administration
- •Process control
- •Monitoring Log Files
- •Maintaining Documentation
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Linux Security
- •Securing the Environment
- •Location
- •Environment
- •System Security
- •System/user files
- •Permissions
- •Log auditing
- •Backups
- •Linux Security Best Practices
- •Network security
- •Firewall
- •System security
- •Securing a Web server
- •Securing an FTP server
- •FTP program version
- •FTP configuration files
- •Process security
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Disaster Recovery Planning
- •Types of data
- •Frequency and Scheduling
- •Storage and media types
- •Recovering data
- •Offsite storage
- •Linux Backup Tools and Commands
- •Third party tools
- •Tape devices
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Identifying the Problem
- •Methodology and Best Practices
- •Troubleshooting Resources
- •Documentation resources
- •Internet resources
- •System Log Files
- •Tools for Log Files
- •Output to another file
- •Locating files
- •Process Configuration and Management
- •Stopping, Starting, and Restarting Processes
- •Configuration Files
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Examining the Startup Process
- •Boot process steps
- •Analyzing Boot Process Errors
- •Common Boot Problems
- •Using System Status Tools
- •File System Check
- •System Resource Commands
- •Using the System Boot Disk
- •Types of boot disks
- •Creating a boot disk
- •Creating a rescue/utility disk
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Common User Problems
- •Login problems
- •File and directory permissions
- •Printing problems
- •Mail problems
- •Software Package Problems
- •Package dependencies
- •Software and version conflicts
- •Backup and Restore Errors
- •Backup hardware
- •Backup software
- •File restore errors
- •Application Failures
- •Log files
- •Process and daemon errors
- •Web server errors
- •Telnet
- •Mail services
- •Basic Networking Troubleshooting
- •Networking connectivity
- •Network hardware problems
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Lab Exercises
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Mainboard Components
- •BIOS
- •System memory
- •System Resources
- •I/O addresses
- •Direct memory access
- •Laptop Considerations
- •PCMCIA
- •Linux Peripheral Configuration
- •Installing and Configuring SCSI Devices
- •SCSI definitions
- •SCSI technologies
- •SCSI cabling and termination
- •SCSI device configuration
- •Linux SCSI devices
- •ATA/IDE Devices
- •IDE drive configuration
- •Linux ATA/IDE Drive configuration
- •Linux Support for Other Devices
- •IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
- •Summary
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •Answers to Chapter Questions
- •Chapter Pre-test
- •Assessment Questions
- •Scenarios
- •What’s on the CD-ROM
- •System Requirements
- •Using the CD with Microsoft Windows
- •Using the CD with Linux
- •Microsoft Windows applications
- •Linux applications
- •Troubleshooting
- •Sample Exam
- •Exam Questions
- •Exam Answers
- •Taking a CompTIA Exam
- •How to register for an exam
- •What to expect at the testing center
- •Your exam results
- •If you don’t receive a passing score
- •About the Linux + Exam
- •Preparing for the Linux+ Exam
- •For More Information
- •Preamble
- •No Warranty
- •Glossary
- •Index
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Lab Exercises
Lab 2-1 Examining kernel information
1.Using an Internet accessible PC and Web browser, look up the latest version of the Linux kernel at www.kernel.org and record it.
2.Note if the kernel is stable or developmental.
3.Find documentation on updating a kernel to the new version.
4.Find detailed and quick-start directions for performing the upgrade.
5.Verify that the upgrade is compatible on the PC that you are using.
Answers to Chapter Questions
Chapter Pre-Test
1.The Linux kernel is released via the Internet, as it has been since its inception.
2.Linus Torvalds releases the newest kernel versions.
3.It shows the major features, stability, and revisions.
4.You can find many Linux resources, the best of which are www.linux.org, www.kernel.org, and www.linuxdoc.org.
5.A Package is a set of binary code that creates a program.
6.These are programs that run on the Linux kernel
7.A distribution is a Linux kernel distributed with customized programs
8.The major Linux distributions are based on Red Hat or Debian Linux.
9.Linux has been released for virtually every computer platform.
10.Buying a Linux distribution often entitles you to support from the vendor.
Assessment Questions
1.A. Modules allow new hardware to be supported by the Linux kernel, Plug-ins are for Web browsers, Tarball is a package creation, and a patch fixes an existing issue. For review, see the “Linux Kernel” section.
2.A. The first section of the Linux kernel version provides the major number, the second section provides the minor number, the third section provides the revision, and the fourth section provides the patch on Red Hat systems. For review, see the “Kernel versions” section.
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Chapter 2 Study Guide |
3.A. The major number in the Linux kernel version is used to indicate a major change in the kernel. The minor number indicates the stability, revision numbers indicate every change, and Answer D is the applied patch in a Red Hat system. For review, see the “Kernel versions” section.
4.B. An odd minor number indicates a developmental kernel, an even number indicates a stable kernel, a pre-release can have either number, and Linux doesn’t use Beta kernels. For review, see the “Kernel versions” section.
5.A. An even minor number indicates a stable kernel, an odd number indicates a developmental kernel, a pre-release can have either number, and Linux doesn’t use Beta kernels. For review, see the “Kernel versions” section.
6.D. Previous versions of the kernel are stored at www.kernel.org; www.linux.org supports information about Linux but directs you to www.kernel.org; www.linux.com doesn’t support previous Linux kernel archives; and finally, www.kernel.com is a commercial site. For review, see the “Linux Kernel” section.
7.D. The most up-to-date information on Red Hat Linux is at www.redhat.com, www.linux.org and www.kernel.org are not devoted to Red Hat, and www.redhat.linux.com is not supported by Red Hat Linux. For more information, see the “Red Hat” section.
8.B. Only Yellow Dog uses the PowerPC platform; Bluecat is for embedded systems; Red Hat supports virtually all platforms; and DragonLinux was created to run on top of Microsoft products. For more information, see the “Linux Distributions” and “Yellow Dog Linux” sections.
9.A. Kevin Fenzi was the co-author of Linux Security HOWTO; he didn’t write the HOWTO for tar, the kernel, or the Hurd. For more information, see the “KRUD” section.
10.D. KYZO Linux runs from compact flash memory; it doesn’t run from hard drives or CD-ROM. For more information, see the “KYZO” section.
11.A. Hard Hat Linux is being used in IBM’s PowerPC-based set-top box. Elfstone is a server Linux distribution; Bluecat is for embedded devices but not for this particular device; and LEM was not selected for the IBM box. For more information, see the “Hard Hat Linux” section.
12.D. TurboLinux is a clustering leader; Corel and DragonLinux don’t cluster; and LinuxPPC is for the PowerPC and is not a clustering leader. For more information, see the “TurboLinux” section.
13.D. The Linux creation for NASA is FlightLinux. Astaro is a router replacement; KYZO is an embedded solution for PCs; and KRUD is a customized version of Red Hat. For more information, see the “FlightLinux” section.
14.B. Files that create a program are called a package. A distribution is a group of packages; Tarball is a single file made from many files; and source code creates a program. For more information, see the “Packages and Packaging Solutions” section.
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15.A. Red Hat Package Manager is covered under the GNU GPL. It isn’t Freeware, nor is it covered under an Artistic License or Closed Source license. For more information, see the “Red Hat Package Manager” section.
16.B. RPM provides all but package dependencies; it informs the installer of missing dependences, but doesn’t install or reinstall them. RPM provides for upgrading, verification, and pristine sources. For more information, see the “Red Hat Package Manager” section.
17.B. Red Hat Package Manager uses the .rpm extension; Debian uses .deb; Tarball uses .tar; and a GZIP Tarball uses .tar.gz. For more information, see the “Red Hat Package Manager” section.
18.B. You can most likely find the Linux mini-HOWTOs at www.linuxdoc.org; the others support Linux in other ways or don’t exist. For more information, see the “Linux Resources” section.
19.C. The first place to look for information when you are trying to use the PING command is the MAN pages; the others may work, but when in doubt, use the MAN pages. For more information, see the “Linux Resources” section.
20.A. Tar is an archive — not a compression; tar is usually compressed with GZIP; RPM and Debian are compressed files. For more information, see the “Tarball” section.
Scenarios
1.The best place to start is www.linuxdoc.org because this site supports guides, HOWTO, mini-HOWTOs, and FAQs. A secondary place to look is www.redhat.com. For more information, see the “Linux Resources” section.
2.Kernel 2.5.0 is a developmental kernel and may not be configured to support your hardware, or be very stable. For review, see the “Linux Kernel” section.
3.RPM is designed to install a program completely, whereas Tarball just opens up and dumps the files wherever you open it. For more information, see the “Red Hat Package Manager” section.
Installation
After you have decided on the type of Linux distribution that you want and what role this system will play, you
must plan the implementation. Identifying all system hardware and verifying that it is supported by Linux is essential for a successful implementation. The chapters in this part walk you through pre-implementation planning and the installation process in either in a GUI (graphical user interface) or a text-based environment. Installing Linux will be a customary routine on the job and a prevalent topic on the CompTIA Linux+ exam. In fact, 12 percent of the exam is focused solely on the installation of Linux. This part teaches you everything that you need to know for the CompTIA Linux+ exam, but also what you need to know in the real world when installing Linux.
P A R T
II
In This Part
Chapter 3
Pre-Installation
Planning
Chapter 4
Installing Linux
Chapter 5
Advanced Installation
Pre-Installation
Planning
EXAM OBJECTIVES
1.2 Identify all system hardware required and validate that it is supported by Linux (e.g., CPUs, RAM, graphics cards, storage devices, network interface cards, modem)
1.3 Determine what software and services should be installed (e.g., client applications for workstation, server services for desired task), check requirements and validate that it is supported by Linux
1.6 Identify the function of different Linux services (e.g., Apache, Squid, SAMBA, Sendmail, ipchains, BIND)
1.8 Describe the functions, features, and benefits of a Linux solutions as compared with other operating systems (e.g., Linux players, distributions, available software)
1.10 Identify where to obtain software and resources
1.11 Determine customer resources for a solution (e.g., staffing, budget, training)
C 3H A P T E R
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Part II Installation |
CHAPTER PRE-TEST
1.Where can Linux be used in the Enterprise?
2.Can Linux be used as a Windows file server?
3.Can Linux be used to prevent outside access?
4.Is e-mail supported by Linux?
5.Can Linux provide the services required of a Web server?
6.Can Linux co-exist with an Apple Macintosh?
7.Does Linux provide the type of services that are offered by other operating systems?
8.Can Linux replace every other operating system?
9.Is Linux limited by hardware compatibility?
10.Where can a customer find information about a Linux service?
Answers to these questions can be found at the end of the chapter.