CIT 174
Linux System Administration
Revised: Spring 2010
Credits: 3
Instructor: Ed Nickel
Office: HTC 133
Phone: 753-2241 (office with voice mail)
E-mail: due to increased spam my email address will be provided the first day of class
Class Web Page: http://cot.gbcnv.edu/~ed/class/cit174.html
Textbook: Beginning Ubuntu Server Administration by Sander van Vugt, © 2008, ISBN 1590599233, Apress. Search using the title, author, or ISBN for pricing at various discounters/used book dealers, or pay full price at the college bookstore.
SYLLABUS
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: CIT 174 - Linux System Administration covers the concepts required for Linux server system administration and common networking services configuration, operation, and management. This course has no formal prerequisite, however, CIT 173 or a basic understanding of either the UNIX or Linux workstation environment is highly recommended.
Welcome to CIT 174 - Linux System Administration. There are many Linux distributions with relatively minor differences and we will use both the Ubuntu Server & Desktop distributions in this class. We will also briefly compare some of the other major distributions. This class assumes that students have a strong understanding of how to use computer workstations and builds on those basics by adding an understanding of system administration as well as networking service fundamentals. We will cover basic security concepts and server maintenance for both LAN and web services like DNS, DHCP, etc. as well as more advanced Linux server administration concepts. Time and resources will be provided in class for many hands-on exercises but you may need additional time each week to do homework assignments and to practice topics covered in class. Due to the specialized and potentially destructive nature of the lab exercises required for this class only the computers in HTC 139 lab are available to do homework for this class. If you have the necessary hardware and software, doing your assignments at home is acceptable but you are encouraged to use the computers in the lab.
The majority of the assignments in this class will lead to building a functional and secure Linux server which is the most significant assignment of the class. Your work on, successful creation of, and management of this working Linux server and a functional Linux desktop will account for up to 40% of your grade.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: This class will be taught live with a combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on exercises. You are expected to participate in discussions during each class, complete various exercises, take the quizzes, and participate in other class activities.
I can be reached at the phone number listed above or you can make an appointment to see me during office hours or at other times. Office hours are posted on my office door and on my web site. The schedule of reading assignments, homework and tests is found below. Additional assignments will be given verbally or as handouts in class.
MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THIS CLASS
The primary objective for this class is to provide students with a working knowledge of the Linux server environment, both on the web and in a LAN. To this end, essential Linux server operations will be covered from installation through configuration and maintenance. The more important topics to be covered in this class include:
· demonstrate an understanding of Linux as a server operating system & its role in networks· install, configure, & manage a Linux server
· create & maintain Linux shared resources on a network including data storage & other resources
· perform essential management and security tasks within the Linux environment
· install, configure, and manage network services including DHCP, DNS, HTTP, FTP, & more.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. select a distro and install both a Linux server & workstation
2. manage a Linux server for both the web and LAN environments
3. administer a Linux server from the command line shell as well as GUI based tools
4. implement some of the more commonly used network services, like DNS, FTP, etc.
5. implement LAN services, like Samba, DHCP, etc.
6. create and manage a web server based on the Apache software;
7. create and manage a SQL server based on the MySQL software;
8. create and manage a dynamic Internet or intranet server based on PHP
9. facilitate secure server operations within a networked computing environment
Learner Outcome Measurements
Measurement Method / Learner Outcomes
Class Discussion / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hands On Exercises / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Exams / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
CLASS POLICIES & PROCEDURES
GRADING POLICY: This is a letter grade class an A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%, F=59% or less or W=Official Withdrawal if done before the withdrawal deadline. There is no curve in this grading scale. Your grade will be based 30% on class participation and discussion, 40% on your assignments, and 30% on exam results. All assignments are due by the beginning of the next class.
EXAM & QUIZ PROCEDURES: All exams and quizzes will be objective, e.g. true/false, multiple choice, fill-in the blank, etc, and will be conducted using GBC's web based learning system.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: The instructor must agree in advance to any excused absences unless there are strong extenuating circumstances. Three (3) unexcused absences can result in a failing grade, in an on-line class an absence is one week when you do not participate in class or contact the instructor.
OTHER POLICIES: The student rights & responsibilities policy stated in the current GBC Catalog apply to this class. If you need special accommodations please contact GBC's ADA Officer at 775-753-2271 as soon as possible. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and can result in a failing grade. This syllabus is not a contract and is subject to reasonable changes as the class proceeds.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1: / Chapter 1 / Select a distro & install servers/workstations
Week 2: / Chapter 2 / Command line on servers/gui on workstations
Week 3: / Chapter 3 / Essential system administration
Week 4: / Chapter 4 / File system management
Week 5: / Chapter 5 / Security
Week 6: / Chapter 6 / Monitoring & managing the internals
Week 7: / Chapter 7 / Customizing a Linux installation
Week 8: / Mid-term exam
Week 9: / Chapter 8 / Network planning & connections
Week 10: / Chapter 9 / Network infrastructure
Week 11: / Chapter 10 / Linux on a LAN
Week 12: / Chapter 11
& Handouts / Configuring a web server
Week 13: / Chapter 11
& Handouts / Configuring a dbms server
Week 14: / Handouts / Configuring other services
Week 15: / Chapter 12 / Server replication
Week 16: / Final exam