Course details

Advanced Topics of Linux Administration

ILI Acad. year 2023/2024 Winter semester 4 credits

Current academic year

Students attending the course obtain hands-on experience with modern Linux systems. The course starts with the process of selecting a Linux distribution suitable for a certain planned scenario of its usage. Students install a Linux system into a virtual environment that can be safely used for learning and experimenting with system configuration and with an opportunity to quickly reprovision a broken system. Students obtain a deeper knowledge and practical experience in the broader area of Linux system administration topics covering installation, configuration, management, and security. A part of the course is dedicated to virtualization and later focuses on utilization of Linux containers for running applications. All individual topics are used in a complex scenario focused on a deployment of an application and service using Linux containers at the end of a semester.

Guarantor

Vojnar Tomáš, prof. Ing., Ph.D. (DITS)

Course coordinator

Rogalewicz Adam, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (DITS)

Language of instruction

Czech, English

Completion

Classified Credit

Time span

  • 26 hrs pc labs
  • 13 hrs projects

Assessment points

  • 80 pts written tests
  • 20 pts projects

Department

Department of Intelligent Systems (UITS)

Instructor

Beneš Eduard, Ing.
Hack Robin
Šrot Karel, Mgr., Ph.D.
Zelinka Aleš

Learning objectives

The course covers advanced topics of administration of Linux/Unix operating systems as well as services typically running on such systems. The course puts emphasis on practical training of administration skills and problem solving.
Students will acquire knowledge and hands-on experience of modern technologies for GNU/Linux that are used in complex enterprise environments. Using these technologies, students will be able to design and implement solutions based on GNU/Linux servers for various application scenarios of such servers. The extent of the acquired knowledge corresponds to the level of Red Hat certifications. Improved knowledge of operating systems and their administration.

Why is the course taught

The course allows students to get a deeper knowledge of selected advanced topics of administration of Linux/Unix operating systems as well as services typically running on such systems.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

User-level proficiency in the GNU/Linux operating system.

Study literature

  • Vermeulen, S.: SELinux Cookbook, Packt Publishing, 2014.

Fundamental literature

  • Negus, C., Bresnahan, C.: Linux Bible, Wiley, 8th ed., 2012.

  • Nemeth, E., Snyder, G., Hein, T.R., Whaley, B.: UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook, Prentice Hall, 4th ed., 2010.

  • Vermeulen, S.: SELinux System Administration, Packt Publishing, 2013.

Syllabus of computer exercises

  1. Introduction to Linux distributions, virtualization of a system, and installation of a Linux OS.
  2. Managing and troubleshooting system boot and services.
  3. Software package management on Linux systems.
  4. Creation and basic management of storage for OS, application, and user data

  5. Cryptography in GNU/Linux and secured communication.
  6. Disk encryption and data backup.
  7. Increasing system security through SELinux.
  8. Network management, security practices, and troubleshooting.
  9. Creation and management of Linux Containers.
  10. Configuration management and monitoring of systems.
  11. Advanced systemd topics.
  12. Designing a solution for complex Linux usage scenarios.
  13. Practical exam.

Syllabus - others, projects and individual work of students

  1. Installation and configuration of virtual machines running Linux system.
  2. Creation of container images and deployment of custom Linux containers.
  3. Configuration of basic disc encryption and data backup solution.
  4. System service management using systemd.
  5. Creation of a file system on top of LVM and software RAID.
  6. Design of a solution for the deployment of a containerized application.

Progress assessment

The gained knowledge and experience are evaluated by a mid-semester assignment covering the contents of the course (20 points) and further through a final practical test (80 points). The practical test has the form of having to install and configure a system according to some predefined requirements in a given time limit.

Points for both the mid-term assignment and the final practical test will be assigned based on an evaluation of the systems or their components installed and configured by the students.

Exam prerequisites

To successfully pass the course, a student needs to get at least 50 points in total.

Course inclusion in study plans

  • Programme BIT, 2nd year of study, Elective
  • Programme BIT (in English), 2nd year of study, Elective
  • Programme IT-BC-3, field BIT, 2nd year of study, Elective
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