| Title: | Linux Administration |
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| Long Title: | Linux Administration |
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| Field of Study: |
Computer Science
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| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2017/18 ( September 2017 ) |
| Next Review Date: |
March 2022 |
| Module Coordinator: |
Sean McSweeney |
| Module Author: |
TIM HORGAN |
| Module Description: |
Linux has grown into an industry-leading software and service delivery platform that is used for everything from super computers and Web servers to virtualised systems and your Android phone. This growth creates a high demand for qualified Linux professionals. In this module students will acquire the skills and knowledge you need to successfully configure, manage and troubleshoot Linux systems. This module covers topics such as file management and manipulation,advanced command line use, package management, filesystems, logging, performance evaluation, hardware, creating a custom kernel and more. |
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| LO1 |
Implement performance monitoring, task scheduling and logging capabilities in a Linux system. |
| LO2 |
Administer and appraise essential system services at different runlevels. |
| LO3 |
Develop sophisticated bash scripting capabilities to perform complex system administrative tasks. |
| LO4 |
Build partitions for various linux filesystems and employ associated administration tasks. |
| LO5 |
Develop and configure a custom Linux kernel including essential services. |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
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| No requirements listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
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Performance, Scheduling and Logging
Monitor performance in memory; CPU utilization, tuning, processor speed, fixing bottlenecks. Process priorities: PR + nice values. Use tools such as at and cron to run tasks at a future time and periodically; e.g. backup. Process monitoring commands such as sar, iostat & mpstat. syslog, syslog levels, log categories, securing log data.
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Services
Implement services such as NFS, ssh & xinedt. Changing run-levels. Start and stop daemons, add and remove services to automatically load at boot time (in different run-levels); develop a simple daemon and add to a run-level directory.
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Advanced Bash Scripting
Regular expressions, I/O redirection, process substitution, streams, pipes, indirect referencing, function complexities, aliases, zeros and nulls, debugging.
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Filesystems
Create partitions and filesystems, maintain the integrity of filesystems, control mounting and unmounting of filesystems, manage disk quotas, manage file permissions and ownership, create and change hard and symbolic links, find system files and place files in the correct location.
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Building a Custom Kernel
Preparing virtual kernel file-systems, essential Files and symlinks, filesystem creation, package manager creation, essential bootscripts, bootscript configuration, creating login shell capability, creating default filesystem mount points, setting up the boot process. Setting up a custom linux distribution such as gentoo.
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
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| Course Work | 100.00% |
| Course Work |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Multiple Choice Questions |
Multiple Choice Questions assessing the theoretical content delivered in class. |
1,2,3 |
20.0 |
Week 5 |
| Practical/Skills Evaluation |
In lab practical test assessing students bash scripting to automate tasks and knowledge and application of theory on filesystem on a linux OS. |
2,3,4 |
40.0 |
Week 12 |
| Project |
Student is expected to develop and deploy a custom Linux distribution, e.g. gentoo. |
4,5 |
40.0 |
Sem End |
| No End of Module Formal Examination |
| Reassessment Requirement |
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.
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The institute reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Weekly lectures covering essential theory. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Lab |
Weekly labs to support lectures. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent Learning |
Weekly student independent learning. |
3.0 |
Every Week |
3.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
| Workload: Part Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Weekly lectures covering essential theory. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Lab |
Weekly labs to support lectures. |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent Learning |
Weekly student independent learning. |
3.0 |
Every Week |
3.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
Module Resources
| Recommended Book Resources |
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- Christopher Negus 2015, Linux Bible, 9th Edition Ed., John Wiley & Sons [ISBN: 9781118999875]
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
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- Daniel J Barrett 2016, Linux Pocket Guide, 3rd Ed., O?Reilly Press [ISBN: 9781491927571]
- Arnold Robbins 2016, Bash Pocket Reference, 2nd Ed., O'Reilly Press [ISBN: 9781491941591]
- Sam R. Alapati 2017, Modern Linux Administration: How to Become a Cutting-Edge Linux Administrator, O'Reilly [ISBN: 9781491935958]
- Evi Nemeth, Garth Snyder, Trent Hein, Ben Whaley and Dan Macklin 2017, Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook, 5th edition Ed., Prentice Hall [ISBN: 9780134277554]
- Jason Cannon 2016, Linux Administration: The Linux Operating System and Command Line Guide for Linux Administrators, CreateSpace [ISBN: 9781523915958]
- Yang Lixiang 2014, The Art of Linux Kernel Design, Routledge [ISBN: 9781466518032]
| | This module does not have any article/paper resources |
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| Other Resources |
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- Website: Getting Started with Linux, Digital Ocean
- Website: Learn Linux System Administration, IBM
- Website: Linux From Scratch
- Website: The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide
- Website: Learning the Shell
- Website: Linux Kernel Newbies
- Website: Linux Questions Community
- Website: LPI Linux Certification
- website: Gentoo Kernel Upgrade
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Module Delivered in
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