Syllabus- Spring 2008
Introduction to System Administration with UNIX/Linux (ISKM 226)

This is a three-credit undergraduate level course and is one in a series of undergraduate courses in the Web Technology focus of the Bachelor of General Studies program.

For additional information, see our program description page .

The developer of this course is G. Mitchell Saba.

Course Information

Course Title: Introduction to UNIX/Linux System Administration (ISKM 226)
Credits: 3
Instructor: Robert Bruen

E-mail: Robert.bruen@uconn.edu

This course will expand the use of a UNIX system from that of the user to the administrator. You will gain the ability to perform system administration tasks and gain a greater understanding of process interdependencies, kernel resource management and system control. Topics covered will include installation, file system structure, data transfer, backup and recovery, user and process administration, system security features, system startup and shutdown, performance monitoring and troubleshooting techniques. This course also lays a foundation for the Advanced UNIX/Linux System Administration course.

Prerequisite: Introduction to UNIX/Linux or equivalent.

Restrictions - Basic computing skills and an understanding of the UNIX/Linux operating environments required. Online access required. This course is open to BGS students in the IT focus, and to sophomores with instructor permission.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Install and Configure a UNIX/Linux System;
2. Create an Installation plan to meet the needs of the intended system;
3. Describe and manipulate the UNIX file system structure;
4. Configure a System, X11 GUI and external devices;
5. Use advanced features of the vi editor;
6. Use advanced system commands/tools (i.e.: tar, grep, find, lsof, etc.);
7. Use alternate commands when defaults are not available;
8. Perform basic system forensics
9. Administer a basic UNIX mail server;
10. Understand ways to optimize a system;
11. Use shell scripting to simplify system tasks;
12. Understand system message logs
13. Perform Disaster Recovery using available backup utilities; and,
14. Design a system for a specified service.

 

Learning activities for this class include applied homework assignments, projects, online discussions, quizzes, and exams. 

Student Grading

• Homework & Lab Assignments - 25%     

• Discussion/Participation - 30%

• Midterm Exam - 20%     

• Final Exam - 25%

The final course grading scale is as follows:

Grade	Letter Grade	GPA
93-100	A	4.0
90-92	A-	3.7
87-89	B+	3.3
83-86	B	3.0
80-82	B-	2.7
77-79	C+	2.3
73-76	C	2.0
70-72	C-	1.7
67-69	D+	1.3
63-66	D	1.0
60-62	D-	0.7
<60	F	0.0

You are responsible for acting in accordance with the Student Code, available at http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code.cfm?from=im&fn=Judicial%20Affairs.

Course Materials

These course texts may be purchased locally, through an online bookstore, or at the Storrs UConn Co-Op. Please visit our page on buying books for more information.

Primary Course Texts:

Frisch, A.  (2002) Essential system administration (3rd ed.).   Cambridge, MA.:  O'Reilly & Associates. ISBN 0-596-00343-9

Nemeth, E., Snyder, G.,  Seebass, S., & Hein, T. R. UNIX system administration handbook (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.:  Prentice Hall.   ISBN 0-13-020601-6 

Bibliography

Lamb, L., & Robbins,  A.  (1998).   Learning the vi editor (6th ed.).   Cambridge, MA:  O'Reilly & Associates. ISBN 1565924266

 

Software Requirements

• Word processing software
• Students will be given a Linux account on the CCS server which hosts all additional software needed for course assignments.  For more information visit: http://itstudents.ccs.uconn.edu/index.html.

Your Internet browser and browser settings need to be Vista compatible. See Settings.

You should become familiar with Linux Usage and Account Policies.

 

Module 1. Introduction to System Administration

• Roles and responsibilities
• More than an administrator
• Pros & Cons
• The buck stops here
• Policies, Procedures & Security
• The importance of documentation
• Policies
• Procedures
• System and File Security

Module 2. Start up, Shut down, Rootly Powers and Secure Access

• Bootstrapping
• Boot/Run levels
• Startup scripts
• Super User!
• Secure access

Module 3. Networking Overview

• TCP/IP overview
• Working with NIC
• Routing basics
• DNS basics

Module 4. The Filesystem

• Files everywhere!
• Navigation
• File Types
• Ownership and permissions
• Inodes and such
• Aside on vi
• vi Options and Commands

Module 5. Unix Processes

• Definition
• Life cycle
• Process information
• System impact
• Job control
• Signals
• Load balancing

Module 6. Backups

• Backing up files and filesystems
• Testing and insurance
• Restorations
• Schedules and Logs
• crontab and at
• Syslog
• Logging policy
• Custom logs

Module 7. Mid-Term

Module 8. The Unix Mail Environment

• Configuring
• User configurations
• Command-line mail access (pine)
• Mail administration
• Administrative mail uses
• Mail policies & Security

Module 9. NFS and Sharing

• Overview
• Server-side NFS
• Client-side NFS
• The automounter
• Sharing files and filesystems

Module 10. Daemons

• The importance of init
• System daemons
• Server daemons
• Configuration daemons

Module 11. Print Services

• Overview
• Spooling
• Troubleshooting

Module 12. Security

• Rules of the game
• Weaknesses
• Issues
• Utilities and tools

Module 13. Performance and Analysis

• Overview
• Finding the problem
• Fixing the problems
• Monitoring

Module 14. Final Exam

 

Evaluation of the Course

Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University's standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research.