Become an Awe$ome Linux SysAdmin In Under 2 Hours

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to help you become a proficient Linux System Administrator by guiding you through essential Linux commands and concepts. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, this step-by-step guide will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the Command Line Interface (CLI) effectively.

Step 1: Learn Basic Linux CLI Commands

Familiarize yourself with fundamental commands that are essential for navigating and managing a Linux system.

• List Files and Directories

  • Command: ls
  • Use: Displays files in the current directory.

• Change Directory

  • Command: cd [directory_name]
  • Use: Moves you into the specified directory.

• Print Working Directory

  • Command: pwd
  • Use: Shows the current directory path.

• Create a Directory

  • Command: mkdir [directory_name]
  • Use: Creates a new directory.

• Remove a Directory

  • Command: rmdir [directory_name]
  • Use: Deletes an empty directory.

Step 2: Master System Navigation Commands

Understanding how to navigate your system efficiently is crucial for any sysadmin.

• View File Content

  • Command: cat [file_name]
  • Use: Displays the content of a file.

• Copy Files

  • Command: cp [source] [destination]
  • Use: Copies files from one location to another.

• Move or Rename Files

  • Command: mv [source] [destination]
  • Use: Moves or renames a file.

• Remove Files

  • Command: rm [file_name]
  • Use: Deletes a specified file.

Step 3: Perform System Operations

Learn commands that allow you to perform various system operations.

• Check Disk Usage

  • Command: df -h
  • Use: Displays disk space usage in a human-readable format.

• Monitor Resource Usage

  • Command: top
  • Use: Shows real-time system resource usage.

• Shutdown the System

  • Command: sudo shutdown now
  • Use: Immediately shuts down the system.

Step 4: Finding and Searching for Files

Efficiently locating files on your system is key to efficient management.

• Find Files by Name

  • Command: find /path/to/search -name [file_name]
  • Use: Searches for files by name.

• Search Within Files

  • Command: grep [search_term] [file_name]
  • Use: Searches for a specific term within a file.

Step 5: Find Users and Files by User Permissions

Understanding and managing user permissions is vital for system security.

• View User Permissions

  • Command: ls -l
  • Use: Displays file permissions alongside the list of files.

• Check User Information

  • Command: id [username]
  • Use: Displays user ID and group information.

Step 6: Modifying Permissions

Learn how to modify file and directory permissions.

• Change File Permissions

  • Command: chmod [permissions] [file_name]
  • Use: Adjusts permissions for a file (e.g., chmod 755 script.sh).

• Change File Ownership

  • Command: chown [user]:[group] [file_name]
  • Use: Changes the owner and group of a file.

Step 7: User Provisioning and Modification

Managing user accounts is essential for controlling access to your system.

• Add a New User

  • Command: sudo adduser [username]
  • Use: Creates a new user account.

• Modify an Existing User

  • Command: sudo usermod -aG [group] [username]
  • Use: Adds a user to a specified group.

• Delete a User

  • Command: sudo deluser [username]
  • Use: Removes a user account.

Conclusion

By mastering these essential Linux commands and operations, you are well on your way to becoming a competent Linux System Administrator. Keep practicing these commands, and consider exploring advanced topics such as scripting and network management for further development. Your journey in Linux administration has just begun!