Deploying Ubuntu Server Edition (SERV)

This course has been designed for intermediate-to-advanced system administrators working in organizations, which are about to, or have already, deployed Ubuntu desktop and servers in the office. It has been tailored to meet the needs of companies switching from UNIX, Red Hat and other Linux distributions. The course is not intended for those with only a Microsoft system administration background.

Attendees should already have an LPI or UCP certification or the equivalent training or working knowledge of Solaris, HPUX, Red Hat or other UNIX System Administrator certification. Participants should also have at least two years of active System Administration experience, namely:

• SSH
• bash scripting
• Basic service configuration of Apache, Mysql, DNS, Samba, Postfix, etc...
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking and configuration
• Working knowledge of vi or emacs

Students receive:

• Individual student packs consisting of:
• Student Course Guide
• Ubuntu 8.04 LTS desktop and server CDs
• Ubuntu note pad and pen
• Ubuntu gift (it's a surprise!)
• Free access to Landscape systems management and monitoring service.
• Certificate of completion, following minimum 80 percent attendance and active participation, as determined by the instructor.

This five day hands-on course will provide participants with the skills they need to deploy, configure and maintain secure Ubuntu Server Edition within the enterprise infrastructure. The course is based on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and will help system administrators to implement services at an advanced level. Extensive lab exercises in a multi-server virtual machine environment will help attendees put their new skills into practice. This course is available in instructor led and virtual online training classroom environments.

• After completing this course, you will be able to:
• Install and deploy an Ubuntu Server in an enterprise environment
• Use Debian package management tools to:
• Install, configure, update and upgrade packages
• Set up a repository
• Manage a mirror service
• Automate updates
• Monitor server status remotely
• Define and implement a Backup strategy
• Create and deploy virtual Machines using KVM and libvirt
• Manage directory services and authentication using OpenLDAP and Kerberos
• Keep servers as secure as possible

Topic 0: Getting Started in the Virtual Training Environment

• Introduction to the environment used for the course and the labs
• Architecture of the virtual training environment
• Introduction to Moodle
• Introduction to Spreed
• Interacting with fellow students and the instructor
• Giving feedback to the instructor
• Using audio (computer-based, or dial-in)
• Testing your connection speed
• ssh login to the virtual machine environment
• Ssh client recommendations for windows and macintosh users
• Accessing your virtual machines
• Using 'screen' to switch between machines (Ctrl-A commands)

Topic 1: Installation

• Installation
• Checking hardware requirements
• Choosing, download and burning an installation CD
• Running the installer
• “Expert mode” installation
• Partitioning: (guided, manual, LVM)
• Software selection
• Why is there no root account?
• Troubleshooting installations
• ACPI issues
• CD problems
• Saving installation logs
• Diagnosing boot failures
• Logical Volumes
• The benefits of logical volumes
• Architecture
• Creating physical volumes, volume groups and logical volumes
• Extending logical volumes
• Time synchronisation

Topic 2: Debian Package Management

• What is a Debian package?
• Low-level package management
• Installing, listing and removing packages with dpkg
• Package configuration and re-configuration
• High-level package management
• Repository structure: pockets and components
• The advanced packaging toolkit (APT)
• Specifying the location of repositories
• Package dependencies
• Meta-packages and virtual packages
• Repository management
• Creating a local repository
• Configuring a proxy server
• Mirroring a repository

Topic 3: Virtualization and Deployment

• Virtualization
• Setting up a KVM host
• Virtual machine management using libvirt
• Creating a guest
• Building machine images with ubuntu-vm-builder
• Creating virtual appliances with JeOS
• Automated installation
• Kickstart and pre-seeding
• Creating a kickstart file
• Making a kickstart file available to the target installation
• Installing from a local server
• Cloning and its limitations
• Automating Updates
• Server management using Landscape
• Obtaining a Landscape account
• Configuring and registering a Landscape client
• Accessing a Landscape account

Topic 4: Security, Integrity and Performance

• User-level security
• Living without a root login
• sudo and the sudoers file
• Ubuntu group memberships and privileges
• Configuring PAM to enforce password strength
• Encrypting partitions using the dm-crypt device mapper
• Constructing a firewall
• netfilter and iptables
• Simplifying firewall construction with ufw
• Testing firewalls with nmap
• Mandatory access control with AppArmor
• Discretionary vs Mandatory access control
• Creating an AppArmor profile
• Setting enforce mode and complain mode
• Intrusion detection
• Verifying file system integrity with AIDE
• Monitoring log files with logwatch
• Configuring ssh authentication
• Configuration management with etckeeper
• Backup tools and strategies
• Multi-level backup strategies
• Using rsync for backups
• Centralised backup with backuppc and bacula
• System monitoring and performance tuning
• Monitoring memory and disk usage
• Centralised monitoring with nagios and munin
• Kernel parameter tuning
• Application-specific tuning

Topic 5: Directory Service and Authentication

• OpenLDAP
• OpenLDAP components and architecture
• Installation and initial configuration
• Command-line tools (ldapadd and friends)
• Secure LDAP
• LDAP with user account management
• Configuring a client to use LDAP for authentication
• Replicating an LDAP directory
• Kerberos
• Setting up a Key Distribution Centre
• Primary and secondary servers
• Adding principals: Hosts, services, users, admin
• Using LDAP as the backend
• Active Directory integration
• Likewise Open
• Joining a domain
• Logging in as an A-D user

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