Linux System Administration Handbook
A Practical Reference for Managing, Securing, and Maintaining Linux Systems
What's Included:
Key Highlights
- Production-focused Linux administration
- Security and hardening best practices
- systemd, SELinux, and AppArmor covered
- Automation and scripting for admins
- Designed as a long-term reference
Overview
A professional Linux system administration handbook covering system management, security, automation, troubleshooting, and production best practices for real-world Linux environments.
The Problem
Many Linux administrators rely on fragmented documentation and ad-hoc knowledge. Without a structured reference, maintaining secure, stable, and scalable Linux systems becomes difficult and error-prone.
The Solution
This handbook provides a single, comprehensive reference for managing, securing, and maintaining Linux systems using proven, production-ready practices.
About This Book
A Professional Linux System Administration Reference
Linux System Administration Handbook is a comprehensive, production-focused reference designed for administrators who manage real Linux systems in professional environments.
Linux is the backbone of modern infrastructure, powering servers, cloud platforms, and mission-critical systems. Effective administration requires more than basic knowledge—it demands structured thinking, security awareness, and operational discipline.
Why This Handbook Matters
This book bridges the gap between theory and real-world Linux administration. It focuses on practical workflows, production-ready practices, and platform-specific techniques used by professional Linux administrators.
Topics reflect modern Linux environments, including systemd, advanced security mechanisms like SELinux and AppArmor, automation, and reliability-focused administration.
What You Will Learn
- Linux system architecture and administrator responsibilities
- Installation, configuration, and optimization strategies
- User, group, and permission management
- Advanced process and service management
- Disk, storage, and filesystem administration
- System monitoring and performance tuning
- Linux networking and firewall configuration
- Security hardening and access control
- SELinux and AppArmor fundamentals
- Task automation and scheduling
- Shell scripting for administration
- Backup, recovery, and disaster planning
- System troubleshooting and incident response
- Production system best practices
Designed for Learning and Daily Reference
Each chapter can be read sequentially or used as a standalone reference during day-to-day administration tasks. This makes the book equally valuable for structured learning and on-the-job consultation.
Production-Ready Focus
The content emphasizes reliability, security, maintainability, and operational discipline—core principles required in enterprise and cloud-based Linux environments.
Appendices for Real-World Use
The appendices provide command references, configuration file locations, security checklists, and daily/weekly/monthly admin workflows that can be applied immediately.
Become a Confident Linux Administrator
By the end of this handbook, you will have the knowledge and confidence required to manage Linux systems safely, securely, and professionally.
Welcome to professional Linux system administration.
Miles Everhart
Who Is This Book For?
- Linux system administrators
- IT professionals managing Linux servers
- DevOps and infrastructure engineers
- Security-focused Linux users
- Experienced Linux users seeking professional practices
Who Is This Book NOT For?
- Absolute beginners with no Linux experience
- Readers seeking only basic command tutorials
- Users looking for distribution-specific manuals only
Table of Contents
- The Role of a Linux System Administrator
- Linux System Architecture
- Installing and Preparing Linux Systems
- Package Management and Software Lifecycle
- User and Group Administration
- Permissions, Ownership, and ACLs
- Process Management
- Service Management with systemd
- System Monitoring and Performance
- Disk and Storage Management
- File Systems and Mount Management
- Linux Networking Fundamentals
- Firewalling and Network Security
- Linux Security Fundamentals
- SELinux and AppArmor
- Task Automation and Scheduling
- Shell Scripting for System Administration
- Backup, Recovery, and Disaster Planning
- Troubleshooting Linux Systems
- Production System Best Practices
Requirements
- Solid Linux fundamentals
- Comfort using the Linux terminal
- Interest in professional system administration
