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Ubuntu Server Essentials
Ubuntu Server Essentials

Ubuntu Server Essentials: Unleash the true potential of Ubuntu Server in your production environment using this administration guide

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Ubuntu Server Essentials

Chapter 2. Configuring and Administering Ubuntu Server

After installing the Ubuntu Server, you will need to administrate it. If you are a newbie, this chapter is mandatory for you. So follow it to the letter. If you are an advanced Linux user who has experience working with other distributions, you can consider the experience of trying a new distribution similar to that of driving a new car. The car certainly has a steering wheel, a gas pedal, and a brake, but it still takes you a minute to adjust the mirrors, find out where the gauges and controls are, and adjust the seat until you feel comfortable. Think of this chapter as that minute or two behind the wheel of a new car.

To reach this goal, we will follow this plan:

  • Administering using the command line
  • The package management of an Ubuntu Server
  • The network configuration for an Ubuntu Server
  • Performing essential system administration tasks

Administering using the command line

Entire books have been written on command-line tools and how to use them effectively. In this section, we will have a look at the essentials one that we need. If you are an experienced administrator, feel free to skip to the next section. Just keep in mind the following note, that's all.

Note

Note that unlike other Linux distributions, Ubuntu doesn't allow the use of the super user as a root by default; it is disabled for security reasons. So, when you would like to run a command with the root privileges, you should run it with the sudo keyword before doing so. You will be asked to enter your password (the one that you used when installing the Ubuntu Server). For example, if you would like to edit the /etc/hosts file, run the following code:

abdelmonam@abdelmonam-tactic:~$ sudo vi /etc/hosts
[sudo] password for abdelmonam:

If you would like to activate the root account (which is not recommended) or allow other users to run sudo, you can follow...

The package management for an Ubuntu Server

Ubuntu, like other Debian-based systems, uses the Debian package format, such as .deb packages. I prefer using a .deb package when installing software instead of tarball archives because on one hand, unlike the case with tarball, we can get traceability for every piece of software installed on your system with .deb packages. On the other hand, because only a .deb package can request the package database on your server via the package manager and get information about the installed and available packages on your system, the package manager takes care of installing the missing dependencies automatically.

Package repositories

Ubuntu packages exist in repositories, which are collections of packages, in a pre-compiled binary format that can be located either on different medias, such as CD-ROMs, or on the Internet. There are four official repositories provided by Canonical (the company that created Ubuntu):

  • main: This is the repository that contains software...

The network configuration for an Ubuntu Server

To cover all the aspects of network configuration for a Linux system administrator, we need huge books. So, in this little section, we will cover only the essential topics that every Ubuntu Server administrator will need to set up and change the network settings.

The configuration files

In this section, we will have a look at the core files for the network settings for the Ubuntu Server.

Note

Note that after modifying any of these files, you should restart the network process by typing in the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart

Unlike Red Hat manners, Ubuntu and all the Debian-based distributions use a unique file to configure all the network interfaces; this file is named /etc/network/interfaces. In general, for Ubuntu servers, you will find the loopback and Ethernet interfaces. For loopback interfaces (127.0.0.1), its configuration is standard and doesn't need any modification from your side. For Ethernet interfaces, you...

Performing essential system administration tasks

In this section, we will explore a useful set of Ubuntu Server administration tasks such as monitoring and processes management.

Monitoring resources

For a system administrator, monitoring tasks are the most important because they allow us to keep our system robust and prevent incidents. The Ubuntu Server has a powerful set of monitoring tools that cover CPU usage, hard disks, virtual memory, and so on.

Some tools come with Ubuntu straight out of the box, while others need to be installed. The sysstat package contains some of them. You need to install it by using the command:

sudo apt-get install sysstat

One of the most important resources that an Ubuntu Server administrator should permanently monitor is the memory use, because running out of memory will negatively affect system performance.

You can use the free and top commands to see basic information about the use of your RAM and swap. To get more detailed information about your server memory...

Summary

In this chapter, we saw different aspects of configuring and administering the Ubuntu Server system. We were introduced to CLI using network settings, package management, and administration tasks.

In the next chapter, we will start a new part of this book, which involves service creation and management.

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Key benefits

  • • Learn how to deploy and configure Ubuntu servers and work with cloud and hyper-visors
  • • Optimize network traffic to broadcast and multicast the traffic flow in OpenStack clouds
  • • Discover the essentials of the latest version of Ubuntu, which are good in both looks and performance, using this fast-paced guide

Description

Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux operating system built on top of the Debian architecture. It is used to make operating systems for multiple platforms, including phones, desktops, TVs and mobiles. It has made some serious progress in the realms of efficiency and user friendliness. With evolving technology trends, demands on software have changed, with more and more skilled users. Over the past few years, services such as Facebook, Twitter, and push notifications on smartphones mean that users are used to being up to date with everything that happens all the time. With SignalR, the applications stay connected and will generate notifications when something happens either from the system or by other users. This provides new opportunities for the system administrators, to enter this new and exciting world of real-time application development. This is a concise and a cost-friendly guide, packed with up-to-date essentials on Ubuntu Server fundamentals. It will guide you through deploying and configuring Ubuntu servers in your office environments. You’ll start by installing Ubuntu Server, then move to the most useful aspect —the command-line interface inside it. You’ll extend your knowledge by learning how to administrate and configure Ubuntu Server. You will also see how to deploy services on Ubuntu Server and find out how to secure it. You’ll get to grips with the virtualization and cloud computing facilities provided by Ubuntu, and finally, you’ll gain some very useful tips.

Who is this book for?

This book is for system administrators who are familiar with the fundamentals of the Linux operating system and are looking for a fast-paced guide on Ubuntu, and those who are familiar with the older versions of Ubuntu and want to get up to scratch. Basic knowledge of Linux administration is assumed.

What you will learn

  • • Install and set up Ubuntu Server in the shortest possible time, manually as well as in an automated way, for a single server or hundreds of servers
  • • Discover the fundamentals of the Ubuntu command-line interface
  • • Configure and administer Ubuntu Server using networking and CLI
  • • Deploy servers on Ubuntu in the simplest and fastest ways
  • • Enhance security within Ubuntu Server using tools such as firewalls, IDS, and IPS and procedures such as restore, rescue, and recovery
  • • Work with virtualization, clouds, and one of the best in open source cloud computing —OpenStack
  • • Optimize CLI for grep and exec commands and gain some best tips and tricks for Ubuntu Server administration
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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Nov 27, 2015
Length: 166 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785285462
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Publication date : Nov 27, 2015
Length: 166 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785285462
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Frequently bought together


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Total $ 142.97
Ubuntu Server Cookbook
$54.99
Troubleshooting Ubuntu Server
$48.99
Ubuntu Server Essentials
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Total $ 142.97 Stars icon

Table of Contents

7 Chapters
1. The Ubuntu Server Installation Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Configuring and Administering Ubuntu Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Deploying Servers on Ubuntu Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Security with Ubuntu Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Virtualization and Cloud Computing inside the Ubuntu Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Tips and Tricks for Ubuntu Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.5
(4 Ratings)
5 star 50%
4 star 50%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
Perry Nally Jan 31, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Helpful and informative step by step walk-throughs. You'll want to keep this as a reference guide since it's nearly impossible to memorize all of the commands if unless you use them everyday. If you are just starting out with Ubuntu Server, this book will be essential in boosting your productivity. One added touch you get is that in a few places there is a comparison of the differences between Red Hat. Great read.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
ruben Jan 16, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Hello:This is a great and interesting book becase it has the tools to administrate a server with this tecnology, I haven't seen a book with this topicsit has the fundamentals to start working with a server.I really recommend this book for the ones want to get in is this topics and the book guides you in the main things to start.Thanks
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Tim Crothers Dec 14, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
Not a ton of depth in the explanations but that is in line with the intent "essentials". The book does a really good job of covering a broad range of topics for Ubuntu in a short space. The examples all work well and the instructions are very clear. I gave the book four stars instead of five because the book could really benefit from another round of editing. There are a lot of awkward word choices scattered throughout which require you to re-read the sentence to make sure you understand what the author is saying. But in the whole, while this detracts a bit from the readability, the overall treatment and content are really solid. If you're looking for a quick read on getting up to speed on implementing Ubuntu Servers then this book is for you.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Winston Jan 29, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
This book is for server administrators who want to get started with managing Ubuntu Servers. Each chapter builds upon the next and will in no time have the reader ready to deploy, configure and administer Ubuntu servers. What was very helpful was chapter on Tips and Tricks for Ubuntu. Enjoy!!!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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