Customize the Packages in Kickstart file

This is the part of kickstart file of RHEL 6.0

%packages --ignoremissing

@Desktop

@Sound and Video

@X Window System

%end

Anonymous FTP upload in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

This video explains how to do anonymous FTP upload in Redhat Enterprise Linux 6

Partition Encryption in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

This video explains how the encrypt the partition in the command mode of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

Samba Server Configuration in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

This video explains about the basic samba configuration in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

NTP Server Configuration in RHEL 6

This video explains how to setup the local NTP server in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

Client Side configuration:
Step 1: Set the ipaddress in the same range (say 9.0.0.21) & check up with ping command.
Step 2: #system-config-date
            Remove all and give 9.0.0.20 (NTP server ip) in NTP Servers box.
Step 3: #service ntpd restart
Step 4: #chkconfig ntpd on
Step 5: #ntpdate -b 9.0.0.20
Note: The time will be synchronized with the NTP server, the client system restart requires sometimes.

Pre requestis for Red Hat Certified Engineer — RHCE

An RHCE® certification is earned by a Red Hat® Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) who has demonstrated the knowledge, skill, and ability required of a senior system administrator responsible for Red Hat Enterprise Linux® systems. Professionals holding this certification have continually helped their companies with successful deployments and migrations.

Prerequisites

An RHCE is able to perform the following tasks (in addition to tasks associated with RHCSA):

    Configuration of static routes, packet filtering, and network address translation

    Setting kernel runtime parameters

    Building simple RPMs

    Configuring an iSCSI initiator

    Producing and delivering reports on system utilization

    Using shell scripting to automate system maintenance tasks

    Configuring system logging, including remote logging

    Configuring a system to provide networking services, including HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, NFS, SMB, SMTP,  SSH, and NTP

Hiring IT professionals who are certified as RHCEs allows many organizations to increase their ratio of servers to administrators, enabling them to be more cost effective in building out their infrastructures without needing to bring on additional resources.

Exam objectives

RHCE exam candidates should consult the RHCSA exam objectives and be capable of RHCSA-level tasks, as some of these skills may be required in order to meet RHCE exam objectives. Red Hat reserves the right to add, modify, and remove objectives. Such changes will be made public in advance through revisions to this document.

RHCE exam candidates should be able to accomplish the following without assistance. These have been grouped into several categories.

System configuration and management

    Route IP traffic and create static routes.

    Use iptables to implement packet filtering and configure network address translation (NAT).

    Use /proc/sys and sysctl to modify and set kernel runtime parameters.

    Configure a system to authenticate using Kerberos.

    Build a simple RPM that packages a single file.

    Configure a system as an iSCSI initiator that persistently mounts an iSCSI target.

    Produce and deliver reports on system utilization (processor, memory, disk, and network).

    Use shell scripting to automate system maintenance tasks.

    Configure a system to log to a remote system.

    Configure a system to accept logging from a remote system.

Network services

Network services are an important subset of the exam objectives. RHCE candidates should be capable of meeting the following objectives for each of the network services listed below:

    Install the packages needed to provide the service.

    Configure SELinux to support the service.

    Configure the service to start when the system is booted.

    Configure the service for basic operation.

    Configure host-based and user-based security for the service.

HTTP/HTTPS

    Configure a virtual host.

    Configure private directories.

    Deploy a basic CGI application.

    Configure group-managed content.

DNS

    Configure a caching-only name server.

    Configure a caching-only name server to forward DNS queries.

    Note: Candidates are not expected to configure master or slave name servers.

FTP

    Configure anonymous-only download.

NFS

    Provide network shares to specific clients.

    Provide network shares suitable for group collaboration.

SMB

    Provide network shares to specific clients.

    Provide network shares suitable for group collaboration.

SMTP

    Configure a mail transfer agent (MTA) to accept inbound email from other systems.

    Configure an MTA to forward (relay) email through a smart host.

SSH

    Configure key-based authentication.

    Configure additional options described in documentation.

NTP

    Synchronize time using other NTP peers.

Installation Server works good in RHEL5.3

You can install RHEL6.1 from the RHEL5.3 installation server itself.

1. Create a PXE server. (Refer the blog)
2. Copy all DVD content to /var/ftp/pub/rhel6.1 location
3. Copy the important files vmlinuz & initrd  into the /tftpboot/rhel6.1 location

4. Create kickstart file using system-config-kickstart.

5. Edit the file "/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default" as follows
label 6.1
  kernel rhel6.1/vmlinuz
  append initrd=rhel6.1/initrd.img ks=nfs:192.168.0.254:/var/ftp/pub/rhel6.1/ks.cfg

6. Type 6.1 in the PXE Server boot screen.

RHEL6.1 Kickstart file

The following file is the kickstart file for installing RHEL6.1

#platform=x86, AMD64, or Intel EM64T
#version=DEVEL
# Firewall configuration
firewall --disabled
# Install OS instead of upgrade
install
# Use NFS installation media
nfs --server=192.168.0.254 --dir=/var/ftp/pub/rhel6.1
# Root password
rootpw --iscrypted $1$x7Z15vjx$hG7xzuDLfLbCqgvxiazDx.
# System authorization information
auth  --useshadow  --passalgo=sha512
# Use text mode install
text
firstboot --disable
# System keyboard
keyboard us
# System language
lang en_US
# SELinux configuration
selinux --enforcing
# Installation logging level
logging --level=info
# Reboot after installation
reboot
# System timezone
timezone --isUtc Asia/Kolkata
# System bootloader configuration
bootloader --location=mbr --md5pass="$1$phl5jhIB$vIl45UqkSrUgZnUxdyySw."
# Partition clearing information
clearpart --all  
# Disk partitioning information
part / --fstype="ext4" --size=10000
part /home --fstype="ext4" --size=1024
part swap --fstype="swap" --size=1024

%packages
@additional-devel
@backup-client
@backup-server
@base
@cifs-file-server
@client-mgmt-tools
@compat-libraries
@console-internet
@core
@debugging
@basic-desktop
@desktop-debugging
@desktop-platform
@desktop-platform-devel
@development
@dial-up
@directory-client
@directory-server
@mail-server
@eclipse
@emacs
@identity-server
@ftp-server
@fonts
@general-desktop
@graphical-admin-tools
@graphics
@hardware-monitoring
@ha
@ha-management
@infiniband
@input-methods
@internet-browser
@java-platform
@kde-desktop
@large-systems
@legacy-unix
@legacy-x
@load-balancer
@mainframe-access
@system-management-messaging-client
@mysql-client
@mysql
@nfs-file-server
@network-server
@storage-server
@network-file-system-client
@network-tools
@php
@performance
@perl-runtime
@postgresql-client
@postgresql
@print-server
@print-client
@remote-desktop-clients
@resilient-storage
@system-management-snmp
@scientific
@security-tools
@server-platform
@server-platform-devel
@server-policy
@storage-client-multipath
@system-management
@system-admin-tools
@system-management-messaging-server
@tex
@technical-writing
@turbogears
@virtualization-client
@virtualization-platform
@web-server
@web-servlet
@system-management-wbem
@x11
@storage-client-iscsi
libXinerama-devel
xorg-x11-proto-devel
startup-notification-devel
libgnomeui-devel
libbonobo-devel
junit
libXau-devel
libgcrypt-devel
popt-devel
libdrm-devel
libXrandr-devel
libxslt-devel
libglade2-devel
gnutls-devel
mtools
pax
python-dmidecode
oddjob
sgpio
genisoimage
wodim
abrt-gui
qt-mysql
desktop-file-utils
ant
rpmdevtools
jpackage-utils
rpmlint
krb5-pkinit-openssl
certmonger
openldap-clients
pam_krb5
krb5-workstation
ldapjdk
samba
krb5-server-ldap
krb5-server
slapi-nis
netpbm-progs
ImageMagick
telnet
tcp_wrappers
xterm
xorg-x11-xdm
libXmu
perl-DBD-MySQL
dnsmasq
radvd
sg3_utils
perl-DBD-SQLite
perl-Mozilla-LDAP
rdesktop
atlas
numpy
hmaccalc
ipmitool
pexpect
crypto-utils
libvirt-java
mod_auth_kerb
mod_nss
certmonger
perl-CGI
mod_revocator
tog-pegasus
%end

How to install Mate desktop in Ubuntu 12.04

To install Mate desktop in Ubuntu open Terminal (Press Ctrl+Alt+T) and copy the following commands in the Terminal:

• sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://packages.mate-desktop.org/repo/ubuntu precise main"

• sudo apt-get update

• sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring

• sudo apt-get update

• sudo apt-get install mate-core

• sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment

Password to boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

This video explains how to set the password in the grub boot loader. The password will be asked to boot the OS always.

Set the password for Grub file in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

This video explains how to set up the password for grub.conf file.

The method of running the python program in RHEL6

This video explains how to run a small python program in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

Swap partition recommendation by RedHat

RAM                              SWAP

up-to 4GB                at-least 2GB
4GB to 16GB             at-least 4GB
16GB to 64GB           at-least 8GB
64GB to 256GB          at-least 16GB

Managing Partitions in RHEL6

This video explains about creating & deleting partitions in RHEL6

Advance permission controls in RHEL6

To enable the advance permission controls in the permission dialog box

#gconftool-2 -t bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_advanced_permissions true

To disable the advance permission controls in the permission dialog box

#gconftool-2 -t bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_advanced_permissions false

VNC Server Configuration in RHEL6

Server side:

#vim /etc/sysconfig/vncservers

VNCSERVERS="1:visitor 2:student" (Edit the line in the above file)
Create 2 users (visitor & student with some password)

Login to visitor & student users and set vncpasswd (6 chars minimum)

#service vncserver restart

Client side:

#vncviewer -via visitor@server.example.com localhost:2

Loopback adapter setting in RHEL6

Try this following command in the terminal prompt:

#ifconfig lo:0 192.168.0.254 netmask 255.255.255.224 up

ISCSI works good in RHEL6

This video explains how to create ISCSI in RHEL6

NTP Server works good in RHEL6

This video explains the step by step NTP (Network Time Protocol) in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

Setting up sudo users in Linux

This video explains about setting up sudo users in Linux.

Course Outline for Ubuntu 12.04

Course methodology

This course helps transition participants from graphical user interface tools to the command-line interface. It provides a solid background in Linux using Ubuntu as the environment for exploration and learning. Lab exercises combined with highly engaging activities will be used to reinforce learning objectives.

Course schedule

Days 1 + 2: General Linux and Ubuntu introduction

Lesson 1: Ubuntu background and Linux (1 hour)

• Describe the history of Linux and the Ubuntu distribution.
• Explain the Ubuntu release cycle.
• Describe the Ubuntu community structure and governance board.

Lesson 2: Ubuntu desktop tour (1 hour)

• Describe the key features of Ubuntu Desktop. 
• Customise the desktop settings. 
• Navigate to directories and files in Nautilus. 
• Install and remove applications.
• Add new language settings.

Lesson 3: Using the command line interface (CLI) and sudo (3 hours)

• Essential CLI commands. 
  • cd, ls, grep, echo, uname, cat, less, more, rm, mkdir, touch, mv, nano. 
  • arguments.
  • man command. 
  • sudo command.

Lesson 4: Networking basics (2 hours)

• Current configuration of network interfaces. 
  • ip, ipconfig, /etc/resolv.conf, route.
• Changing the network configuration. 
• Testing for a working network connection.
  
  • ping, dig, host, nslookup. 
• • Managing the network with Network Manager.
  • adsl, wifi, ethernet. 
• Analyzing the network using Network Tools.

Lesson 5: Filesystem and basic backups (3 hours)

• Storage device naming system. 
• The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS). 
• Mounting and unmounting devices.
  
  • mount, umount. 
• Configuring fstab.
  
  • /etc/fstab. 
• Symbolic links. 
• Creating an ext4 file system.
  
  • ext2, ext4, xfs, mkfs. 
• Managing file systems.
  
  • fsck, debugfs, dump2fs, e2label.

Lesson 6: Permissions - User management (4 hours)

• Managing user accounts and groups. 
  • adduser, deluser, addgourp, delgroup.
• Different file system permissions. 
• Assigning permissions to different users and groups.
  
  • chmod, chown, chgrp. 
• Creating default settings for new user accounts.
  
  • /etc/adduser.conf. 
• Creating a default environment using /etc/profile.

Lesson 7: Process management (2 hours)

• Displaying and interpreting process statistics.
  
  • top, ps.
• Managing processes.
  
  • kill, nice, renice.
• Scheduling processes (pending upstart plans).
  
  • at, cron. 
• Finding out who's using files or devices.
  
  • lsof

Days 3 - 5

Lesson 8: Ubuntu background, community and support (2 hours)

• The Ubuntu community structure and governance board. 
• Technical board, Linus, Linux, GNU, Debian.
• Support resources from Canonical, partners, and the user community including:
• Mailing lists. 
• IRC channels. 
• Launchpad and other sources for researching and reporting bugs.
• Official Ubuntu documentation and community documentation. 
• Ubuntu release cycle.
• LTS, regular.

Lesson 9: Service management (6 hours)

• Upstart. 
• SystemV compatibility. 
• Starting and stopping system services.
• Kernel management and boot procedures (2 hours) 
• Explain the working and functionality of Grub2.
  
  • update-grub[2]. 
• Customise the Grub2 boot environment.
  
  • /etc/default/grub. 
• Explain the modular kernel.
  
  • modinfo, /etc/modules, /lib/modules, /boot, /etc/initramfs, update- initramfs.
• Manage kernel modules. 
  • modprobe, rmmod, /etc/modprobe.d.
• Describe how udev creates device interfaces for hardware. 
  • udev rules, udevadm, /etc/udev/rules.d.
• Hardware management and monitoring (2 hours) 
• Manage partitions.
  
  • fdisk, cfdisk, system->administration->disk utility, parted. 
• Display hardware information.
  
  • lsusb, lshw, lspci, dmesg, lscpu, lsscsi.
• Monitor a hard drive through the SMART interface. 
  • smartctl.
• Use the memtest facility. 
  • /boot/memtest86+.bin, grub.

Lesson 10 - Package management (3 hours)

• Explain how packages are used in Ubuntu. 
  • packages vs applications, dependencies, conflicts, recommendations.
• Explain apt system, repositories and meta packages. 
  • apt-get, apt-cache, apt-key, repositories, meta packages.
• Manage packages using the appropriate tools. 
  • tasksel, update-manager, Ubuntu Software Centre.

Lesson 11 - Providing services (3 hours)

• Setup a basic LAMP environment. 
  • tasksel install lamp-server. 
  • /var/www/phpinfo.php.
• Setup a basic Samba file server. 
  • apt-get install samba. 
  • /etc/samba.smb.conf.. 
  • smbpasswd.
• Set up SSH for remote access. 
  • apt-get install ssh.

Lesson 12 - Security (2 hours)

• Explain how AppArmor uses default profiles to secure your services. 
  • /etc/apparmor.d.
• Display current profiles used by AppArmor. 
  • aa-status.
• Explain how UFW works to protect your system. 
  • ufw.
• Configure UFW. 
  • ufw enable|disable etc.

Lesson – 13 GNOME configuration (2 hours)

• Localise your GNOME environment. 
  • system -> administration -> language support.
• Manage your GNOME configuration and restore a default state. 
  • gconf-editor, gconftool.
• Customise the GNOME environment. 
  • gdmsetup, /etc/gdm/.
• Connect to a network printer. 
  • system -> administration -> printing.

Lesson 14 - Monitoring / Landscape (1 hour)

• Set up munin for monitoring. 
  • apt-get install munin munin-node, /etc/munin/.
• Set up a landscape account. 
  • apt-get install landscape-client ; dpkg-reconfigure landscape-client.
• Register a computer with landscape.

DNS works good in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

This video explains about the basic DNS configuration in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

YUM Server Configuration in RHEL 6 (Yellow Dog Updater Modified) FTP Method

Server side configuration:

Step 1:

Install createrepo.rpm from the DVD for creating repository.

#rpm -ivh createrepo.rpm (Install the dependencies first, if any [eg:deltarpm, python-deltarpm])

#rpm -ivh vsftpd.rpm (for FTP server)

Step 2:

Copy all rpms form the DVD and past over the hard disk share them up in NFS.

#createrepo /path-to-rpms

eg:#createrepo /var/ftp/pub

It will take several minutes that depends upon the number of rpms that you have copied from the DVD specified and the configuration of yourmachine.

Step 3: 

#service vsftpd restart

Touch the following file with the contents specified.

#vim /etc/yum.repos.d/somename.repo

[base]

name=friendly name

baseurl=ftp://192.168.0.254/pub/  (Give the ipaddress of the YUM server) 

enabled=1

gpgcheck=0

Step 4: 

Use the yum server in the same machine because server is the first client of the same service most of the times the following command is used for install gcc compiler

#yum install gcc

Client side configuration:

Touch the following file with the contents specified.

#vim /etc/yum.repos.d/somename.repo

[base]

name=friendly name

baseurl=ftp://192.168.0.254/pub/  (Give the ipaddress of the YUM server) 

enabled=1

gpgcheck=0

#yum install gcc (just for an example)

Mounting an iso file in Linux (Fedora, Redhat)

#mkdir /rhel6 (creating a mount point – an empty directory)

#mount –t iso9660 –o loop rhel6.iso /rhel6 (actual mounting is taken place)

#cd /rhel6 (change to the directory)

#ls (listing down the iso content)