Eleventh Hour Linux+

Exam XK0-003 Study Guide

Chris Happel, Brian Barber, Graham Speake, Terrence V. Lillard

• Publisher: Syngress
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781597494977
• eBook ISBN: 9781597494984
• Topic: Informatik
• Subtopic: Cybersicherheit

Eleventh Hour Linux+: Exam XK0-003 Study Guide offers a practical guide for those preparing for the Linux+ certification exam.The book begins with a review of important concepts that are needed for successful operating system installation. These include computer hardware, environment settings, partitions, and network settings. The book presents the strategies for creating filesystems; different types of filesystems; the tools used to create filesystems; and the tools used to administer filesystems. It explains the Linux boot process; how to configure system and user profiles as well as the common environment variables; and how to use BASH command line interpreter.The remaining chapters discuss how to install, configure, support, and remove applications; the configuration of Linux as a workstation and as a server; securing the Linux system; and common tools for managing a system. Each chapter includes information on exam objectives, exam warnings, and the top five toughest questions along with their answers. - Fast Facts quickly review fundamentals - Exam Warnings highlight particularly tough sections of the exam - Crunch Time sidebars point out key concepts to remember - Did You Know? sidebars cover sometimes forgotten details - Top Five Toughest Questions and answers help you to prepare

CHAPTER 1. Installing Linux

Exam objectives in this chapter

■ A Note about Hardware

■ Installing from Local Media

■ Installing across the Network

■ Laying out the Filesystem

■ Disk Types

Introduction

Initial operating system installation requires the understanding of important concepts including computer hardware, environment settings, partitions and network settings. Successful installations need good planning performed in advance.

A Note About Hardware

Linux is supported on many different hardware platforms because of its flexible architecture and the support of the open source community.

Fast Facts

The Linux hardware compatibility architecture is divided into four categories as follows:

■ Central processing unit (CPU) architectures supported continue to expand and include 32- and 64-bit Intel and AMD architectures, SPARC.

■ Hardware abstraction layer (HAL) is designed to function as a tier between the physical hardware and software functioning on the system. Its purpose is to hide hardware complexity and differences from the operating system kernel.

■ The monolithic kernel architecture is designed to function dynamically and supports the loading of modules and instructions to implement all operating system services. The Linux kernel integrates the CPU architecture via a series of device drivers and kernel extensions.

■ Hardware components are presented as device drivers, and for each Linux distribution a unique Linux Hardware Compatibility List is created.

For the Linux+ exam, you will need a fundamental understanding of the following components:

■ Power supply units (PSU) are the devices required to provide the various computer hardware components within your system with direct current (DC).

■ Motherboards are circuit boards housed inside the system unit that contains the CPU, the memory (RAM) chips, and the slots available for expansion cards. Other expansion boards interface with it to receive power and to provide bidirectional communications.

■ CPUs are responsible for data processing and control the functions performed by the various hardware components, process all software instructions issued, and determine the speed of the system.

■ Memory stores the data or programs that the CPU processes.

■ Expansion boards are devices that expand the capabilities of a computer by enabling a range of different devices.

■ Video adapters are expansion cards that translate binary into the images viewed on the computer monitor.

■ Storage devices are internal and external devices used for storing data and information.

Crunch Time

Although the Linux+ exam is not about the hardware, you need to have a basic understanding of the components to install and support Linux and be able to answer the following:

■ CPU make and architecture (32 or 64 bit)?

■ How much RAM (memory) do you have?

■ What installation media do you have (DVD/CD/network)?

Installing from Local Media

The purpose of this section is to present you with the major Linux installation decisions required during the operating system installation process.

Linux Installation Process

Linux can be installed from various local and network sources. Apart from a few unique settings, the installation process for each installation source is essentially the same. Linux local media installation can be performed by using CD, DVD, or .iso sources. When the installer is launched from a local source, the system completes an on-board self test and displays an initial screen allowing various options, such as install, repair, rescue, and so forth. The options offered will vary depending upon the Linux distribution, but typically include the following:

■ Boot from the Hard Disk It is used to automatically boot an existing Linux operating system.

■ Repair Installed System This option repairs a previously installed system.

■ Installation This option loads the mini Linux kernel from the Linux distribution and starts the installation process.

■ Rescue System This option starts a specialized small Linux kernel without a graphical user interface. It loads the Linux Kernel into RAM and can modify configuration files, check the filesystem for defects, verify and/or modify the boot loader configuration, resize the partition, and a few other critical system modifications that may be necessary.

■ Check Installation Media It is used to ensure the image's integrity.

■ Memory Test This option conducts systematic tests of your system RAM using memtest86.

The installation process is divided into three distinct stages: preparation, installation, and configuration. The preparation stage assists you in configuring the system's language, date and time, desktop environment, user account information, user and root password authentication methods, and type of disk partitioning information. The installation stage is a noninteractive process, which installs the software and prepares your system for the initial boot sequence. The final stage is the configuration stage and, depending on whether you selected automatic or manual configuration, the installer software will either preconfigure various network settings or allow you to input network configuration information. For example, your machine's host name, domain name, and other network configuration settings (for example, interfaces, DHCP, firewalls).

Preparation

The first stage, preparation, collects information from you regarding your system's environment and your preferences. The default language and keyboard settings are English (US). Selecting the language and keyboard settings will automatically switch the system to the prescribe settings. The Installer application performs a system analysis of your system by conducting a system probe to search for various storage devices (for example, USB, Firewire, floppy disks, hard disk drives), existing Linux partitions and system files, determining whether the system can be updated, and launching the Package Manage...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Author Bios
• CHAPTER 1. Installing Linux
• CHAPTER 2. Managing Filesystems
• CHAPTER 3. Booting Linux
• CHAPTER 4. Configuring the Base System
• CHAPTER 5. Using BASH
• CHAPTER 6. Installing Applications
• CHAPTER 7. Installing, Configuring as a Workstation
• CHAPTER 8. Installing, Configuring as a Server
• CHAPTER 9. Securing Linux
• CHAPTER 10. Troubleshooting and Maintaining Linux
• Glossary
• Index