This course will prepare students for the current CompTIA Linux+ certification exam. It provides a comprehensive guide to common tasks performed by system administrators, including installation, customization, and troubleshooting. Expanded coverage of networking and security are included, which map to the 2007 exam objectives.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Outline the key features of the Linux operating system, list the advantages of using Linux, and explain the common uses of Linux in the industry.
• Install Fedora Core 2; describe common types of central processing units, physical memory, disk drives, mainboards, peripheral devices, video adapter cards, monitors, keyboards, and mice; and obtain the hardware and software information necessary to install Linux.
• Explain the function of the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, use standard commands to manage files and directories, find files and directories, understand and create linked files, modify file and directory ownership, define and change file and directory permissions, identify the default permissions created on files and directories, and apply special file and directory permissions.
• Install and configure SCSI devices; identify default IRQs, I/O addresses, and DMAs; explain how Plug-and-Play can be used to assign configuration to peripheral devices; explore fault-tolerant disk systems and RAID configurations; outline the steps used to install Linux from source files on a hard disk or network server; create a kickstart file; and troubleshoot the installation process.
• Redirect the input and output of a command; identify, manipulate, create, and export shell variables; edit environment files to create variables; describe the purpose of shell scripts; create and execute shell scripts; use common decision constructs in shell scripts; and use and customize the BASH shell command history feature.
• Outline the major steps necessary to boot a Linux system, configure the LILO and GRUB boot loaders, dual boot Linux with the Windows operating system, understand how the init daemon initializes the system at boot time, and understand runlevels.
• Explain the purpose of the GUI components such as X Windows, window managers, and desktop environments; list the common window managers and desktop environments; configure X Windows by using various utilities; start and stop an X server; and run X applications from the command line.

This course is designed for students who are preparing for CompTIA’s Linux+ certification exam and want to manage Linux systems. After successful completion of this course, students will be well prepared for the Linux+ certification exam. This course is also an excellent choice for experienced Linux professionals who are in pursuit of Linux+ certification.

Students taking this course should be familiar with personal computers and the use of a keyboard and a mouse.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Linux
Linux as an operating system
Common uses for Linux

Lesson 2: Installing a Linux system
Installing Linux
Understanding hardware
Gathering pre-installation information

Lesson 3: Exploring interfaces and filesystems
Linux interfaces
Basic shell commands
Files and directories
Displaying the contents of files
Searching and editing text files

Lesson 4: Filesystem management
The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard
Searching and linking files
File and directory permissions
Default and special permissions

Lesson 5: Filesystem administration
The /dev directory and device files
Using floppy disks and CD-ROMs
Hard disks
Monitoring filesystems

Lesson 6: Advanced installation and troubleshooting
Advanced hardware configuration
Fault-tolerant disk systems
Advanced installation methods
Troubleshooting installations

Lesson 7: Working with the BASH shell
Command input and output
Shell variables
Shell scripts
BASH command history

Lesson 8: System initialization
Booting and boot loaders
System initialization

Lesson 9: The X Windows system
GUI components
Configuring X Windows

Lesson 10: Managing system processes
Starting, viewing, and killing processes
Foreground and background processes
Process priorities and scheduling

Lesson 11: Printer and log file administration
Printer administration
Log file administration

Lesson 12: User, group, and file administration
Administering users and groups
Administering user files

Lesson 13: Compression, backup, and software installation
Compression
System backup
Software installation

Lesson 14: Troubleshooting and performance monitoring
Troubleshooting
Performance monitoring

Lesson 15: Network Configuration
Networks and TCP/IP
Configuring a PPP interface
Name resolution
Using network resources
Configuring network services

Lesson 16: Security
System security
Detecting intrusion