System Administration

Unlike many professions, there is no single path to becoming a system administrator. Many SysAdmins have a degree in a wide range of fields: computer science, systems engineering, Information Technology, software engineering, mechanical engineering, meteorology, and so on.

Plus, given the hands-on nature of system administration, and the availability of open source server software, many SysAdmins enter this field on a self-taught basis. Generally, it requires some prior experience with the system expected to be managed. In some cases, SysAdmin candidates must hold a certificate before they can be considered for the position.

This profession becomes more difficult if you don’t have the habit of undertaking best practices.

But where do you learn them? Where are they written down?

In this chapter, we intend to clear up those doubts and help you on your way to becoming a Linux system administrator.

We’re going to cover the following main...