Why is it important to create a detailed plan prior to deploying a Linux installation?
A Linux deployment needs to be planned carefully to ensure that it adequately achieves the project goals and meets user needs.
What elements should you consider when performing a needs assessment?
Elements of a needs assessment include goals of the project, problems that need to be solved, expected results, stake holders, organization strategy and technology, funding, support strategy, and scope (schedule, resources, and scale).
What factors should you consider when selecting a Linux distribution?
Whether (a) the computer should be a server or a workstation, (b) required software is available for the distribution, (c) support is available for the distribution, and (d) end users will be comfortable with the distribution.
How can you ensure that specific hardware is compatible with the Linux distribution you have selected?
Review the distribution’s Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) to ensure that specific hardware is compatible with the Linux distribution you have selected.
Why must the /etc, /bin, /sbin, /lib, and /dev directories all be on the same partition?
These /etc, /bin, /sbin, /lib, and /dev directories have system configuration files that are necessary for Linux to function properly.
Which user account is automatically created when Linux is installed?
The ‘root’ account is automatically created when Linux is installed.
What type of installation sources are available for Linux?
Installation sources available for Linux include CD, DVD, and Network Share.
What is one of the most critical components in the installation plan?
One of the most critical components in the installation plan is the project scope.
What are the three components of project scope?
- Schedule
- Resources
- Scale
What is one of the most important things you can do to manage project scope?
Performing a thorough and detailed needs assessment is critical to managing project scope.
What are the major steps involved in designing a Linux installation?
- Perform a needs assessment
- Pick a distribution
- Determine the hardware requirements
- Plan the file system
- Plan the partitions
- Identify software
- Identify the users
- Gather network information
- Select an installation source
What is involved in the installation design step, performing a needs assessment?
An effective assessment determines the goals of the installation, creates a plan to meet those needs, and measures the results of the plan:
- Interviewing managers to determine the goals they want to achieve, what problems they need to solve, the expected results.
- Writing clear, measureable statements that specifically address the goals.
- Indentifying the stake holders.
- Confirming correct authorization.
- Aligning the installation with current organizational strategy and technology.
- Verifying funding.
- Creating a support strategy.
- Determining the scope:
- Identify deadlines.
- Determine the tasks that must be completed.
- Plan for human resource allocation.
What is involved in the installation design step, picking a distribution?
- Determining whether the computer should be a server or a workstation
- The SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is optimized to be used as a server.
- The SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is optimized to be used as a desktop.
- Determining whether end users will be comfortable with the distribution, or whether configuration changes might be necessary.
- Determining whether required software is available for the distribution.
- Make a list of applications and ensure that they are provided on the distribution.
- Ensuring that the distribution has the necessary support.
What are some important considerations in the installation design step, determining the hardware requirements?
Some computer hardware is incompatible with some distributions. Ensure that:
- The computer’s hardware is on the distribution’s hardware compatibility list.
- The computers have sufficient CPU speed, memory and other system requirements.
- The correct version of the distribution is installed on the computer based on the computer’s CPU architecture:
- x86 for 32 bit CPUs
- x64 for 64 bit CPUs
- IA-64 for Itanium CPUs
- ALPHA for Alpha CPUs
- PPC for Power PC (Apple) CPUs
What are some important considerations in the installation design step, planning the file systesm?
- Maximum volume size
- Maximum file size
- File name size
- Permissions and file security
- Encryption support
- Recovery support and speed
- Backup support
- Journal support
What are some common Linux file systems and their features?
- ext2 has volume integrity features that may take several minutes to run after a system crash.
- ext3 uses journaling to ensure that only incomplete transactions are checked after a system crash. It is the default file system on most distributions.
- ReiserFS also uses journaling and also implements additional security features based on its file structure.
During the installation design step, planning the partitions, which directories should be mounted on separate partitions, and what are their recommended sizes?
- / (root) must be at least 4 GB, but should be much larger and should be on a primary partition.
- /home should be a minimum of 5 - 10 GB.
- /boot should be 100 - 200 MBand must be in the first 1024 cylinders of the disk for older BIOS versions.
- /opt should be at least 1 GB.
- /tmp should be 1GB.
- /usr should be 5 GB - 16 GB.
- /var should be 3 - 10 GB (large enough to accommodate log file growth).
- /swap should be 1 - 1.5 times larger than the amount of installed RAM.
During the installation design step, planning the partitions, which directories should always be mounted on the same partition?
The following directories must always be mounted on the same partition:
- /etc
- /bin
- /sbin
- /lib
- /dev
- /proc
These directories have system configuration files that are necessary for Linux to function properly.
What is involved in the installation design step, identifying software?
Determining which software packages need to be installed and installing only those packages. This conservessystem resources and reduces potential vulnerabilities.
What is involved in the installation design step, Identifying the users?
- Ensuring user names are spelled correctly
- Determining whether users log in locally or over the network
- Determining the groups to which users will belong
What information is required for the installation design step, gathering network information?
- IP address
- Default gateway
- Subnet mask
- Host name
- Domain name
- Server information for DNS servers, mail servers, and other network servers
- Network topology information such as [other] domain names
- Naming conventions for servers and workstations
What are some common choices for the installation design step, selecting an installation source?
- CD
- DVD
- Network Share
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0.1 Introduction8
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1.1 The Shell64
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1.2 Help33
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1.3 Environment Variables39
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1.4 Aliases13
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1.5 Text Editors41
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1.6 Redirection and Piping35
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1.7 Directories26
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1.8 Files36
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1.9 Links15
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1.10 Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)34
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1.11 Locating and Searching Files116
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2.1 Installation Design22
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2.2 Linux Installation23
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2.3 Localization37
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3.1 Linux Boot Process21
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3.2 Bootloaders50
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3.3 Runlevels42
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3.4 Init Scripts71
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3.5 System Shutdown26
