Linux Troubleshooting

The GL314 is designed to give Linux administrators experience with both common and uncommon system problems. The course is based on the idea that the best way to learn troubleshooting is to perform troubleshooting. Approximately 25% of class time is spent on lecture, leaving 75% for intensive lab content. Class starts with a discussion of effective troubleshooting technique. Tools and topics are gradually introduced over the course of the week. Students practice applying these tools and techniques in self-paced labs. Students can choose from over 120 scenarios organized by topic and difficulty. Because each scenarios is independent of the others, students can choose scenarios according to their interests and experience. Each scenario is designed to help students develop deeper understanding while exploring the problem. All scenarios includes optional hints designed to reflect a realistic troubleshooting process while only gradually revealing the solution. Students find the flexibility and challenge of this course very rewarding.

Prerequisites
This course is designed for intermediate to advanced users.

Course Outline

TROUBLESHOOTING METHODOLOGY

• The Troubleshooting Mindset
• Evaluating Possible Solutions
• Identifying and Implementing Change
• Define and Follow Policies
• Working with Others
• Finding Documentation
• Finding Help Online

TROUBLESHOOTING TOOLS

• Common Troubleshooting Tools
• RPM Queries
• RPM Verification
• SRPM and spec Files
• Hardware Discovery Tools
• Configuring New Hardware with hwinfo
• strace and ltrace
• lsof and fuser
• ipcs and ipcrm
• iostat, mpstat, and vmstat
• Using hdparm to Measure
• Troubleshooting with the ip command
• Name Resolution
• ss/netstat and rpcinfo
• nmap
• Netcat
• tcpdump and wireshark
• LAB TASKS
  • Determining the System's Configuration
  • Troubleshooting with rpm
  • Process Related Tools
  • Network Tools

RESCUE ENVIRONMENTS

• Diagnostic/Recovery
• Rescue Procedures
• Recovery: mount & chroot
• Recovery Examples
• Recovery: Network Utilities
• LAB TASKS
  • Recovery Runlevels
  • Recovering Damaged MBR
  • Recover from Deleted Critical Files

TOPIC GROUP 1

• Linux Boot Process
• System Boot Method Overview
• systemd System and Service Manager
• Modifying systemd services
• Using systemd
• Booting Linux on PCs
• Troubleshooting With GRUB 2
• Boot Process Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting: Linux and Init
• Process Management
• Process Management Tools
• Troubleshooting Processes: top
• Filesystem Concepts
• Filesystem Troubleshooting
• Backup Concepts
• Backup Troubleshooting
• Backup Troubleshooting
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 1

TOPIC GROUP 2

• Networking Tools
• Linux Network Interfaces
• Networking Commands Review
• NetworkManager
• Networking Troubleshooting
• Networking Troubleshooting
• Virtual Interfaces/IP Aliases
• Network Teaming
• Xinetd Concepts
• Xinetd Troubleshooting
• TCP Wrappers Concepts
• TCP Wrappers Concepts
• TCP Wrappers Troubleshooting
• Netfilter/iptables Concepts
• Netfilter/iptables Troubleshooting
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 2

TOPIC GROUP 3

• X11 Concepts
• X11 Server Operation
• X11 Troubleshooting
• Rsyslog Concepts
• System Logging
• systemd Journal
• systemd Journal's journalctl
• Secure Logging with Journal's Log Sealing
• Syslog Troubleshooting
• RPM Concepts
• RPM Troubleshooting
• Common Unix Printing System (CUPS)
• CUPS Troubleshooting
• CUPS Troubleshooting
• at & cron
• at & cron Usage
• at & cron Troubleshooting
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 3

TOPIC GROUP 4

• Users and Groups
• Users and Groups Troubleshooting
• PAM Concepts
• PAM Troubleshooting
• Filesystem Quotas
• Quotas Troubleshooting
• File Access Control Lists
• FACL Troubleshooting
• SELinux Concepts
• SELinux Troubleshooting
• SELinux Troubleshooting Continued
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 4

TOPIC GROUP 5

• Kernel Modules
• Kernel Modules Troubleshooting
• Logical Volume Management
• Creating Logical Volumes
• LVM Deployment Issues
• VG Migration, PV Resizing & Troubeshooting
• Software RAID Overview
• RAID Troubleshooting
• Multipathing Overview
• SAN Multipathing
• Multipath Configuration
• Multipathing Best Practices
• LDAP and OpenLDAP
• Troubleshooting OpenLDAP
• NIS and NIS+ (YP)
• NIS Troubleshooting Aids
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 5

TOPIC GROUP 6

• DNS Concepts
• DNS Troubleshooting
• DNS Troubleshooting
• Apache Concepts
• Apache Troubleshooting
• Apache Troubleshooting
• FTP Concepts
• FTP Troubleshooting
• Squid Concepts
• Squid Troubleshooting
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 6

TOPIC GROUP 7

• Samba Concepts
• Samba Troubleshooting
• Postfix Concepts
• Postfix Troubleshooting
• Postfix Troubleshooting
• IMAP & POP Concepts
• IMAP/POP Troubleshooting
• MariaDB
• MariaDB Troubleshooting
• LAB TASKS
  • Troubleshooting Problems: Topic Group 7

HSG courses are taught by the experienced instructors who are proven experts in their field. Our instructors are highly knowledgeable, friendly, reliable and inspiring. They speak and teach industry's best practices and often customize classes to meet individual needs.

Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussions and training-labs.