Synopses & Reviews
Ubuntu Server is a complete, free server operating system that just works, with the extra Ubuntu polish, innovation, and simplicity that administrators love.
Now, there’s a definitive, authoritative guide to getting up and running quickly with the newest, most powerful versions of Ubuntu Server. Written by leading members of the Ubuntu community, The Official Ubuntu Server Book, Third Edition, covers all you need to know to make the most of Ubuntu Server, whether you’re a beginner or a battle-hardened senior systems administrator.
The authors cover Ubuntu Server from start to finish: installation, basic administration and monitoring, security, backup, troubleshooting, system rescue, and much more. They walk through deploying each of the most common server applications, from file and print services to state-of-the-art, cost-saving virtualization and cloud computing.
In addition, you’ll learn how to
- Make the most of Ubuntu Server’s latest, most powerful technologies
- Discover easy, fast ways to perform key administration tasks
- Automate Ubuntu installs, no matter how many servers you’re installing
- Quickly set up low-cost Web servers and e-mail
- Protect your server with Ubuntu’s built-in and optional security tools
- Minimize downtime with fault tolerance and clustering
- Master proven, step-by-step server and network troubleshooting techniques
- Walk through rescuing an Ubuntu server that won’t boot
- Deploy your own Ubuntu servers in the cloud
Synopsis
Authorized and aggressively co-promoted by Canonical, The Official Ubuntu Server Book is the server companion to the world's #1 Ubuntu book. Fully updated to reflect Canonical's latest Ubuntu server release, this book covers everything "mere mortals" need to know to install, configure, and administer efficient, low-cost Ubuntu servers in any environment. Ideal for both new and experienced Ubuntu and Linux administrators, this book covers a wide spectrum of core admin tasks, including automated Kickstart and FAI installation techniques; package management; security; backup; monitoring; and even virtualization. Readers will also find detailed, step-by-step "recipes" for installing and configuring each leading type of server, including web, database, DNS, DHCP, file, mail, print, and many other types.
Beginning administrators and power users can rely on this book from the moment they decide to install and configure their first Ubuntu servers. Advanced sysadmins and netadmins can rely on it for simple, elegant, streamlined best practices that help them get more done in less time: techniques that fully leverage the major improvements to Ubuntu and Linux administration that have been implemented in recent years.
About the Author
Kyle Rankin is a senior systems administrator in San Francisco. He is an award-winning columnist for
Linux Journal, has had articles featured in
PC Magazine and
TechTarget, and is an accomplished Linux author. He speaks frequently on Open Source software.
Benjamin Mako Hill was part of the founding Ubuntu team and was one of Canonical Ltd.’s first employees. He is now a fellow at the MIT Center for Future Civic Media, and a researcher and Ph.D. candidate at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He remains a member of Ubuntu’s Community Council governance board and is an active contributor. He is lead author of The Official Ubuntu Book, Fifth Edition (Prentice Hall, 2010).
Table of Contents
Preface xix
Acknowledgments xxv
About the Authors xxvii
Introduction xxix
Welcome to Ubuntu Server xxix
Free Software, Open Source, and Linux xxx
A Brief History of the Ubuntu Project xxxiv
Ubuntu Promises and Goals xli
Canonical and the Ubuntu Foundation xlvi
History of Ubuntu Server xlix
Simple, Secure, Supported li
Chapter 1: Installation 1
Get Ubuntu 2
Boot Screen 3
Disk Partitioning 5
Server Roles 13
Installer Console 15
Reboot the System 16
Chapter 2: Essential System Administration 17
Basic Command-Line Administration 18
Ubuntu Boot Process 24
File System Hierarchy 39
Networking 45
Chapter 3: Package Management 51
Introduction to Package Management 52
Debian Packages 60
Package Management in Ubuntu 63
Making Your Own Packages 77
Chapter 4: Automated Ubuntu Installs 83
Preseeding 84
Kickstart 104
PXE Boot Server Deployment 111
Customize Automated Installs 118
Chapter 5: Guide to Common Ubuntu Servers 125
DNS Server 126
Web Server 135
Mail Server 144
POP/IMAP Server 156
OpenSSH Server 158
DHCP Server 160
Database Server 163
File Server 174
Edubuntu and LTSP 180
LTSP Server Configurations 184
Chapter 6: Security 199
General Security Principles 200
Sudo 201
AppArmor 206
SSH Security 210
Firewalls 214
Intrusion Detection 226
Incident Response 233
Chapter 7: Backups 239
Backup Principles 240
Drive Imaging 242
Database Backups 244
BackupPC 249
Chapter 8: Monitoring 267
Local Monitoring Tools 268
Ganglia 273
Nagios 280
Chapter 9: Virtualization and Cloud Computing 297
KVM 298
Amazon EC2 315
Juju 330
Chapter 10: Fault Tolerance 341
Fault Tolerance Principles 342
RAID 344
LVM 369
Ethernet Bonding 372
Clusters 378
Chapter 11: Troubleshooting 399
General Troubleshooting Philosophy 400
Localhost Troubleshooting 403
Network Troubleshooting 416
Hardware Troubleshooting 425
Chapter 12: Rescue and Recovery 429
Ubuntu Recovery Mode 430
Ubuntu Server Recovery CD 435
Ubuntu Desktop Live CD 439
Chapter 13: Help and Resources 449
Paid Support from Canonical 450
Forums 451
Internet Relay Chat 452
Mailing Lists 455
Online Documentation 456
Localhost Documentation 457
Local Community Teams 458
Other Languages 459
Tech Answers System (Launchpad) 459
Bug Reporting 459
For More Information 461
Chapter 14: Basic Linux Administration 463
Shell Globs 464
Pipes and Redirection 466
File Permissions and Ownership 472
Linux File Types 474
At and Cron 478
Appendix: Cool Tips and Tricks 485
Avoid That grep Command in grep Output 485
Shortcut to a Command Path 486
Wipe a Drive in One Line 486
Run a Command Over and Over 487
Make a Noise When the Server Comes Back Up 487
Search and Replace Text in a File 487
find and exec Commands 488
Bash Commands with Too Many Arguments 488
Use Your Bash History 489
Are These Files Identical? 489
Go Back to Your Previous Directory 489
Find Out Who Is Tying Up a File System You Want to Unmount 490
Send a Test E-mail Using telnet 490
Easy SSH Key Sharing 491
Get the Most Out of Dig 492
Index 495