CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006

Hours: 100 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced
Retail Price: $1,242.00

Course Overview:

This course can benefit you in two ways. If you intend to pass the CompTIA Linux+ (Exam XK0-006) certification examination, this course can be a significant part of your preparation. However, certification is not the only key to professional success in the field of systems administration. Today's job market demands individuals with demonstrable skills, and the information and activities in this course can help you build your sysadmin skill set so that you can confidently perform your duties in any intermediate-level Linux systems administration role.

This course prepares students to take the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 national certification exam.

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Identifying Basic Linux Concepts

Working with Linux begins with an understanding of the command line. Linux servers are primarily managed from the command line, using shells such as Bash. Bash enforces a particular syntax or way of structuring commands. In addition, Linux holds its configurations in text files, so it's critical that sysadmins can edit these files to manage system settings. Man pages are available as quick reference documents to help administrators recall the function of specific commands and any available options.

Misconfigurations or physical failures may provide troubleshooting opportunities, so sysadmins should follow a standard methodology to help narrow the scope of problems, solve the root cause of the issue, and manage documentation related to configuration issues.

Lesson 2: Administering Users and Groups

Linux systems administrators must master user and group administration to effectively manage authentication and access control. Authentication verifies user identity, providing access to system functions and resources based on permissions and rules. Additionally, user environments can be customized to suit individual work styles.

Administrators must first understand user account management, including the relevant configuration files and commands. To streamline management, users are often organized into groups, which require a separate set of tools and configurations. Best practices include logging in with non-privileged accounts and elevating privileges only when necessary. Lastly, administrators play a key role in troubleshooting and security auditing by applying configuration files and commands to ensure system integrity and security.

Lesson 3: Configuring Permissions

Linux systems administrators must understand permissions configuration to control access to resources effectively. This involves managing group membership, file ownership, and group associations. The system uses the identity of an authenticated user to enforce permissions and restrict actions based on that identity. Linux employs a straightforward permissions model with three identities—users, groups, and others—and three access levels: read, write, and execute. Additionally, administrators may work with advanced permissions options, such as special permissions and access control lists (ACLs), for more granular control.

Lesson 4: Implementing File Management

Linux systems administrators must understand the Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), which ensures consistent directory structures across distributions. This knowledge helps administrators navigate directories and manage resources efficiently. Proficiency in file management tasks, such as creating and deleting files or directories, requires a solid grasp of the FHS and the ability to use the appropriate commands effectively.

Lesson 5: Authoring Text Files

Linux systems administrators frequently edit text files for daily tasks and system configuration changes, often without access to a graphical user interface (GUI). Text editing in Linux differs from other platforms, relying on tools like Vim and nano, which use modes and metakeys for basic functions such as saving and copy/pasting. Administrators must also ensure files are backed up, and protected, and maintain their integrity.

Lesson 6: Deploying Software

Linux software management is a critical aspect of maintaining and optimizing Linux systems. This process is typically handled through the use of package managers, which are powerful tools designed to deploy, update, remove, and provide information about software applications. Unlike other operating systems, the open-source nature of Linux often allows software to be compiled directly from source code, offering flexibility but also requiring additional technical expertise.

Given the wide variety of Linux distributions available, there is no single universal package manager. Instead, package managers are generally tied to the lineage of the distribution. Most Linux distributions can trace their origins back to either Red Hat Linux or Debian Linux, and as a result, they utilize the respective package management systems associated with these families. Understanding the package manager specific to your Linux distribution is essential for effective software management and system maintenance.

Lesson 7: Administering Storage

Linux systems administrators are responsible for effective storage management, which includes planning, hardware knowledge, and tool utilization. They must identify compatible storage hardware and understand performance requirements for stored data. Administrators manage direct-attached storage either as individual disks with traditional partitions or by combining them into logical volumes for greater flexibility. Additionally, they must be proficient in using Linux tools for troubleshooting and monitoring storage performance.

Lesson 8: Managing the Linux Kernel and Devices

Linux systems administrators are tasked with managing hardware, processes, and the kernel to ensure system efficiency and compatibility. They identify hardware resources such as CPU, memory, and bus devices using specific commands. Administrators also optimize and troubleshoot system performance by managing processes that consume these resources, with a primary focus on CPU and memory. Additionally, they oversee kernel management to enhance performance, enable new features, and ensure compatibility with modern hardware.

Lesson 9: Maintaining Services

Linux systems administrators are responsible for managing services and localization to support business operations. This includes initializing the Linux kernel using tools like systemd and SysVinit, which start essential services such as SSH for remote administration and Apache for hosting websites. Additionally, administrators must configure systems to align with user preferences and locale settings, ensuring comfort and practicality for end users.

Lesson 10: Configuring Network Settings

Networking responsibilities are a key aspect of a Linux systems administrator's role. Admins must manage and configure unique identities for nodes in a TCP/IP network, the foundation of modern networking. They are responsible for firewall management and monitoring network traffic to ensure security and protection. Additionally, they utilize various tools to enable remote connectivity for administrative tasks and file transfers. Troubleshooting network access issues is another critical duty, requiring proficiency with specialized tools and techniques.

Lesson 11: Securing a Linux System

Linux systems administrators play a critical role in implementing DevSecOps practices to integrate security into development and operations workflows. They are responsible for ensuring data confidentiality and integrity by applying encryption, access controls, and secure communication protocols. Administrators use hardening techniques, such as disabling unnecessary services, applying security patches, and configuring firewalls, to reduce vulnerabilities. They must also manage pluggable authentication models, like PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules), to enforce robust authentication mechanisms.

Compliance with industry standards and regulations is another key responsibility, requiring regular audits and adherence to security policies. Logging and monitoring are essential for tracking system activity, detecting anomalies, and responding to incidents. Additionally, administrators implement and manage SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) to enforce mandatory access controls, providing an extra layer of security to protect critical resources.

Lesson 12: Installing Linux

Linux systems administrators must understand the boot process and installation procedures to ensure proper system setup and operation. The Linux boot process is managed by the GRUB2 boot loader, which oversees startup until the Linux kernel takes control. GRUB2 requires specific configuration, involving the assembly of its main configuration file from multiple supporting files. During Linux deployment, administrators must choose between a physical or virtual machine platform and complete installation tasks such as selecting source files, configuring hardware (for example, partitioning), and installing software. After installation, administrators handle post-installation tasks, including applying security settings and updates to finalize the system setup.

Lesson 13: Scripting with Bash and Python

Scripting is the process of writing and executing a series of commands in a script file to automate tasks, streamline workflows, and manage systems more efficiently. For Linux administrators, scripting is an essential skill that helps save time and reduce errors by automating repetitive or complex tasks. Bash, the default shell in many Linux distributions, allows administrators to create shell scripts to perform tasks such as file management, user account creation, system monitoring, and backups. Python, a versatile and powerful programming language, extends these capabilities by enabling more complex automation, data processing, and integration with APIs. Both Bash and Python scripts empower Linux administrators to enhance productivity, maintain consistency, and address system management challenges effectively.

Lesson 14: Managing Containers in Linux

Container administration involves managing lightweight, portable environments that package applications and their dependencies, ensuring consistency across different systems. For Linux administrators, container management is a critical skill as containers, such as those created with Docker or Podman, are widely used in modern development and deployment workflows.

Administrators need to understand how to create, deploy, and manage containers, as well as how to optimize their performance and resource usage. They must also be familiar with container orchestration tools like Kubernetes, which automate the deployment and scaling of containerized applications. Linux sysadmins also need to understand container networking, including how containers communicate with each other and the host system, and how to manage virtual networks and port mappings. This knowledge ensures secure, efficient, and reliable operation of containerized environments.

Lesson 15: Automating Infrastructure Management

Infrastructure management is a key responsibility for Linux systems administrators. This is an area involving the deployment, configuration, and maintenance of the hardware and software resources that support an organization's IT environment. Automation is a critical aspect of modern infrastructure management, where repetitive tasks are streamlined to save time and reduce errors. Orchestration takes automation a step further by coordinating multiple automated tasks across systems, ensuring they work together seamlessly.

Linux sysadmins need to understand how to use orchestration tools like Ansible, Puppet, or OpenTofu to automate complex workflows, such as provisioning servers, deploying applications, and managing configurations. By mastering infrastructure management and orchestration, administrators can create scalable, efficient, and resilient IT environments.

All necessary course materials are included.

Certification(s):

This course prepares students to take the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 national certification exam.

System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

• Cable, Fiber, DSL, or LEO Satellite (i.e. Starlink) internet with speeds of at least 10mb/sec download and 5mb/sec upload are recommended for the best experience.

NOTE: While cellular hotspots may allow access to our courses, users may experience connectivity issues by trying to access our learning management system.  This is due to the potential high download and upload latency of cellular connections.   Therefore, it is not recommended that students use a cellular hotspot as their primary way of accessing their courses.

Hardware Requirements:

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 4 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher.  1920x1080 resolution is recommended for the best experience.
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone for Webinar or Live Online sessions.

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows 7 or higher.
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions
  

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is described in the above course outline.