This module is a follow-up to the content presented in the 2nd year “Introduction to Operating Systems” and 3rd year “Database Administration” modules, where students have used Linux-based systems at user level and conducted basic administration tasks.



The main goal of Systems Administration is to present a set of tools and techniques, both classic and modern, to manage users, files and software in Linux-based environments. In order to take this module, students should previously have:

• Basic command of the Unix/Linux shell.

• Understanding of how TCP/IP computer networks work.

• Understanding of basic computer architecture.

On completion of the module a student should be able to:

• Manage users and groups in Linux-based environments, both at local and network level.

• Set up services to manage users and files Linux-based computer networks.

• Deploy virtualisation and container technologies to manage software in Linux systems.

• Configure container orchestration technologies.

• Process and analyse logs from a Linux system.

• Understand the fundamentals of Cloud Computing.

This module is arranged in the following topics:



1. Local administration: User/file management and shell scripting in Unix/Linux systems.

2. Network services: Services to manage files and users in a Linux network.

3. Virtualisation and containers: Tools to manage and distribute software.

4. Container orchestration: Tools to manage the distributed execution of software containers.

5. Log analysis: Tools to ingest, analyse and visualise logs from a Linux system.

6. Introduction to Cloud Computing: Basic user and resource management in the Cloud.

Theory and practice sessions.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Individual works (%): 40

Students can choose to be assessed in two ways: continuous or final. By default, every student is assess in the continuous way.



Students assessed in the continuous way will get their grade from:

• 60% of the grade: Practical exams in which students will have to solve several exercises like those presented throughout the module.

• 40% of the grade: Development of an individual assignment in which students will have put in practice virtualization, containerization and orchestration techniques.



Students who choose final assessment will get their grade based on a single exam at the end of the module. This exam has a written part related to the theoretical aspects of the module (50% of the grade) and a practical part with exercises similar to those done in the practice sessions (50% of the grade).



For more information, get in touch with the teaching staff.

For more information, get in touch with the teaching staff.

All the necessary material will be available at the university's eGela platform.

Basic bibliography

- The Linux Philosophy for SysAdmins: And everyone who wants to be one. David Both. 2018. https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484237298

In-depth bibliography

- Systems Performance: Enterprise and the Cloud, 2nd Edition. Brendan Gregg. 2021. http://www.brendangregg.com/systems-performance-2nd-edition-book.html
- The Kubernetes Book (Updated Feb 2020). Nigel Poulton. 2020. https://nigelpoulton.com/books

Web addresses

- docker.com
- kubernetes.io
- phoronix.com
- stackoverflow.com