RHEL Administration & Automation: Intensive Fast Track

Duration: 2 Days

Day 1: Core System Deployment and Administration

1. Enterprise Linux Deployment and Setup

  • Strategies for deploying RHEL across bare-metal and virtualized infrastructure (e.g., Anaconda installer, Kickstart automation).
  • Post-installation configuration and establishing a baseline environment (e.g., hostname setup, timezone, locale).
  • Software lifecycle management using modern package managers (e.g., configuring repositories, managing dependencies with dnf and rpm).

2. Identity Management and Access Control

  • Lifecycle management of local user accounts and groups (e.g., useradd, password aging policies).
  • Enforcing security through file system permissions and ownership (e.g., standard rwx modes, sticky bit, SGID/SUID).
  • Delegating administrative privileges safely (e.g., configuring /etc/sudoers, privilege escalation rules).

3. Storage Architecture and Disk Management

  • Initializing and maintaining robust file systems (e.g., xfs, ext4, consistency checks).
  • Handling external and internal storage devices (e.g., persistent mounting via /etc/fstab, automounting).
  • Flexible storage management using Logical Volume Manager (e.g., creating Physical Volumes, Volume Groups, resizing Logical Volumes).

4. Network Configuration and Essential Services

  • Managing network interfaces and connectivity (e.g., NetworkManager, nmcli command-line tool, static vs. dynamic IP).
  • Deploying and maintaining critical infrastructure services (e.g., caching DNS, DHCP scopes, basic Apache/Nginx web server setup).
  • Securing network traffic and enforcing access policies (e.g., firewalld zones, understanding SELinux contexts and booleans).

Day 2: Automation, Optimization, and Certification Strategy

5. System Hardening and Security Protocols

  • Implementing OS-level security best practices (e.g., disabling unused services, password strength enforcement).
  • Auditing system activity and analyzing log data (e.g., journalctl, rsyslog configuration, interpreting /var/log/secure).
  • Securing remote administration channels (e.g., SSH key-based authentication, hardening sshd_config, disabling root login).

6. Introduction to Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

  • Understanding the Ansible architecture and agentless model (e.g., inventory files, control nodes).
  • Constructing basic Playbooks to automate routine tasks (e.g., YAML syntax, variables, tasks structure).
  • Orchestrating system configuration using core modules (e.g., user, yum, service, copy modules).

7. Performance Analysis and Tuning

  • Identifying bottlenecks and resource saturation (e.g., CPU load, memory leaks, I/O latency).
  • Methodologies for troubleshooting performance anomalies (e.g., using top, vmstat, iostat).
  • Applying tuning profiles for specific workloads (e.g., using the tuned daemon and profiles).

8. Visual Management and Virtualization Insight

  • Leveraging web-based management consoles for system health assessment (e.g., RHEL Web Console/Cockpit, graphical metrics).
  • Oversight of guest systems in a virtualized environment (e.g., KVM basics, resource allocation monitoring).
  • Strategic optimization for enterprise workloads (e.g., kernel parameter adjustments via sysctl).

9. RHCSA & RHCE Certification Roadmap

  • Deconstructing the exam objectives for Administrator and Engineer levels (e.g., competency mapping, time constraints).
  • Hands-on lab scenarios simulating exam conditions (e.g., fixing broken boot loaders, automated deployment tasks).
  • Tactical approaches for the practical exams (e.g., time management strategies, verifying configuration persistence).