Key Features

Move beyond the basics of how a Linux machine works and gain a better understanding of Linux networks and their configuration
Impress your peers by setting up and configuring a Linux server and its various network elements like a pro
This is a hands-on solution guide to building, maintaining, and securing a network using Linux

Book Description

Linux can be configured as a networked workstation, a DNS server, a mail server, a firewall, a gateway router, and many other things. These are all part of administration tasks, hence network administration is one of the main tasks of Linux system administration. By knowing how to configure system network interfaces in a reliable and optimal manner, Linux administrators can deploy and configure several network services including file, web, mail, and servers while working in large enterprise environments.

Starting with a simple Linux router that passes traffic between two private networks, you will see how to enable NAT on the router in order to allow Internet access from the network, and will also enable DHCP on the network to ease configuration of client systems. You will then move on to configuring your own DNS server on your local network using bind9 and tying it into your DHCP server to allow automatic configuration of local hostnames. You will then future enable your network by setting up IPv6 via tunnel providers.

Moving on, we'll configure Samba to centralize authentication for your network services; we will also configure Linux client to leverage it for authentication, and set up a RADIUS server that uses the directory server for authentication.

Toward the end, you will have a network with a number of services running on it, and will implement monitoring in order to detect problems as they occur.

What you will learn

Route an IPv6 netblock to your local network
Modify your named instance to support setting hostnames for your IPv6 addresses
Use SSH for remote console access
Configure NGINX with TLS
Secure XMPP with TLS
Leverage iptables6 to firewall your IPv6 traffic
Configure Samba as an Active Directory compatible directory service

About the Author

Gregory Boyce is a technologist with nearly 20 years of experience in using and managing Linux systems. When he's not at work or spending time with his wife and two daughters, he is playing around with new technologies.

Gregory spent the last 15 years working at Akamai Technologies, where he has worked in roles ranging from Network Operations, Internal IT, Information Security, Software Testing, and Professional Services.

Currently, he heads up the Linux OS team that manages Akamai's custom Linux operating system, which runs on their massively distributed customer facing network.

Table of Contents

Configuring a Router
Configuring DNS
Configuring IPv6
Remote Access
Web Servers
Directory Services
Setting up File Storage
Setting up E-mail
Configuring XMPP
Monitoring Your Network
Mapping Your Network
Watching Your Network