This course will cover the basics of administering a Linux-based server environment in the manner of the EECS Instructional Servers (hivexx.cs.b.e) and the Open Computing Facility (tsunami.ocf.b.e, etc.). By the end of this course, we expect you to be completely comfortable using GNU/Linux, understand in a broad sense how the system’s various parts work together, e.g. init, filesystems, services, daemons, etc., understand basic networking, have a good sense about maintaining system security, understand system administration essentials in general and have a practical taste of what sysadmins do in industry.

An important skill for system administrators is the willingness to quickly learn about new and unfamiliar technologies, so while we expect many students will be in CS, the only real prerequisite for this course is a desire to learn. We know potential students will have differing backgrounds in terms of CS and sysadmin experience, therefore, we will be teaching this course in two tracks: a beginner’s track which will focus more on introducing new users to Linux, and an advanced track that will cater to students with more experience using Linux. Both tracks will get started fast and move quickly - there’s a lot of material to cover.

There are no papers or exams, but attendance during lab will be required.

Enrollment will occur as follows: students that fill out the interest form will be invited to an info-session where more information about the course will be presented. Students who are interested in taking the course will then be invited to complete lab 0, and enrollment codes will be distributed to as many students as we can support who successfully complete lab 0.