Ubuntu Server is a complete, free server operating system that just works, with the extra Ubuntu polish, innovation, and simplicity that administrators love.

Now, there’s a definitive, authoritative guide to getting up-and-running quickly with the newest, most powerful versions of Ubuntu Server. Written by leading members of the Ubuntu community,  The Official Ubuntu Server Book, Second Edition, covers all you need to know to make the most of Ubuntu Server, whether you’re a beginner or a battle-hardened senior system administrator.

 

The authors cover Ubuntu Server from start to finish: installation, basic administration and monitoring, security, backup, troubleshooting, system rescue, and much more. They walk through deploying each of the most common server applications, from file and print services to state-of-the-art, cost-saving virtualization and cloud computing.

 

In addition, you’ll learn how to

• Make the most of Ubuntu Server’s latest, most powerful technologies
• Discover easy, fast ways to perform key administration tasks
• Automate Ubuntu installs, no matter how many servers you’re installing
• Quickly set up low-cost Web servers and e-mail
• Protect your server with Ubuntu’s built-in and optional security tools
• Minimize downtime with fault tolerance and clustering
• Master proven, step-by-step server and network troubleshooting techniques
• Walk through rescuing an Ubuntu server that won’t boot
• Create your own private cloud computing infrastructure

The included disks contain the versions of Ubuntu Server you’ll need for different CPU architectures: Ubuntu Server 10.04 LTS 64-bit CD, and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS 32-bit DVD, both of which are supported by Canonical for five years.

 

Preface         xxi

Acknowledgments         xxvii

About the Authors         xxix

Introduction         xxxi

 

Chapter 1: Installation         1

Get Ubuntu  2

Boot Screen  3

Disk Partitioning  5

Server Roles  13

Installer Console  15

Reboot the System  16

 

Chapter 2: Essential System Administration         17

Basic Command-Line Administration  18

Ubuntu Boot Process  24

File System Hierarchy  39

Networking  45

 

Chapter 3: Package Management         51

Introduction to Package Management  52

Debian Packages  60

Package Management in Ubuntu  63

Making Your Own Packages  77

 

Chapter 4: Automated Ubuntu Installs         83

Preseeding  84

Kickstart  104

PXE Boot Server Deployment  111

Customize Automated Installs  118

 

Chapter 5: Guide to Common Ubuntu Servers         125

DNS Server  126

Web Server  135

Mail Server  144

POP/IMAP Server  156

OpenSSH Server  158

DHCP Server  160

Database Server  163

File Server  172

Edubuntu and LTSP  179

LTSP Server Configurations  184

 

Chapter 6: Security         199

General Security Principles  200

Sudo  201

AppArmor  206

SSH Security  210

Firewalls  214

Intrusion Detection  226

Incident Response  232

 

Chapter 7: Backups 237

Backup Principles  238

Drive Imaging  240

Database Backups  242

BackupPC  247

 

Chapter 8: Monitoring         265

Local Monitoring Tools  266

Ganglia  271

Nagios  278

 

Chapter 9: Virtualization         295

KVM  296

VMware Server  313

Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud  324

 

Chapter 10: Fault Tolerance        333

Fault Tolerance Principles  334

RAID  335

LVM  361

Ethernet Bonding  364

Clusters  369

 

Chapter 11: Troubleshooting         391

General Troubleshooting Philosophy  392

Localhost Troubleshooting  395

Network Troubleshooting  408

Hardware Troubleshooting  417

 

Chapter 12: Rescue and Recovery         421

Ubuntu Recovery Mode  422

Ubuntu Server Recovery CD  427

Ubuntu Desktop Live CD  431

 

Chapter 13: Help and Resources         441

Paid Support from Canonical  442

Forums  443

Internet Relay Chat  444

Mailing Lists  447

Online Documentation  448

Localhost Documentation  449

Local Community Teams  450

Other Languages  451

Tech Answers System (Launchpad)  451

Bug Reporting  451

Summary  453

 

Chapter 14: Basic Linux Administration         455

Shell Globs  456

Pipes and Redirection  458

File Permissions and Ownership  464

Linux File Types  466

At and Cron  470

 

Appendix: Cool Tips and Tricks         477

Avoid That grep Command in grep Output  477

Shortcut to a Command Path  478

Wipe a Drive in One Line  478

Run a Command Over and Over  479

Make a Noise When the Server Comes Back Up  479

Search and Replace Text in a File  479

find and exec Commands  480

Bash Commands with Too Many Arguments  480

Use Your Bash History  481

Are These Files Identical?  481

Go Back to Your Previous Directory  481

Find Out Who Is Tying Up a File System You Want to Unmount  482

Send a Test E-mail Using telnet  482

Easy SSH Key Sharing  483

Get the Most Out of Dig  484

 

Index         487

Kyle Rankin is a systems architect for Quinstreet, Inc., the current president of the North Bay Linux Users’ Group, the author of Knoppix Hacks, Knoppix Pocket Reference, Linux Multimedia Hacks, and Ubuntu Hacks, and he has contributed to a number of other O’Reilly books. Kyle is also a columnist for Linux Journal and has had articles featured in PC Magazine, TechTarget, and other publications.

 

Benjamin Mako Hill is a Seattle native working out of Boston, Massachusetts. Mako is a long-time free software developer and advocate. He was part of the founding Ubuntu team, one of the first employees of Canonical, Ltd., and lead author of The Official Ubuntu Book. In addition to some technical work, his charge at Canonical was to help grow the Ubuntu development and user community during the project’s first year. Mako is currently a fellow at the MIT Center for Future Civic Media and a researcher and Ph.D. candidate at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Mako has continued his involvement with Ubuntu as a member of the Community Council governance board, through development work, and through projects such as this book.