Overview:

This course provides an introduction to Linux administration. Topics include installation, configuration, mounting drives, user and group administration, file system administration and management, process control, and network and computer security concepts and tools.  

Why Linux?

Linux is a very commonly deployed operating system for servers.  Google, Facebook, Twitter, HP, Amazon, IBM, the International Space Station (NASA), New York Stock Exchange, Wikipedia, McDonalds, US Submarine Fleet, Federal Aviation Administration, US Postal Service, and many others use Linux servers.  Big companies and institutions have a lot of smart people, and there's a reason they are using Linux. It's only going to become more popular as the server tool of choice.  So why don't you prepare yourself for your first/next job and learn all the benefits that Linux provides? :)

If this is the first time reading this page make sure you read the ENTIRE page first! Then you can jump into the downloads below. 

Start here! 

• Syllabus (Read this FIRST)
• Textbook (FREE!) & Notes 
• Course Lectures and Assignments (This link contains all of the video lectures and assignments)
• Linux reference readings 
• Linux Made Easy
• Network Administrators Guide
• DOS-Linux equivalent commands 
• NEW!  Practice your Linux by reviewing answers from previous semesters..... 

Additional Resources 

• Daytona State Spring Calendar 
  

BSIT Curriculum

Here's the new curriculum (2016) for our BS in IT degree. 

Attendance:

There is no physical classroom for this course. To check attendance you are to complete the Syllabus quiz by the assigned due date.  Please read the syllabus prior to taking the quiz.  If you fail to complete the quiz prior to the indicated due date you will be counted as "not attending," which may affect any financial aid you may be receiving.

This course is taught at Daytona State College as part of the Engineering Technology program.  

How My Classes Work

This class is about two things:  a) learning Linux, and  b) learning to problem solve ON YOUR OWN.

The latter is THE job of an IT, network, or security administrator.  I know a lot of your classes have been about following steps: A, B, and C.  Real life doesn't work that way. You are always in new situations, and you need to learn HOW to solve new problems. Learn that now, and you'll be 'gold.' Will you be frustrated at times?  Sure.  Will you feel less frustrated as the class proceeds?  Yes, if you practice what I show you and follow the recommendations in the lectures.  All knowledge you can apply to any IT, network, or security administrator position.  Reread the paragraph above. Learn it. Live it.  

How are you going to run Linux if you only have one computer running Windows?  Good question Grasshopper. As a student you have access to a free copy of VMWare Workstation. Workstation is a virtualization technology that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a computer, just as if you had multiple physical systems. Cool!  You can even setup subnets within Workstation to simulate a real LAN.  I will have this setup for you near the end of the first week of classes. 

You are expected to install Workstation and a Linux distribution within Workstation. Don't worry, there are videos to show you how to do everything.  It's not rocket science, but it does require some work!

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course the successful student will be able to:

1. Partition, format, and install Linux in a virtual machine, including updating system.
2. Perform file manipulation and file system navigation.
3. Perform access control manipulation, including changing permissions, adding users and groups.
4. Perform advancing searching using regular expressions.
5. Perform security functions using symmetric and asymmetric encryption.
6. Find and draw upon resources available in Linux for administrative tasks.  

Textbook

There is no 'required' textbook. However, we do use the RUTE Linux Tutorial, a free PDF book, as a reference.  That saves you about $100, right? You're welcome!

You can download the text here: 

Course Lectures

Click here to view All Course Lectures

Course lectures are usually 10-30 minutes long, and are in MP4 format.  More information is available or individual lectures in the link above. 

I suggest you save each lecture to your hard drive so you may access it anytime. Pause when you need to. Replay when you need to.  Have you ever tried doing that in a 'live' class?  Maybe a couple of times, but now YOU are in control.

Also, an analogy: I bought Tiger Woods' book on golf. Read the whole thing cover to cover. Now I can play golf just like Tiger. Nope.  Have to practice, again and again and again. Same thing goes for this class. (PS: Still can't play like Tiger Woods, but I'm a lot closer than I was!) You can't learn Linux by just watching a lecture. You MUST practice, as much as possible.  I highly suggest that while watching the video you have your Linux virtual machine running. Pause the video when I run a command. Run the command, see what it does.  Start the video, and repeat.  

You may ask: "Why are your videos so much shorter than a regular class?"  Have you ever seen a recording of a regular class?  Most of it is 'dead space,' nothing being said, idle chit chat, etc.  My lectures are intentionally 'dense' with material.  Take a 1.5 hour lecture, remove extraneous information, pauses, chit chat, dead space, and voila -- a condensed version that is 10-30 minutes. The 'Cliff Notes' of lectures (you young people may have to Google that).  

It takes more time to edit my videos than record them.  The condensed version allows you use YOUR time more wisely.  There's no sense in doing it any other way. You're welcome. :)

Major Topics Covered in This Course

• Installing VMWare
• Creating a virtual machine and installing Linux
• Updating your Linux system
• Navigating the file system
• Compressing and archiving files
• Searching for files by content and criteria
• Working with processes
• Communicating between computers with SSH
• Scripting
• User and group administration
• Access control
• Cryptography 

Prerequisites

Experience with working with an operating system (Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux). Students will be immersed immediately using the command line in Linux. As there is no common graphical user interface, and the fact that most servers do not use a graphical user interface, students must be capable of deploying and maintaining a server without one.  (Is anything worth doing easy? No! It won't be that bad if you work at it, I promise).

Certificate in Cybersecurity and Cyberforensics

If you are in the BSIT program then this is a great opportunity for you to earn the new Cybersecurity and Cyberforensics certiciate. Here's the link that explains more.

cybercertificate.pbworks.com

The certificate consists of six courses: Linux administration, Computer and Network Security, Security Methods and Practices, Introduction to Digital Forensics, Advanced Digital Forensics, and Network Forensics and Incident Response.

I've taught these courses since 2006, all were developed while I was at UCF, and the forensics courses were part of the Master's of Science in Digital Forensics I developed while at UCF. Of course I've modified them for the BS.

The courses are VERY hands on.   I've received great reviews from students about these courses, and several of my students who have gone on to work for large companies now come back to Daytona State looking for students who have excelled at these courses.

The great thing about the certificate is that we cover topics that we KNOW will be important in IT for the future.  If you read anything on the internet you know that security is becoming (and actually has been) critical to our nation's security and economy.  This pretty much guarantees job security.

If you need further information please click on the link above or contact me.