Table of Contents
Part I: Performing Basic System Management Tasks
Chapter 1 Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Preparing to Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux
What Is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Server?
Using Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Understanding Access to Repositories
Cert Guide Environment Description
Performing a Manual Installation
Chapter 2 Using Essential Tools
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Understanding the Shell Environment
Recognizing Environment Configuration Files
Using /etc/motd and /etc/issue
Using /usr/share/doc Documentation Files
Chapter 3 Essential File Management Tools
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Working with the File System Hierarchy
Defining the File System Hierarchy
Managing and Working with Directories
Working with Absolute and Relative Pathnames
Working with Archives and Compressed Files
Monitoring and Extracting tar Files
Chapter 4 Working with Text Files
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Using Common Text File–Related Tools
Showing File Contents with cat
Displaying the First or Last Lines of a File with head and tail
Filtering Specific Columns with cut
Sorting File Contents and Output with sort
Counting Lines, Words, and Characters with wc
A Primer to Using Regular Expressions
Using Escaping in Regular Expressions
Using Wildcards and Multipliers
Working with Other Useful Text Processing Utilities
Chapter 5 Connecting to Red Hat Enterprise Linux
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Switching Between Terminals in a Graphical Environment
Working with Multiple Terminals in a Nongraphical Environment
Understanding Pseudo Terminal Devices
Booting, Rebooting, and Shutting Down Systems
Using SSH and Related Utilities
Accessing Remote Systems Using SSH
Using Graphical Applications in an SSH Environment
Securely Transferring Files Between Systems
Using scp to Securely Copy Files
Using sftp to Securely Transfer Files
Using rsync to Synchronize Files
Configuring Key-Based Authentication for SSH
Chapter 6 User and Group Management
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System Accounts and Normal Accounts
Modifying the Configuration Files
Configuration Files for User Management Defaults
Creating and Managing Group Accounts
Using groupadd to Create Groups
Chapter 7 Permissions Management
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Understanding Default Ownership
Understanding Read, Write, and Execute Permissions
Applying Read, Write, and Execute Permissions
Understanding Advanced Permissions
Preparing Your File System for ACLs
Changing and Viewing ACL Settings with setfacl and getfacl
Setting Default Permissions with umask
Working with User-Extended Attributes
Chapter 8 Configuring Networking
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Managing Network Addresses and Interfaces
Validating Network Configuration
Validating Network Address Configuration
Validating the Availability of Ports and Services
Configuring Network Configuration with nmtui and nmcli
Required Permissions to Change Network Configuration
Configuring the Network with nmcli
Configuring the Network with nmtui
Working on Network Configuration Files
Setting Up Hostname and Name Resolution
Part II: Operating Running Systems
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Managing Software Packages with yum
Understanding the Role of Repositories
Registering Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Support
Specifying Which Repository to Use
Understanding Repository Security
Using yum to Find Software Packages
Getting More Information About Packages
Installing and Removing Software Packages
Working with yum Package Groups
Managing Package Module Streams
Managing Software Packages with rpm
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Introduction to Process Management
Running Jobs in the Foreground and Background
Managing Parent-Child Relations
Using Common Command-Line Tools for Process Management
Understanding Processes and Threads
Using ps to Get Process Information
Adjusting Process Priority with nice
Sending Signals to Processes with kill, killall, and pkill
Using tuned to Optimize Performance
Chapter 11 Working with Systemd
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Understanding Systemd Unit Locations
Understanding Systemd Service Units
Understanding Systemd Mount Units
Understanding Systemd Socket Units
Understanding Systemd Target Units
Managing Units Through Systemd
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Configuring Cron to Automate Recurring Tasks
Managing Cron Configuration Files
Understanding the Purpose of anacron
Configuring at to Schedule Future Tasks
Chapter 13 Configuring Logging
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Understanding the Role of rsyslogd and journald
Understanding Log File Contents
Understanding rsyslogd Configuration Files
Understanding rsyslog.conf Sections
Understanding Facilities, Priorities, and Log Destinations
Using journalctl to Find Events
Preserving the Systemd Journal
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Understanding MBR and GPT Partitions
Understanding the MBR Partitioning Scheme
Understanding the Need for GPT Partitioning
Understanding Storage Measurement Units
Managing Partitions and File Systems
Creating MBR Partitions with fdisk
Using Extended and Logical Partitions on MBR
Creating GPT Partitions with gdisk
Creating GPT Partitions with parted
Changing File System Properties
Managing Ext4 File System Properties
Managing XFS File System Properties
Manually Mounting File Systems
Using Device Names, UUIDs, or Disk Labels
Automating File System Mounts Through /etc/fstab
Chapter 15 Managing Advanced Storage
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Creating the Logical Volumes and File Systems
Understanding LVM Device Naming
Resizing Logical Volumes and File Systems
Understanding Stratis Architecture
Part III: Performing Advanced System Administration Tasks
Chapter 16 Basic Kernel Management
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Understanding the Role of the Linux Kernel
Understanding the Use of Kernel Threads and Drivers
Analyzing What the Kernel Is Doing
Understanding Hardware Initialization
Checking Driver Availability for Hardware Devices
Managing Kernel Module Parameters
Chapter 17 Managing and Understanding the Boot Procedure
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Understanding GRUB 2 Configuration Files
Modifying Default GRUB 2 Boot Options
Chapter 18 Essential Troubleshooting Skills
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Understanding the RHEL 8 Boot Procedure
Starting a Troubleshooting Target
Restoring System Access Using a Rescue Disk
Reinstalling GRUB Using a Rescue Disk
Re-Creating the Initramfs Using a Rescue Disk
Recovering from File System Issues
Recovering Access to a Virtual Machine
Chapter 19 An Introduction to Bash Shell Scripting
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Understanding Shell Scripting Core Elements
Working with if ... then ... else
Part IV: Managing Network Services
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Modifying SELinux to Allow for Port Changes
Using Other Useful sshd Options
Configuring Key-Based Authentication with Passphrases
Chapter 21 Managing Apache HTTP Services
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Configuring a Basic Apache Server
Installing the Required Software
Identifying the Main Configuration File
Understanding Apache Configuration Files
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Understanding SELinux Working and Modes
Understanding Context Settings and the Policy
Monitoring Current Context Labels
Finding the Context Type You Need
Restoring Default File Contexts
Using Boolean Settings to Modify SELinux Settings
Diagnosing and Addressing SELinux Policy Violations
Making SELinux Analyzing Easier
Preparing for SELinux Coverage on the Exam
Chapter 23 Configuring a Firewall
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Understanding Linux Firewalling
Understanding Previous Solutions
Understanding Firewalld Services
Chapter 24 Accessing Network Storage
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Authenticating to Samba Shares
Mounting Remote File Systems Through fstab
Mounting NFS Shares Through fstab
Mounting Samba Shares Through fstab
Using Automount to Mount Remote File Systems
Chapter 25 Configuring Time Services
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
Managing Time on Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Configuring Time Service Clients
Chapter 27 Theoretical Pre-Assessment Exam
Part V: RHCSA RHEL 8 Practice Exams
Appendix A Answers to the “Do I Know This Already?” Quizzes and Review Questions
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