Required textbooks
• Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, Second Edition (Link)
Author: Jason Eckert, M. John Schitka
Publisher: Course Technology, 2nd edition (April 6, 2005)
ISBN: 978-0-619-21621-2

• Lab Manual for Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification, Second Edition (Link)
Author: Ed Sawicki
Publisher: Course Technology, 2nd edition (March 23, 2005)
ISBN: 978-0-619-21620-7

All reading materials/slides will be put on WebCT. Slides will be available after each lecture.

Study of computer system administration using standalone and networked UNIX/Linux systems. Topics include user and process management, backup/restore, adding devices, installation, maintenance, networking hardware and protocols. This course includes a 3 hour lab period each week.

Click here for the course outline.

The purpose of this course is to help the students gain knowledge about managing UNIX/Linux servers. Upon successful completion of this course students should have the knowledge to:

• Prepare/install/configure/maintain UNIX and Linux
• Use the vi editor and other text editors
• Explore, manage and administer the Linux filesystem
• Create, modify and use basic shell scripts
• Understand the boot process and initialization (run levels)
• Manage Linux processes (e.g. ps, kill, killall, bg, fg, jobs, etc.)
• Create, modify and delete user accounts
• Install, configure and use compression and backup software
• Install and configure network services (e.g. DNS, DHCP, FTP, NFS, etc.)
• Set up and configure security including firewalls within Linux

Class time will be devoted to introducing the students to the fundamental concepts and knowledge of UNIX/Linux. The lab portion of the course will be used to learn “hands on” UNIX/Linux setup, management, and maintenance.

Final grades will be criterion based, not normed or curved. You can all get A's, or all get C's, depending on your own performance.

Note:
(1) The overall course grade will be determined by the relative contributions from quizzes, exams, labs, and final exams as given on the course syllabus.
(2) Borderline cases are subject to the instructor’s discretion, with a positive attitude, classroom participation and improvement throughout the term counting in the student’s favor.
(3) If you have questions regarding the grading of your homework, projects or exams, you MUST come to see the instructor WITHIN ONE WEEK after the date your homework, projects or exams have been returned to you.

Make up exams will be given only for excused absences discussed with me prior to the exam, or due to illness. If no arrangements are made and your absence is unexcused, your grade will be a ZERO.

All scheduled lab/homework assignments will need to be submitted by 10 pm on the day that it is due. Each student is expected to complete and turn in his or her own work. Teamwork and collaboration is allowed, however exams and quizzes will require you to demonstrate your skills and abilities within the classroom.

For each day your assignment is late, 10% will be deducted from your score; assignments will NOT be accepted after one week.

Following is the policy adopted by the Senate on November 9, 1960 and approved by the President:  "A student detected cheating beyond any reasonable doubt during any examination period or in the preparation of any significant individual assignment such as a quarter report, is to receive a failing grade for the course, and a record of the failure is to be submitted to the Dean of Students. This record is to be for the confidential use of the Dean of Students and is to be destroyed upon the student's graduation. On the second such occurrence, a student shall be expelled from the University without the possibility of readmission." 

Cheating shall be considered to include using any information to which you are not entitled. During an exam this would include written crib sheets, writing on your body, using the information from another student exam paper, programming formulas or data into the memory of a programmable calculator, etc. I will make every effort to enforce this cheating policy.