Bob's AlmaLinux Adventures

The AlmaLinux Adventures of Bob, a Junior System Administrator

Installing AlmaLinux. Should be simple, right? Bob rolls up his sleeves and gets ready for his first adventure.

Bob vs. The Mysterious World of Directories and Permissions of AlmaLinux

Understanding Linux file permissions and navigating the filesystem’s depths.

Bob’s Battle with User Groups and Ownership

In this post, we’ll guide Bob through organizing users, managing group permissions, and understanding file ownership—a core skill for any Linux sysadmin.

Bob and the Power of Cron Jobs on AlmaLinux

We’ll introduce cron jobs, explain their structure, and guide Bob through setting up his first scheduled tasks on AlmaLinux

Bob and the Art of Process Monitoring on AlmaLinux

This time, we’ll introduce Bob to essential Linux tools for tracking system performance and managing processes, helping him understand resource usage and troubleshoot performance issues.

Bob Tackles Network Monitoring and Troubleshooting on AlmaLinux

Bob Tackles Network Monitoring and Troubleshooting where Bob will learn to diagnose and troubleshoot network issues using essential Linux network tools.

Bob Learns System Backup and Recovery on AlmaLinux

Bob’s ready to learn how to create, automate, and test backups on AlmaLinux.

Bob Explores Package Management and Repositories on AlmaLinux

In this chapter, Bob will learn to manage software, configure repositories, and handle dependencies in AlmaLinux.

Bob Masters Firewalls and Security Settings on AlmaLinux

Bob Digs into System Performance Tuning on AlmaLinux

Bob Digs into System Performance Tuning, where Bob learns how to monitor and optimize his AlmaLinux system to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.

Bob’s Guide to User Management and System Auditing

Bob’s Guide to User Management and System Auditing, where Bob will learn to manage user accounts, control access, and keep track of system activity.

Bob’s Journey into Network Services and Configuration on AlmaLinux

After learning the basics of network troubleshooting, Bob realizes there’s a lot more to understand about network services. Setting up services like HTTP, FTP, and SSH isn’t just for experienced sysadmins; it’s an essential skill that will make him more versatile.

Bob Sets Up a Database Server on AlmaLinux

he’s going to set up a MariaDB server (a MySQL-compatible open-source database) on AlmaLinux and practice basic database management.

Bob’s Guide to System Monitoring and Logging on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn how to monitor his system’s health, track user activity, and analyze logs for any signs of issues on AlmaLinux.

Bob’s Guide to Configuring Network File Sharing on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn how to set up network file sharing on AlmaLinux. He’ll configure both NFS and Samba.

Bob Explores Automated Deployment and Containerization with Docker on AlmaLinux

Bob will set up Docker, learn about containerization, and deploy his first application container, making his AlmaLinux server even more versatile and efficient.

Bob Delves into Advanced Security Practices on AlmaLinux

Bob will focus on strengthening the security of his AlmaLinux server and Docker containers. He’ll learn about advanced system hardening, network security

Bob’s Guide to Linux Scripting and Automation on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn how to write basic shell scripts to automate repetitive tasks, making his daily work on AlmaLinux more efficient and consistent.

Bob’s Guide to System Optimization on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn advanced techniques to fine-tune his AlmaLinux system for improved performance and responsiveness.

Bob Takes AlmaLinux to the Cloud Integration and Automation

Bob will learn how to integrate AlmaLinux with popular cloud platforms, automate deployments in the cloud, and use tools like Terraform and Ansible to manage cloud infrastructure efficiently.

Bob Builds a Hybrid Cloud Environment on AlmaLinux

How to connect his on-premises AlmaLinux server with cloud resources to create a hybrid cloud setup.

Bob’s Disaster Recovery Playbook for AlmaLinux

Bob will focus on creating a robust disaster recovery (DR) plan for his AlmaLinux hybrid environment.

Bob’s Guide to Optimizing Containerized Workloads

Bob will focus on improving the performance of containerized applications running on his AlmaLinux hybrid environment.

Bob Tackles Kubernetes and Microservices on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn the basics of Kubernetes, explore how it orchestrates containerized applications, and deploy his first microservices architecture using AlmaLinux as the foundation.

Bob Explores Persistent Storage in Kubernetes

Bob will learn how to handle persistent storage for stateful applications in Kubernetes, ensuring that data remains intact

Bob Masters Kubernetes Networking

Bob will dive into Kubernetes networking concepts, enabling him to create secure and efficient communication between applications in his cluster.

Bob Gains Observability in Kubernetes

How to implement comprehensive observability in his Kubernetes cluster using logging, metrics, and tracing to monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize his applications.

Bob Masters Kubernetes Scheduling and Workload Management

Bob will explore advanced scheduling concepts in Kubernetes, such as node affinities, taints and tolerations and resource quota

Bob Ventures into Multi-Cluster Kubernetes Management

How to manage workloads across multiple Kubernetes clusters, leveraging tools like KubeFed, Rancher, and kubectl.

Bob Discovers Serverless Kubernetes with Knative

Bob will explore Knative, a framework for building serverless applications on Kubernetes.

Bob Explores Kubernetes for AI/ML Workloads

Bob will learn how to deploy and manage machine learning workloads on Kubernetes using Kubeflow, Jupyter notebooks, and specialized tools for AI/ML.

Bob Ventures into Edge Computing with Kubernetes

In this chapter, Bob will learn how to extend Kubernetes to edge devices, leveraging lightweight distributions like K3s and tools for managing workloads at the edge while ensuring efficient communication with the central cloud cluster.

Bob Explores Service Mesh Patterns in Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn how to use service mesh tools like Istio and Linkerd to implement advanced traffic control, security, and observability for microservices running in his Kubernetes cluster.

Bob Implements Policy Enforcement and Compliance in Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

In this chapter, Bob will explore tools and strategies to enforce policies and ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements in his Kubernetes cluster.

Bob Optimizes Kubernetes for Cost Efficiency

Bob will focus on strategies to reduce Kubernetes-related cloud expenses while maintaining performance and reliability

Bob Integrates Kubernetes with CI/CD Workflows on AlmaLinux

Bob will explore how to leverage Kubernetes for automating Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, enabling faster and more reliable software delivery.

Bob Explores Kubernetes for Big Data and Analytics on AlmaLinux

In this chapter, Bob will learn how to use Kubernetes for managing and processing large-scale data workloads using tools like Apache Spark, Hadoop, and Presto

Bob Implements Multi-Tenancy in Kubernetes

Bob will explore how to create a multi-tenant Kubernetes environment, isolating and managing workloads for different teams, departments, or customers securely and efficiently.

Bob Deploys Edge AI Workloads with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob will explore how to deploy and manage machine learning applications on edge devices using Kubernetes.

Bob Secures Data with Encryption in Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn how to protect sensitive information by using encryption for data at rest and in transit, as well as securely managing secrets in Kubernetes.

Bob Builds Event-Driven Architecture in Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

In this chapter, Bob will explore how to design and deploy event-driven systems using Kubernetes, leveraging tools like Apache Kafka, Knative Eventing, and NATS

Bob Ensures High Availability and Disaster Recovery in Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob will focus on strategies to make his Kubernetes cluster resilient against outages, ensuring minimal downtime and data loss during disasters.

Bob Deploys and Manages IoT Workloads in Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob explores how to design and deploy IoT workloads using Kubernetes, managing sensor data pipelines, real-time processing, and integration with edge devices.

Bob Embraces AI-Powered DevOps with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob explores how to leverage machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to automate DevOps workflows, improve system reliability, and streamline Kubernetes operations.

Bob Explores Blockchain Applications with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

In this chapter, Bob explores how to use Kubernetes to deploy and manage blockchain networks, leveraging its scalability and orchestration capabilities for decentralized applications (dApps) and distributed ledgers.

Bob Deploys Edge Analytics with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

How to use Kubernetes for deploying analytics workloads at the edge, enabling near real-time insights from data collected by sensors and devices in remote locations.

Bob Masters Multi-Cloud Kubernetes Deployments on AlmaLinux

The complexities of deploying and managing Kubernetes workloads across multiple cloud providers, ensuring resilience, scalability, and cost optimization.

High-Performance Computing with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

How to leverage Kubernetes for High-Performance Computing workloads, scientific simulations, machine learning training, and other compute-intensive tasks.

Bob Explores AR/VR Workloads with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

The complexities of deploying and managing Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality workloads on Kubernetes on real-time rendering for immersive experiences.

Bob Builds Serverless AI Applications with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

How to combine serverless architecture and AI-powered services on Kubernetes, enabling scalable, cost-efficient, and intelligent applications.

Bob Explores Quantum Computing with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Emerging field of quantum computing, leveraging Kubernetes to manage hybrid quantum-classical workloads and integrate quantum computing frameworks

Bob Deploys Kubernetes for Autonomous Systems on AlmaLinux

The exciting challenge of managing workloads for autonomous systems and robotics, leveraging Kubernetes for processing, communication, and AI integration.

Bob Tackles Bioinformatics with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

How to use Kubernetes for bioinformatics workloads, enabling large-scale genomic analysis, medical research, and high-performance computing for life sciences.

Kubernetes Workloads for Smart Cities on AlmaLinux

Bob explores how to leverage Kubernetes for managing smart city applications, including IoT devices, urban data processing, and intelligent city services.

Bob Integrates Kubernetes with Green Energy Systems

Bob explores how to leverage Kubernetes to manage renewable energy infrastructure, including solar farms, wind turbines, and smart grids, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and real-time monitoring.

Bob Builds Kubernetes Workloads for Aerospace Systems

Bob takes on the exciting challenge of managing workloads for aerospace systems, including satellite communication, mission control, and space exploration.

Bob Builds Digital Twin Systems with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

How to leverage Kubernetes to manage digital twin systems, enabling virtual models of physical assets for monitoring, simulation, and optimization in real-time.

Smart Manufacturing with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob takes on the challenge of modernizing manufacturing operations using Kubernetes, integrating IoT devices, robotics, and AI to enable smart factories.

Bob Optimizes Supply Chains with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob applies Kubernetes to modernize supply chain management*, focusing on logistics, inventory tracking, and predictive analytics to streamline operations.

Bob Analyzes Climate Data with Kubernetes on AlmaLinux

Bob leverages Kubernetes to manage climate data analysis, enabling large-scale environmental simulations, real-time monitoring.

Bob’s Guide to Mastering SSH on AlmaLinux

He could control over any server in the company, all from his desk. But first, he needed to learn how SSH worked and configure it properly on AlmaLinux.

SSH Key Management on AlmaLinux

Passwordless login would save him time and eliminate the risk of weak passwords being compromised. SSH Key Management is our subject.

Securing SSH with Fail2Ban and Two-Factor Authentication

To make his setup bulletproof, Bob decided to implement Fail2Ban for brute-force protection and Two-Factor Authentication for an additional security layer.

Configuring Apache on AlmaLinux

Known for its flexibility and stability, Apache on AlmaLinux was a perfect fit for web services

Configuring Nginx as a Reverse Proxy on AlmaLinux

Nginx to use as a reverse proxy would allow Bob to offload tasks like caching, load balancing, and SSL termination.

Bob Masters Firewalld for Network Security on AlmaLinux

Bob’s next challenge was securing his AlmaLinux server with Firewalld, a powerful and flexible firewall management tool.

Systemd Understanding Units and Services on AlmaLinux

As a junior sysadmin, he realized that understanding Systemd was crucial for managing services, troubleshooting boot issues, and creating custom workflows.

Bob Investigates System Logs and journald on AlmaLinux

Bo knew logs were a vital tool for troubleshooting and auditing, and mastering them would make him a more effective administrator.

Linux File System Types and Management on AlmaLinux

Bob needed to understand the Linux file system, its types, and how to manage partitions, mounts, and attributes.

Advanced Bash Scripting on AlmaLinux

It is time to move beyond the basics of bash scripting and explore advanced techniques.

SELinux Policies and Troubleshooting on AlmaLinux

Though daunting at first glance, Bob learned that SELinux is a powerful tool for protecting servers by enforcing strict access control policies.

Bob Masters Disk Encryption with LUKS on AlmaLinux

The importance of protecting data at rest, especially on portable devices or backup drives. Bob decided to use *LUKS the standard for disk encryption on Linux.

Bob Learns Kernel Management on AlmaLinux

From loading kernel modules to upgrading the kernel itself, mastering kernel management would give Bob greater control over his AlmaLinux server’s performance and functionality.

Bob Configures DNS Services with BIND on AlmaLinux

A DNS server translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses, making it an essential component of any network infrastructure.

Bob Shares Files with Samba and NFS on AlmaLinux

Bob decided to configure Samba for Windows-compatible sharing and NFS (Network File System) for Linux-based systems.

Bob Explores Advanced Networking on AlmaLinux

His manager wanted a server that could handle VLANs, bridging, and advanced network configurations.

Bob Masters Performance Monitoring and Tuning on AlmaLinux

From monitoring resource usage to tuning critical system parameters, Bob learned how to optimize performance for demanding workloads.

Bob Secures AlmaLinux with Security Auditing and Hardening

From identifying vulnerabilities to implementing robust security measures, Bob learned how to perform comprehensive audits and apply hardening techniques.

Bob Masters Linux Backup Strategies on AlmaLinux

He learned to use tools like rsync for file backups, snapshots for system states, and automated solutions to ensure regular, reliable backups.

Bob Explores Linux Containers with Podman on AlmaLinux

Containers allow for lightweight, portable applications, and Bob knew mastering them would future-proof his sysadmin skills.

Bob Sets Up Advanced Monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana on AlmaLinux

Prometheus: A monitoring tool that collects and stores metrics. Grafana: A visualization platform that creates interactive dashboards.

Bob Explores High Availability and Clustering on AlmaLinux

Bob learned that high availability* ensures continuous access to services, even in the face of hardware or software failures.

Bob Masters Linux Virtualization with KVM on AlmaLinux

Virtualization allows a single physical server to run multiple isolated operating systems, making it a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure.

Bob Automates Infrastructure with Ansible on AlmaLinux

implify system management by learning Ansible, a powerful automation tool for configuring systems, deploying applications, and managing infrastructure.

Bob Delves into Advanced Linux Security Hardening with CIS Benchmarks

Bob’s next challenge was to implement advanced security hardening on AlmaLinux using the CIS Benchmarks

Bob Explores AI/ML Workloads on AlmaLinux

Delve into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workloads on AlmaLinux.

Bob Tackles Linux Storage Management on AlmaLinux

Explore LVM (Logical Volume Manager), RAID configurations, and disk encryption to become a storage expert.

Bob Explores Edge Computing with AlmaLinux

The edge is where the action happens—time to bring AlmaLinux closer to the data

Bob Automates Tasks with Bash and Custom Scripts on AlmaLinux

By writing scripts to streamline repetitive tasks, he aimed to enhance his productivity and reduce manual work across his AlmaLinux systems.

Bob Explores Database Management on AlmaLinux

Master database management on AlmaLinux. From setting up relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL to managing backups, scaling, and tuning performance

Bob Builds and Manages Web Servers with AlmaLinux

Set up and manage web servers using Apache and Nginx on AlmaLinux.

Bob Builds CI/CD Pipelines with AlmaLinux

Automate the software delivery lifecycle by building a Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline on AlmaLinux.

Bob Ventures into High-Performance Computing (HPC) with AlmaLinux

Explore High-Performance Computing on AlmaLinux. HPC clusters process massive workloads, enabling scientific simulations, machine learning.

Bob Explores Linux Kernel Tuning and Customization

Dive deep into the Linux kernel to optimize AlmaLinux for performance, stability, and security.

Bob Explores Real-Time Applications with AlmaLinux

Optimize AlmaLinux for real-time applications, where ultra-low latency and deterministic response times are critical.

Bob Deploys and Manages AlmaLinux in a Hybrid Cloud Environment

Bridge the gap between on-premise systems and the cloud by creating a hybrid cloud environment with AlmaLinux.

Bob Implements Advanced Security Practices for Hybrid Cloud

Secure hybrid cloud environment by addressing vulnerabilities and implementing best practices.

Bob Ventures into Blockchain Applications with AlmaLinux

Explore the world of blockchain applications on AlmaLinux.

Bob Tackles Machine Learning at Scale on AlmaLinux

Explore machine learning (ML) at scaleusing AlmaLinux.

Bob Explores Big Data Analytics with AlmaLinux

Dive into the world of big data analytics on AlmaLinux.

Bob Explores Edge AI and IoT Applications with AlmaLinux

ombine the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with the Internet of Things (IoT) to create smarter, edge-deployed systems.

Bob Explores Advanced Networking with AlmaLinux

Master advanced networking concepts with AlmaLinux, focusing on software-defined networking (SDN) and virtual private networks (VPNs)

Bob Builds High Availability Clustering on AlmaLinux

Create a High Availability (HA) cluster on AlmaLinux by ensuring minimal downtime and maximizing reliability.

Bob Masters Advanced Linux Troubleshooting on AlmaLinux

Sharpen your skills in Linux troubleshooting*, tackling complex system issues that could impact performance, security, or functionality.

Bob Automates Linux Administration with Ansible on AlmaLinux

Master Linux automation with Ansible by streamlining repetitive tasks like configuration management, software deployment, and system updates.

Bob Masters Advanced Shell Scripting on AlmaLinux

Dive deeper into shell scripting, mastering techniques to automate complex workflows and optimize system administration.

Bob Implements Linux Security Best Practices on AlmaLinux

Secure Linux systems by following best practices for system security.

Bob Tunes AlmaLinux for Optimal Performance

Optimize AlmaLinux for peak performance, ensuring systems ran smoothly and efficiently under heavy workloads.

Bob Explores Advanced File Systems and Storage Management

Master advanced file systems and storage management, focusing on tools like RAID, LVM, and ZFS.