Linux Training for Support Engineers

The Linux for Support Engineers training course is designed to equip IT support engineers and helpdesk technicians with the foundational skills required to effectively manage and troubleshoot Linux-based systems. This one-day, beginner-level course provides an introduction to the Linux operating system, focusing on essential tools, commands, and best practices for supporting Linux environments.

Through hands-on labs and interactive sessions, participants will learn the basics of Linux, its history, and its significance in the IT support landscape. They'll become familiar with popular Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), as well as the differences between graphical user interfaces (GUI) and command-line interfaces (CLI).

The course will guide participants through:

•  Setting up Linux in virtual environments (VirtualBox or VMware), and understanding the Linux filesystem.
•  Basic Linux commands, from navigation and file operations to process management and monitoring.
•  How to manage users and groups, control file permissions, and handle essential administrative tasks.
•  Understanding the structure of Linux file systems, and effectively managing logs for troubleshooting and issue resolution.

By the end of this course, attendees will gain a solid understanding of how to support and maintain Linux systems, helping them troubleshoot issues, manage system resources, and perform basic administrative duties with confidence.

Module 1: Introduction to Linux
•    Overview of Linux & Its Importance

• What is Linux?
• History and Evolution
• Linux vs. Windows for Support Roles

•    Linux Distributions & Environments

• Popular Distributions (Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, RHEL)
• Choosing the Right Distribution for Support
• GUI vs. CLI Environments

•   Installing Linux (Lab Session)

• Setting up Linux in a Virtual Machine (VirtualBox/VMware)
• Basic Installation and Configuration
• Understanding the Linux Filesystem

Module 2: Linux Command Line Basics
•    Understanding the Linux Shell

• Bash and Other Shells
• Basic Command Syntax

•    Essential Linux Commands

• Navigation (cd, ls, pwd)
• File Operations (cp, mv, rm, mkdir, touch)
• Viewing File Contents (cat, less, more, head, tail)
• Searching for Files (find, locate)

•   User & Group Management

• Creating Users and Groups (useradd, groupadd)
• Managing Permissions (chmod, chown, umask)

•   Process Management & Monitoring

• Checking Processes (ps, top, htop)
• Killing/Stopping Processes (kill, pkill, killall)

Module 3: Managing Linux Files & Logs
•    Linux File System Structure

• Understanding /etc, /var, /home, /usr, /tmp
• Mounting and Unmounting Drives

•    Managing Logs for Troubleshooting

• Checking System Logs (journalctl, dmesg, syslog, /var/log/)
• Log Rotation (logrotate)
• Basic Log Analysis for Issue Resolution