Monitor and troubleshoot networking

Context: LFCS exam

Monitor and troubleshoot networking

In the context of the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) exam, one of the key areas to focus on is monitoring and troubleshooting networking. Here are the learning objectives related to this topic:

1. Network Monitoring:

• Understand the importance of network monitoring and its role in ensuring the availability and performance of network services.
• Learn how to use command-line tools like ping, traceroute, netstat, tcpdump, and iftop to monitor network connectivity, diagnose network issues, and analyze network traffic.
• Familiarize yourself with graphical tools like Wireshark for capturing and analyzing network packets.

2. Network Configuration and Troubleshooting:

• Understand the Linux networking stack and the configuration files involved, such as /etc/network/interfaces or /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-*.
• Learn how to configure network interfaces, IP addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways using tools like ip or ifconfig.
• Gain knowledge of troubleshooting common networking issues like misconfigured IP addresses, incorrect subnet masks, or network interface failures.

3. Name Resolution and DNS:

• Understand the role of DNS in resolving hostnames to IP addresses and vice versa.
• Learn how to troubleshoot DNS resolution issues by checking DNS server configuration, name resolution order, and DNS caching on Linux systems.
• Familiarize yourself with tools like dig, nslookup, and host to query DNS records and troubleshoot DNS-related problems.

4. Network Services and Ports:

• Understand the concept of network services and their association with specific ports.
• Learn how to identify listening ports using tools like netstat or ss and diagnose issues related to service availability or port conflicts.
• Gain knowledge of configuring and troubleshooting common network services like SSH, FTP, HTTP, and DNS.

5. Firewall and Security:

• Understand the basics of Linux firewall mechanisms, such as iptables or firewalld.
• Learn how to configure and troubleshoot firewall rules to allow or block specific network traffic.
• Familiarize yourself with tools like nmap or telnet for network port scanning and testing network service accessibility.

6. Network File Sharing:

• Understand network file sharing protocols like NFS (Network File System) or Samba (SMB/CIFS).
• Learn how to configure and troubleshoot network file sharing services on Linux systems.
• Gain knowledge of diagnosing issues related to permissions, connectivity, or client configuration when accessing shared network resources.

It is essential to practice hands-on exercises, explore real-world scenarios, and familiarize yourself with command-line tools and configuration files related to networking on Linux systems. By achieving these learning objectives, you will be well-prepared to monitor and troubleshoot networking issues, contributing to your success in the LFCS exam.