Linux Mastery: Master the Linux Command Line in 11.5 Hours Course Syllabus

A comprehensive, lab-driven Linux course that transforms beginners into confident system administrators through practical, real-world exercises. This 11.5-hour program is structured into ten hands-on modules, guiding learners from foundational command-line skills to advanced system administration and security practices. With a focus on practical application, each module includes realistic labs and demonstrations to reinforce learning. Expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours per module, culminating in a solid foundation for real-world Linux environments.

Module 1: Course Introduction & Lab Setup

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Overview of course objectives and Linux distributions
• Set up a virtual machine (VM) or cloud instance for hands-on work
• Configure SSH access
• Environment customization (.bashrc, aliases)

Module 2: Filesystem Navigation & Management

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Use commands like ls, cd, pwd, cp, mv, rm, and ln
• Understand absolute vs. relative paths
• Distinguish symbolic vs. hard links
• Employ find and locate to search files efficiently

Module 3: User, Group & Permission Controls

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Create and manage users/groups with useradd, groupadd, and usermod
• Set file and directory permissions using chmod, chown, and chgrp
• Implement special permissions (setuid, setgid, sticky bit) for security

Module 4: Software Installation & Package Management

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Install, update, and remove packages with apt, yum, or dnf
• Configure repositories and handle dependency resolution
• Build and install software from source using ./configure, make, make install

Module 5: Networking Fundamentals & SSH

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Configure IP addresses, DNS, and routing using ip and nmcli
• Secure remote access with SSH key authentication
• Hardening SSH configuration
• Troubleshoot connectivity with ping, traceroute, and netstat

Module 6: Shell Scripting & Automation

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Write Bash scripts with variables, loops, and conditionals
• Use text-processing tools (grep, awk, sed) for automation
• Schedule tasks with cron and at

Module 7: Process & Service Management

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Inspect running processes using ps, top, and htop
• Control processes with kill, pkill, and priority adjustments (nice, renice)
• Manage system services via systemctl and legacy init scripts

Module 8: System Monitoring & Log Analysis

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Monitor resource usage with vmstat, iostat, and sar
• Analyze logs in /var/log using journalctl
• Implement log rotation (logrotate)
• Set up basic alerting for critical metrics

Module 9: Security Essentials

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Configure a host-based firewall with ufw or firewalld
• Secure shared directories
• Implement SELinux/AppArmor basics
• Perform vulnerability scanning with Lynis or OpenVAS

Module 10: Advanced Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Diagnose boot issues and recover from single-user mode
• Use strace and ltrace for low-level debugging
• Apply configuration management fundamentals (Ansible playbook overview)

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic computer operations
• No prior Linux experience required
• Access to a computer for setting up a VM or cloud instance

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Navigate and manage the Linux filesystem and permissions confidently
• Execute essential command-line operations and text-processing utilities
• Administer users, groups, and file ownership in secure multi-user environments
• Install, update, and remove software using package managers (apt, yum, dnf)
• Write basic shell scripts to automate routine tasks