DevOps Shack

LINUX Best Practices

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1. Keep System Updated

• Regularly update your system to ensure you have the latest security patches and
software versions.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

2. Use Package Managers Efficiently

• Use apt, yum, dnf, pacman, or other package managers to install, update, and remove
software.

sudo apt install package_name

3. Manage Services with Systemd

• Control services using systemd to start, stop, and manage services.
• sudo systemctl start service_name
• sudo systemctl enable service_name
sudo systemctl status service_name

4. User and Group Management

• Add, modify, and delete users and groups to manage permissions and access control.
• sudo adduser username
• sudo usermod -aG groupname username
sudo deluser username
5. File Permissions and Ownership
• Use chmod, chown, and chgrp to set appropriate file permissions and ownership.
• sudo chown user:group filename
sudo chmod 755 filename

6. Use SSH for Remote Management

• Securely manage servers and remote systems using SSH.

ssh user@remote_host

7. Set Up SSH Key-Based Authentication

• Enhance security by using SSH keys instead of passwords.
• ssh-keygen
ssh-copy-id user@remote_host

8. Monitor System Performance

• Use top, htop, and glances to monitor system performance and resource usage.

top

9. Automate Tasks with Cron Jobs

• Schedule and automate recurring tasks using cron.
• crontab -e
• # Add a job, e.g., to run a script every day at midnight
0 0 * * * /path/to/script.sh

10. Use Aliases for Efficiency

• Create aliases to simplify and speed up command execution.

alias ll='ls -la'

11. Backup and Restore Data

• Regularly backup important data using tools like rsync or tar.

rsync -avh /source/directory /backup/directory

12. Use Scripting to Automate Tasks
• Write Bash scripts to automate repetitive tasks and processes.
• #!/bin/bash
echo "Hello, World!"

13. Understand and Utilize Redirection

• Use >, >>, 2>, and | to redirect output and errors.
• ls > output.txt
• ls >> output.txt
• ls 2> error.txt
ls | grep pattern

14. Use Text Processing Tools

• Utilize grep, awk, sed, and cut for text processing and manipulation.
• grep "search_term" file.txt
• awk '{print $1}' file.txt
• sed 's/old/new/g' file.txt
cut -d',' -f1 file.txt

15. Manage Disk Usage

• Use df, du, and ncdu to monitor and manage disk space.
• df -h
• du -sh /directory
ncdu

16. Secure Your System with Firewalls

• Use ufw, iptables, or firewalld to configure firewalls.
• sudo ufw allow 22
sudo ufw enable

17. Use Version Control

• Manage code and configurations using Git.
• git init
• git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

18. Use Environment Variables

• Set and use environment variables for configuration and scripts.
• export VAR_NAME=value
 echo $VAR_NAME

19. Secure Sensitive Information

• Store sensitive information in environment variables or use secret management tools.

export DB_PASSWORD='securepassword'

20. Set Up a Firewall

• Configure a firewall to protect your system from unauthorized access.
• sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw allow ssh

21. Install Software from Source

• Compile and install software from source when necessary.
• ./configure
• make
sudo make install

22. Create and Manage Virtual Environments

• Use tools like virtualenv for Python projects to manage dependencies.
• virtualenv venv
source venv/bin/activate

23. Use Containers for Isolation

• Utilize Docker or Podman for containerizing applications.

docker run -it ubuntu

24. Monitor Logs

• Use journalctl and log files in /var/log to troubleshoot issues.
• journalctl -xe
tail -f /var/log/syslog

25. Set Up Network Configurations

• Configure network interfaces and settings using ip, ifconfig, and nmcli.
• ip addr show
sudo ifconfig eth0 up
26. Optimize System Performance
• Use sysctl to configure kernel parameters for better performance.

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=1

27. Use Disk Partitioning Tools

• Manage disk partitions with fdisk, parted, and lsblk.
• sudo fdisk /dev/sda
• sudo parted /dev/sda
lsblk

28. Implement RAID for Redundancy

• Set up RAID using mdadm for data redundancy and performance.

sudo mdadm --create --verbose /dev/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2

/dev/sd[ab]

29. Encrypt Sensitive Data

• Use tools like gpg and openssl to encrypt data.
• gpg -c file.txt
openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -in file.txt -out file.enc

30. Configure System Backups

• Schedule regular backups using tools like rsnapshot or duplicity.
• rsnapshot configtest
rsnapshot hourly

31. Use Process Management Tools

• Manage running processes with ps, kill, pkill, and nice.
• ps aux
• kill -9 PID
• pkill process_name
nice -n 10 command

32. Set Up Swap Space

• Configure swap space to improve system stability.
• sudo fallocate -l 4G /swapfile
• sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
• sudo mkswap /swapfile
 sudo swapon /swapfile

33. Implement Security Best Practices

• Follow security guidelines and practices to harden your system.
• sudo ufw enable
sudo fail2ban-client status

34. Use Monitoring and Alerting Tools

• Implement tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or Prometheus for monitoring.

sudo apt install nagios

35. Set Up and Manage Databases

• Install, configure, and manage databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB.
• sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo -u postgres psql

36. Optimize Network Performance

• Use tools like iperf and netstat to optimize network performance.
• iperf -s
netstat -tuln

37. Use Virtualization Tools

• Utilize KVM, VirtualBox, or VMware for virtualization.
• sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-bin
sudo virt-manager

38. Manage Configuration Files

• Use version control for configuration files to keep track of changes.
• git init
• git add /etc/config_file
git commit -m "Initial config file"

39. Use Network File Systems

• Set up and use NFS, SMB, or CIFS for network file sharing.
• sudo apt install n
fs-kernel-server sudo exportfs -a ```
40. Implement Logging and Auditing
• Use auditd and logging tools to track system activity.
• sudo apt install auditd
sudo auditctl -e 1

41. Use Screen and Tmux for Terminal Management

• Manage multiple terminal sessions using screen or tmux.
• screen
tmux

42. Optimize Boot Time

• Reduce boot time by disabling unnecessary services.

sudo systemctl disable service_name

43. Use Disk Quotas

• Implement disk quotas to limit user disk usage.
• sudo apt install quota
sudo edquota username

44. Set Up DNS

• Configure DNS settings using bind or other DNS servers.
• sudo apt install bind9
sudo systemctl start bind9

45. Use Tools for Disk Recovery

• Utilize fsck and testdisk for disk recovery and repair.
• sudo fsck /dev/sda1
sudo testdisk

46. Implement High Availability

• Set up high availability with tools like keepalived or HAProxy.
• sudo apt install keepalived
sudo systemctl start keepalived

47. Use Load Balancing

• Distribute load using tools like Nginx, HAProxy, or LoadBalancer.
 • sudo apt install nginx
sudo systemctl start nginx

48. Use Caching Mechanisms

• Improve performance with caching tools like Memcached or Redis.
• sudo apt install redis-server
sudo systemctl start redis

49. Use Ansible for Configuration Management

• Automate configuration management using Ansible.

ansible-playbook -i inventory playbook.yml

50. Implement Continuous Integration/Deployment

• Use CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Travis CI.
• sudo apt install jenkins
sudo systemctl start jenkins

51. Understand and Use SELinux

• Enhance security using SELinux policies and tools.
• sudo setenforce 1
sudo getenforce

52. Use AppArmor for Security

• Implement security profiles using AppArmor.
• sudo apt install apparmor
sudo aa-status

53. Set Up and Use LDAP

• Configure LDAP for centralized authentication.
• sudo apt install slapd
sudo dpkg-reconfigure slapd

54. Use Nginx or Apache for Web Serving

• Set up web servers using Nginx or Apache.
• sudo apt install nginx
sudo systemctl start nginx
55. Use Fail2Ban to Protect Against Brute Force Attacks
• Install and configure Fail2Ban to protect your system.
• sudo apt install fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban

56. Use Snort for Intrusion Detection

• Set up Snort for network intrusion detection.
• sudo apt install snort
sudo systemctl start snort

57. Use ClamAV for Antivirus Protection

• Install and use ClamAV for virus scanning.
• sudo apt install clamav
sudo clamscan -r /

58. Set Up a Mail Server

• Configure a mail server using Postfix, Sendmail, or Exim.
• sudo apt install postfix
sudo systemctl start postfix

59. Use Rsync for Efficient File Transfers

• Synchronize files and directories efficiently using Rsync.

rsync -avh source/ destination/

60. Configure and Use Proxy Servers

• Set up and manage proxy servers using Squid or HAProxy.
• sudo apt install squid
sudo systemctl start squid

61. Implement Two-Factor Authentication

• Enhance security with two-factor authentication.
• sudo apt install libpam-google-authenticator
google-authenticator

62. Use Tools for Packet Analysis

• Analyze network packets using tools like Wireshark or tcpdump.
 • sudo apt install wireshark
sudo tcpdump -i eth0

63. Set Up and Use VPNs

• Configure VPNs using OpenVPN or WireGuard.
• sudo apt install openvpn
sudo systemctl start openvpn

64. Use Configuration Management Tools

• Use tools like Puppet, Chef, or Salt for configuration management.
• sudo apt install puppet
sudo systemctl start puppet

65. Use Load Testing Tools

• Test and optimize system performance with tools like ab or JMeter.

ab -n 100 -c 10 http://example.com/

66. Set Up DNS Caching

• Configure DNS caching with tools like dnsmasq.
• sudo apt install dnsmasq
sudo systemctl start dnsmasq

67. Use Centralized Logging

• Implement centralized logging using tools like Logstash or Fluentd.
• sudo apt install logstash
sudo systemctl start logstash

68. Implement Security Audits

• Regularly perform security audits using tools like Lynis.
• sudo apt install lynis
sudo lynis audit system

69. Use Certificate Management Tools

• Manage SSL/TLS certificates using tools like certbot.
• sudo apt install certbot
sudo certbot --nginx
70. Set Up Remote Desktop Access
• Configure remote desktop access using xrdp or VNC.
• sudo apt install xrdp
sudo systemctl start xrdp

71. Use Docker for Containerization

• Simplify application deployment and management using Docker.
• sudo apt install docker.io
sudo systemctl start docker

72. Implement File Integrity Monitoring

• Use tools like AIDE or Tripwire for file integrity monitoring.
• sudo apt install aide
sudo aideinit

73. Use GPG for Secure Communication

• Encrypt and sign communications using GPG.
• gpg --gen-key
gpg --encrypt --recipient user@example.com file.txt

74. Set Up and Manage Caches

• Use caching mechanisms like varnish to improve performance.
• sudo apt install varnish
sudo systemctl start varnish

75. Use Python Virtual Environments

• Isolate Python environments using virtualenv or venv.
• python3 -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate

76. Implement Data Encryption

• Use LUKS or other encryption tools to secure data.
• sudo cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/sda1
sudo cryptsetup open /dev/sda1 encrypted

77. Use Load Balancing Techniques

• Distribute load using Nginx or HAProxy.
 • sudo apt install haproxy
sudo systemctl start haproxy

78. Implement High Availability Clustering

• Use tools like Pacemaker for high availability clustering.
• sudo apt install pacemaker
sudo systemctl start pacemaker

79. Use Terraform for Infrastructure as Code

• Manage infrastructure using Terraform.
• terraform init
terraform apply

80. Implement Continuous Monitoring

• Use tools like Zabbix or Prometheus for continuous monitoring.
• sudo apt install zabbix-server-mysql
sudo systemctl start zabbix-server

81. Configure Multi-Factor Authentication

• Set up multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
• sudo apt install google-authenticator
google-authenticator

82. Use Kubernetes for Orchestration

• Manage containerized applications with Kubernetes.
• sudo apt install kubectl
kubectl cluster-info

83. Set Up Logging with ELK Stack

• Use Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana for centralized logging.
•
bash sudo apt install elasticsearch logstash kibana sudo systemctl start elasticsearch
logstash kibana ```

84. Use Let's Encrypt for SSL Certificates

• Obtain free SSL certificates using Let's Encrypt.
• sudo apt install certbot
sudo certbot --nginx
85. Implement Rate Limiting
• Protect against abuse by implementing rate limiting.
• sudo apt install nginx
sudo vim /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

86. Use Fail2Ban for Security

• Protect your server from brute force attacks using Fail2Ban.
• sudo apt install fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban

87. Optimize Database Performance

• Tune database settings for optimal performance.

sudo vim /etc/mysql/my.cnf

88. Use Network Monitoring Tools

• Monitor network traffic using tools like iftop or nload.
• sudo apt install iftop
sudo iftop

89. Implement Disk Encryption

• Encrypt disks using tools like LUKS for added security.
• sudo cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/sda1
sudo cryptsetup open /dev/sda1 encrypted

90. Use Python for Automation

• Write Python scripts to automate tasks.
• #!/usr/bin/env python3
print("Hello, World!")

91. Set Up NTP for Time Synchronization

• Ensure accurate system time using NTP.
• sudo apt install ntp
sudo systemctl start ntp

92. Use Log Rotation

• Manage log file sizes using logrotate.
 sudo vim /etc/logrotate.conf

93. Implement IDS/IPS Systems

• Use tools like Snort for intrusion detection and prevention.
• sudo apt install snort
sudo systemctl start snort

94. Use Cloud Services

• Integrate with cloud services like AWS, Azure, or GCP.

aws configure

95. Set Up Web Application Firewalls

• Protect web applications using WAFs like ModSecurity.
• sudo apt install libapache2-mod-security2
sudo systemctl start apache2

96. Use Centralized Configuration Management

• Manage configurations centrally using tools like Puppet or Chef.
• sudo apt install puppet
sudo systemctl start puppet

97. Implement SSL/TLS Encryption

• Secure communications using SSL/TLS.
• sudo apt install openssl
openssl req -new -x509 -days 365 -keyout /etc/ssl/private/server.key
-out /etc/ssl/certs/server.crt

98. Use LXC for Lightweight Containers

• Create and manage lightweight containers using LXC.
• sudo apt install lxc
sudo lxc-create -t download -n mycontainer

99. Implement Disaster Recovery Plans

• Prepare for disasters with comprehensive recovery plans.

rsync -avh /data /backup

100. Regularly Review and Update Security Policies
• Keep security policies up to date and review them regularly.

sudo vim /etc/security/policies.conf