Your Guide to Linux Server Administration

Linux server management has its unique set of challenges and work processes which is quite different as compared to Linux workstation. The system management of Linux servers is also quite different from desktop OS such as Mac OS X as well as Windows. Check out this article to figure out Linux server management and everything there is to know about it, including the cloud or dedicated hosting. 

What is Linux server management?

When IT staff are planning on managing Linux servers for the first time, they need to keep in mind that there is a difference between Linux servers and the various Linux distributions that can be used for desktops or workstations. Similar to Windows server editions being pretty powerful, Linux server editions are also built in order to cater to big diverse demands.

Linux servers make network administration simpler to take care of for Linux server management by putting in additional features. It includes various tools that help with management such as the option of database administration or several other advanced system admin features. You can also use your Linux server edition to run various services including advanced web apps.

Selecting a Linux server includes enjoying its advantages like huge amounts of security, remaining highly flexible, and retaining solidity. There are several choices you are offered with you choose Linux server administration. Your preference for Linux distribution is one of such choices. You can select from Ubuntu, CentOS, etc. Bring open source is one of the best features of Linux that acts as a huge asset for server admins.

Why manage your Linux server?

 You might wonder why it is important to manage your web server when other electronics do not require such persistent care. Servers keep their company’s vital information safe and take care of numerous transactions every day. In such high-pressure scenarios, a server malfunction could result in an enormous monetary loss that can be hard or in certain situations utterly impossible to recover from. Your server should be updated and maintained regularly to stop any vulnerabilities and keep problems at bay. Linux server management includes 4 main goals.

1. Security

Ensure the security of your server data from all kinds of malicious attacks.

2. Performance

Ensure that traffic spikes can be easily and competently handled by the server, especially as your traffic keeps increasing with time.

3. Uptime

Take care of all vulnerabilities to minimise server faults and have a quick solution to problems that might arise. This ensures maximum uptime.

4. Features

Update your server to include all the newest features available to help your business stay ahead of its competition in the industry. 

The difference between a dedicated and a cloud server

To understand the role of a Linux server admin, knowing the difference between a dedicated server and a cloud server is crucial. A dedicated server includes hardware that is dedicated on a physical server. You do not have to share your resources with other users. Hence your data gets ample security. If your website encounters huge amounts of traffic that require a lot of resources and high performance, then dedicated servers are the preferred choice.

The cloud server offers dedicated resources along with a high amount of scalability. It is applicable for websites that are fairly simple and just starting out, and for those that are much more complicated. There are several resources that you can adjust according to your needs and pay for according to the amount of time you have used them. You also get access to a variety of functions of the cloud server. 

The importance of server monitoring for Linux server administration

Server monitoring is one of the most crucial aspects of cloud or dedicated Linux server management. There will be monitoring done by cloud providers of their own, but Linux admins need to use various tools for monitoring too. While every system administrator can choose monitoring tools, there are certain types that are needed for every admin to be familiar with. Here are some of the best options:

1. Disk utility

You should keep an eye on the disks to ensure they are working optimally using iotop. You can determine the working condition of the machines as well as their performance efficiency with the insights that Linux server management experts provide. The performance of your server is based on reliable data being sent and received. 

2. Observe traffic on the network

If you’re unsure of the condition of your network traffic, you can try nload. It will help you get a good idea of the aspect of your machinery that is eating up a majority of your bandwidth. It will even help detect if there are any glitches in the network. 

3. Observing your monitor

Some of the biggest issues that we face in this day and age are cybercrime and hacking. Using iftop to keep an eye on the network connections will help you determine which active network connections are a part of your server connections. Hence, if any malicious attacks get to your server through an unexpected connection, they will be readily identified and gotten rid of. 

 Conclusion

Linux server management is one of the most important aspects of ensuring a high amount of security, maximum uptime, as well as a huge amount of speed. It is one of the best ways to guarantee the success of your business as it lays a perfect foundation to help your company grow.