Linux

Linux is the foundation of modern infrastructure. Understanding how it works is essential for DevOps engineers.

What is Linux?

Linux is a free, open-source operating system kernel that serves as the core of many operating systems like Ubuntu, CentOS, and Red Hat. It manages hardware resources and allows applications to run.

Key Concepts

• Kernel: Core of the OS that manages hardware
• Shell: Command interpreter (Bash, Zsh, etc.)
• File System: Hierarchical organization of files
• Users & Permissions: Security model for access control
• Processes: Running programs and services
• Package Manager: Tool for installing software

Topics Covered

1. File Structure - Understanding the Linux filesystem hierarchy (/bin, /etc, /var, etc.)
2. File Permissions - Managing who can read, write, and execute files
3. Users and Groups - Creating and managing users and user groups
4. Package Management - Installing and updating software packages
5. Processes - Managing and monitoring running processes

Why Linux Matters in DevOps

Linux is used in:

• Web servers (Apache, Nginx)
• Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Container platforms (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Cloud infrastructure (AWS EC2, Azure VMs)
• CI/CD pipelines

Mastering Linux is the first step to becoming proficient in DevOps.