Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Introduction
Chapter 1: Gather Your Hardware
The Basics: What You’ll Need to Build Your Linux Lab
Using New Equipment for Your Lab
CPU Core Considerations
Memory Considerations
Storage Considerations
Using Old PCs and Laptops for Your Linux Lab
Raspberry Pis and IoT Devices
Building Your Network
Managed vs. Unmanaged Switches
Using Your ISP Router
Deploy Managed and Unmanaged Switches
Use Network Bridges and Bonds to Improve Connectivity
Tips for Avoiding Common Hardware Headaches
Reserve IP Address Pools Now, Not Later
Test and Document Your Configurations
Conclusion
Chapter 2: Setting Up a Virtual Environment
About the Proxmox Virtualization Environment (PVE)
Set Up Proxmox
Post-install Configurations
Prepare a Single-NIC Network Setup: VLAN-Aware
Prepare a Dual-NIC Network Setup: VLAN-Aware
Additional Storage Considerations
Thinking Ahead to Clustering
Deploy Your First VM
Server Replication with Cloning and Templates
Deploy an LXC Template Container
Set Up KVM
Check for Virtualization Support
Install KVM and Related Utilities
Set Up Bridged Networking on AlmaLinux, Fedora, and openSUSE
Set Up Bridged Networking on Debian and Ubuntu Desktops
Set Up a Linux Bridge Using NetworkManager
Set Up a Bridge Network with Netplan (Ubuntu)
Run virt-manager and Create Your First KVM VM
Command-Line Deployments
The Proxmox qm Command
The KVM virt-install Command
Conclusion
Chapter 3: Set Up a DNS Server
Why It Matters
Planning Your Network
Work with the Gear You Have
Will You Have Multiple Networks (Dual-Homed)?
What Domain Name Will You Use?
Reserving Pools of Addresses for Static and DHCP IP Addresses
Configure Your Routers and Switches
Add Internet Access to Your Private Network Switch
To DHCP or Not to DHCP
Deploy a VM to Host Your DNS Server
Using a Proxmox LXC Template
Install a Base Linux Template
Enable a Second Network Interface
Set Up Bind
Configure named.conf
Check Your DNS Configurations
Create a Forward Zone File
Create a Reverse Zone File
Set Up an Optional DNS Slave Server
Create a Second Host
Set Up the DNS Slave Zone Entries
Test Your DNS Slave
Graphical DNS Deployments and Management
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Setting Up an Email Server
Set Up a DNS Server to Handle Email
Install Postfix and Dovecot
Install Postfix
Install Dovecot
Mail Server Security Considerations
Initial Email Service Test
Install Sendmail
Install mailutils
Test Sending and Receiving Mail
Set Up an Email Client to Use the Email Server
Install Postfix and Dovecot in a Docker Container
Conclusion
Chapter 5: Building a LAMP Stack: Apache and PHP
Why LAMP?
Configure a Web Server VM and Install the Packages
Update Your DNS Settings to Add Websites
Install the Core LAMP Packages
Create Two Web Server Directories
Define Two Different Websites in Apache
Finalize Settings for the First Website
Configure Apache to Serve Up the Website Properly
Create and Enable the Second Website
Take a Snapshot to Preserve Your Configuration
Use PHP with Your Website
Test the PHP Installation
Install RainLoop Webmail
Set Up RainLoop
Set RainLoop Permissions
Configure RainLoop via the Admin Panel
Deploy Apache, PHP, and RainLoop as Docker Containers
How the Containers Interact
Prepare the Docker Host
Create a Docker Context for RainLoop
Add Additional Docker Containers to the RainLoop Application
Start the Multicontainer RainLoop Docker Application
Troubleshoot the Docker Deployment
Conclusion
Chapter 6: Installing MariaDB and Creating a Simple Web Application
Set Up and Log In to MariaDB
Basic SQL Commands
Create MariaDB Users and Set Permissions
Create a Test MariaDB Database
Create and Populate a Database Table
Add Data to a Table
Update Table Entries
Delete Table Entries
Read MariaDB Data with PHP
Containerize It
Create the PHP Container
Create MariaDB and Adminer
Launch Your Containerized Stack
Try Out Adminer
Conclusion
Chapter 7: Web Server Alternatives
Deploy WordPress
Create a WordPress System User
Finish the WordPress Installation
Install and Configure NGINX
Manually Install NGINX
Configure NGINX
Install NGINX Using a Proxmox Template
When a Little HTTP Is All You Need
Python 3 http.server
Use the PHP CLI Built-In Server
Run php-cli in a Container
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Containerizing and Automating Your Deployments
Thinking in terms of Containers and Microservices
Deploy an NGINX Container
Automate Your NGINX Deployment
Automate with Ansible
Ansible Playbook Example
Apply the NGINX Playbook
Automate NGINX with Chef
Create a Chef Cookbook and Recipes
Create a Chef Recipe
Create Templates
Create a Chef InSpec Profile
Apply and Test Your Chef Configuration
Test with Test Kitchen
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Server Management and Maintenance
A Closer Look at Webmin
Deploy Webmin with Chef
Verify Your Webmin Installation
Set Up Webmin for Multiple-Server Management
Add Other Webmin Servers
Add Cluster Capabilities
Test Some Cluster Actions
A More DevOps Way to Analyze Systems
Use Chef InSpec to Scan Systems
Apply a Linux Benchmark Profile
Create an InSpec Waiver File
Other Ways to Apply InSpec Profiles
Apply an InSpec Profile via the Chef Supermarket
Create and Apply Your Own InSpec Profile
Some Useful Backup Tools
Set Up Proxmox Replication
Back Up MariaDB Data
Use Git to Store Your Code
Conclusion
Chapter 10: Extend Your DevOps Capabilities with Git
Get Started with Git
Create a GitHub Account
The Advantage of SSH for Pushing
Create a New Git Repo
Create Some Content
Share Your Code
Create a GitLab Host
Generate an SSL Key
Use Your New GitLab Repo
Other GitLab Capabilities
A Bit on CI/CD
Create a GitLab Runner
Register Your Runner with Your GitLab Instance
Create a Pipeline
Conclusion
Chapter 11: Automate System Deployments with Terraform
Install Terraform
A Terraform Example with Docker
Use Git to Track Your Work
Terraform Your First Bit of Infrastructure
Use Terraform with Proxmox
Configure Proxmox to Work with Terraform
Create a variables.tf File
Create Your LXC with Terraform
Make Updates or Destroy It All
Conclusion
Index