The official SUSE Linux guide to mastering Linux administration. Deploy, secure, and manage SLES 16 servers while preparing for the SCA certification
Key Features
Build real-world SLES 16 sysadmin skills through hands-on tasks and examples Secure and optimize enterprise Linux systems using mcphost, cockpit, firewalld, SELinux, and system roles Prepare for the SUSE Certified Administrator (SCA) exam with guided exercises Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Book DescriptionMastering enterprise Linux administration can be overwhelming without guidance, especially for those targeting the SUSE Certified Administrator (SCA) certification or managing critical IT infrastructures. This practical guide offers the complete skillset required to confidently operate, secure, and maintain SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 16.
Written by senior SUSE product experts, this book helps you deploy physical and cloud systems, configure software and networking, secure services using firewalld and SELinux, and manage storage using BTRFS and LVM. With step-by-step instructions, real-world examples, and detailed chapters on automation with system roles and containers with Podman, youll build confidence across core Linux administration topics. Youll also gain hands-on practice with system snapshots, kernel tuning, and AI with mcphost. It also includes a brief introduction to SLES 4 SAP-specific features. You'll learn how to configure services, harden systems, automate infrastructure with tools like Agama, Cockpit, and System Roles.
This is the only official guide for SLE administrators and engineers, providing trusted insight you will not find anywhere else. By the end, you will be well-equipped to manage SLES systems in enterprise environments and approach the SCA certification with confidence. What you will learn
Install and configure SLES 16 on physical and cloud platforms Manage users, permissions, and network settings Secure systems using firewalld and SELinux Administer remote access with SSH, Cockpit, and tunnels Use Agentic AI with mcphost Handle storage with BTRFS, LVM, and NFS Tune system performance and kernel parameters Use automation tools like Ansible and system roles Deploy and manage containers using Podman
Who this book is forThis book is for system administrators, platform engineers, DevOps professionals, developers, and certification aspirants looking to strengthen their Linux expertise, prepare for the SUSE Certified Administrator (SCA) exam, and gain practical skills for managing IT infrastructures. It is especially valuable for those working with SAP environments on Linux, where reliability and performance are critical. Prior Linux knowledge isnt required, but familiarity with basic IT concepts will be helpful.
Table of Contents
Getting SLES 16 Up and Running (Physical and Cloud)
Running Basic Commands and Simple Shell Scripts
Managing Regular Operations with Tools
Securing the System with Users, Groups and Permissions
Enabling Network Connectivity
Adding, Patching, and Managing Software
Remote Systems Administration
Enabling and Using Cockpit
Securing Network Connectivity with firewalld
Keeping the System Hardened with SELinux
Agentic AI with mcphost
Manage Local Storage and Filesystems
Flexible Storage Management with LVM
Configuring and Using System Snapshots with BTRFS and Snapper
Understanding the Boot Process
Automating with System Roles
Managing Containers with Podman
Introduction to SLES 4 SAP
Practice Exercises 1
Practice Exercises 2
Miguel is an experienced technology enthusiast with a clear orientation towards IT, free/open source software and open standards. His career has grown in the IT field with connections in every direction. From User Support and Teacher; through Systems and Network Administration; to Systems Engineering, Systems Architecture, IT Strategy definition and now as a Senior Director of Product Management for Business Critical Linux at SUSE he works on making products that make users and customers more efficient Sergio Ocón Cárdenas is Senior Product Manager for Core Platforms at SUSE, with deep expertise across Red Hat, Oracle, and SUSE Linux. He has led major projects in cloud-native infrastructure and containerized workloads, including SUSE Framework One and Red Hat Insights. Sergio holds an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering and an MBA, along with RHCSA and OpenStack certifications. Pablo Iranzo Gómez is a software engineer whose Linux exposure began while studying physics, a period during which he was also involved in LUGs and some projects related to HPC clusters and system administration and consultancy. Currently, he is a senior software engineer in Red Hat's SolEng department, focusing on OpenShift, with experience in consulting, cloud technical account management, OpenStack software maintenance in industries such as hospitality, retail, airlines, government, telco, 5G, partners, and IT, covering system administration and automation, virtualization, PaaS, support, the cloud, and so on, having a broad understanding of different views, needs, and risks across the industry. Pablo was born and lives in Valencia, Spain with his family.
