Overview

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This course covers Linux networking and security: how systems connect and communicate over a network, and how to protect them from unauthorized access and attack. These are two central responsibilities in system administration. You'll start with networking foundations, including what a network is, the OSI model, IP addressing, and the theory behind TCP, UDP, ports, and DNS. You'll then run networking commands to analyze interfaces and routing, test connectivity, and use DNS tools to diagnose name resolution. The course then covers interface configuration and traffic analysis. You'll map network services to ports and processes, capture and filter live traffic with tcpdump, and monitor bandwidth and network performance to troubleshoot issues end to end. It closes with remote access, security, and hardening: configuring SSH key-based authentication and secure file transfer, managing firewall rules and access control, scanning systems with nmap, hardening SSH services, and applying Fail2ban intrusion prevention. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Configure and analyze network interfaces, routing, and active connections. - Explain the OSI model, IP addressing, and the roles of TCP, UDP, ports, and DNS. - Diagnose connectivity and DNS resolution issues using command-line tools. - Capture and filter network traffic with tcpdump and monitor performance. - Secure remote access using SSH key-based authentication and file transfer. - Harden Linux systems with firewall rules, nmap scanning, and Fail2ban. This course is intended for system administrators, DevOps engineers, and aspiring security professionals. Learners should be comfortable with the Linux command line, Learn to configure, diagnose, and secure Linux systems on a network.

Syllabus

Network Foundations and Commands

This module introduces the core foundations of Linux networking, helping learners understand how systems communicate across networks. Learners explore computer networks, network topologies, the OSI model, IP addressing, TCP, UDP, ports, and DNS. The module also builds hands-on familiarity with essential networking commands for analyzing interfaces, checking routing, testing connectivity, resolving DNS names, and monitoring basic network activity.

Interface Configuration and Traffic Analysis

This module focuses on configuring and analyzing Linux network interfaces, active connections, and traffic flow. Learners explore packet sniffing, transport layer protocols, service-to-port mapping, tcpdump-based packet capture, bandwidth monitoring, and network performance testing. The module helps learners develop practical troubleshooting skills by capturing traffic, filtering packets, measuring throughput, and diagnosing end-to-end network issues.

Remote Access, Security and Network Hardening

This module introduces secure remote administration and network hardening practices for Linux systems. Learners explore SSH, secure file transfer, firewall rules, access control policies, network scanning, SSH service hardening, and Fail2ban-based intrusion prevention. The module prepares learners to secure remote access, control network exposure, detect suspicious activity, and strengthen Linux systems against common network threats.

Course Wrap-Up and Assessment

This module is designed to assess learners on the networking, troubleshooting, and security skills covered throughout the course. Learners consolidate their understanding of network foundations, interface analysis, DNS troubleshooting, packet capture, bandwidth monitoring, SSH security, firewall configuration, network scanning, and system hardening. Through a roleplay activity, practice project, graded assignment, and summary video, learners demonstrate their ability to troubleshoot and secure Linux networked systems.