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Created page with "= Module 1 Lab: Introduction to System Administration = == Objective == By the end of this lab, students will: * Understand the role of a system administrator. * Differentiate between server and workstation environments. * Gain a basic understanding of virtualization concepts. * Navigate the EVE-NG interface and create simple nodes and networks. == Prerequisites == * Access to an EVE-NG environment (self-installed or Colourfi pre-configured machine). * A web browser to..."
 
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* Understand the role of a system administrator.
* Understand the role of a system administrator.
* Differentiate between server and workstation environments.
* Differentiate between server and workstation environments.
* Gain a basic understanding of virtualization concepts.
* Gain a basic understanding of virtualisation concepts.
* Navigate the EVE-NG interface and create simple nodes and networks.
* Navigate the EVE-NG interface and create simple nodes and networks.


Line 18: Line 18:
# Have a basic topology area available to create nodes and links.
# Have a basic topology area available to create nodes and links.


== Lab Steps ==
== Module 1 Learning Objectives ==


=== Step 1: Overview of System Administration Roles ===
=== Overview of System Administration Roles ===
# Discuss the responsibilities of a sysadmin:
** User and group management
** Server and workstation deployment
** Security and patch management
** Network configuration
** Backup and recovery
# Write down 3 tasks you think a sysadmin would do daily.


=== Step 2: Understanding Server vs. Workstation Environments ===
===== Responsibilities of a sysadmin: =====
# Identify which VMs in EVE-NG are “servers” and which are “workstations.”
* User and group management
# Discuss key differences:
* Server and workstation deployment
* Security and patch management
* Network configuration
* Backup and recovery
=== Understanding Server vs. Workstation Environments ===
 
===== key differences: =====
* Servers often run headless or minimal GUI, provide services to multiple users.
* Servers often run headless or minimal GUI, provide services to multiple users.
* Workstations are user-focused with full GUI and productivity apps.
* Workstations are user-focused with full GUI and productivity apps.
# Document the differences in a small table:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Feature !! Server !! Workstation
! Feature !! Server !! Workstation
Line 46: Line 43:
|}
|}


=== Step 3: Introduction to Virtualisation Concepts ===
=== Introduction to Virtualisation Concepts ===
# Understand the concept of virtual machines and hypervisors:
 
* Type 1 hypervisor: runs directly on hardware (e.g., ESXi)
===== Understand the concept of virtual machines and hypervisors: =====
* Type 1 hypervisor: runs directly on hardware (e.g., ESXi, Hyper-V)
* Type 2 hypervisor: runs on host OS (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware Workstation)
* Type 2 hypervisor: runs on host OS (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware Workstation)
# Discuss EVE-NG as a network-focused virtualization platform that allows multiple OS nodes to interconnect.


=== Step 4: Exploring the EVE-NG Interface ===
== Module 1 Hands On Lab ==
 
=== Step 1: Exploring the EVE-NG Interface ===
# Log in to EVE-NG web interface.
# Log in to EVE-NG web interface.
# Navigate the main menu:
# Navigate the main menu:
Line 59: Line 58:
* ''Topology Connections'' – connect nodes via virtual links
* ''Topology Connections'' – connect nodes via virtual links


=== Step 5: Creating Basic Nodes and Networks ===
=== Step 2: Creating Basic Nodes and Networks ===
# Create a new lab:
 
===== Create a new lab: =====
* Lab name: ''Module1_Lab''
* Lab name: ''Module1_Lab''
* Save location: ''/Labs/Module1/''
 
# Add two nodes:
* Node 1: Linux Server 24.04 VM
* Node 1: Linux VM
* Node 2: Windows 11 VM
* Node 2: Windows VM
# Connect the nodes using a virtual link.
# Connect the nodes using a virtual link.
# Start both nodes.
# Start both nodes.
# Set static ip addresses on each machine
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!VM
!IP Address
!Subnet Mask
!Gateway
|-
|Windows 11
|192.168.10.10
|255.255.255.0
|192.168.10.1
|-
|Ubuntu 24.04
|192.168.10.11
|255.255.255.0
|192.168.10.1
|}
# Open the console for each node to verify connectivity (you can ping each other later if IP addresses are configured).
# Open the console for each node to verify connectivity (you can ping each other later if IP addresses are configured).


=== Step 6: Documentation ===
=== Step 3: Documentation ===
# Take a screenshot of your lab topology with nodes and links.
# Take a screenshot of your lab topology with nodes and links.
# Label which node is server, which is workstation.
# Label which node is server, which is workstation.

Revision as of 09:18, 3 October 2025

Module 1 Lab: Introduction to System Administration

Objective

By the end of this lab, students will:

  • Understand the role of a system administrator.
  • Differentiate between server and workstation environments.
  • Gain a basic understanding of virtualisation concepts.
  • Navigate the EVE-NG interface and create simple nodes and networks.

Prerequisites

  • Access to an EVE-NG environment (self-installed or Colourfi pre-configured machine).
  • A web browser to access EVE-NG.
  • Basic knowledge of IP addressing is helpful but not mandatory.

Lab Setup

  1. Log in to your EVE-NG environment.
  2. Ensure you have access to at least 2 virtual nodes (one Windows VM, one Linux VM recommended for later modules).
  3. Have a basic topology area available to create nodes and links.

Module 1 Learning Objectives

Overview of System Administration Roles

Responsibilities of a sysadmin:
  • User and group management
  • Server and workstation deployment
  • Security and patch management
  • Network configuration
  • Backup and recovery

Understanding Server vs. Workstation Environments

key differences:
  • Servers often run headless or minimal GUI, provide services to multiple users.
  • Workstations are user-focused with full GUI and productivity apps.
Feature Server Workstation
GUI Minimal/optional Full
Purpose Provide services User productivity
Number of users Multiple Single

Introduction to Virtualisation Concepts

Understand the concept of virtual machines and hypervisors:
  • Type 1 hypervisor: runs directly on hardware (e.g., ESXi, Hyper-V)
  • Type 2 hypervisor: runs on host OS (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware Workstation)

Module 1 Hands On Lab

Step 1: Exploring the EVE-NG Interface

  1. Log in to EVE-NG web interface.
  2. Navigate the main menu:
  • Lab View – shows topology and nodes
  • Node Management – add/remove nodes
  • Topology Connections – connect nodes via virtual links

Step 2: Creating Basic Nodes and Networks

Create a new lab:
  • Lab name: Module1_Lab
  • Node 1: Linux Server 24.04 VM
  • Node 2: Windows 11 VM
  1. Connect the nodes using a virtual link.
  2. Start both nodes.
  3. Set static ip addresses on each machine
VM IP Address Subnet Mask Gateway
Windows 11 192.168.10.10 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.1
Ubuntu 24.04 192.168.10.11 255.255.255.0 192.168.10.1
  1. Open the console for each node to verify connectivity (you can ping each other later if IP addresses are configured).

Step 3: Documentation

  1. Take a screenshot of your lab topology with nodes and links.
  2. Label which node is server, which is workstation.
  3. Submit a short paragraph describing your first experience with EVE-NG and what you learned about sysadmin roles and virtualization.

Expected Outcomes

  • Students can identify server vs. workstation roles.
  • Students can navigate the EVE-NG interface.
  • Students can create at least two nodes and connect them via a virtual network.
  • Students understand basic virtualization concepts.
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