Basic System Administration Course - Module 1

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 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.

Lab Steps

Step 1: Overview of System Administration Roles

1. Discuss the responsibilities of a sysadmin:

• • User and group management
  • Server and workstation deployment
  • Security and patch management
  • Network configuration
  • Backup and recovery

1. Write down 3 tasks you think a sysadmin would do daily.

Step 2: Understanding Server vs. Workstation Environments

1. Identify which VMs in EVE-NG are “servers” and which are “workstations.”
2. Discuss key differences:

• Servers often run headless or minimal GUI, provide services to multiple users.
• Workstations are user-focused with full GUI and productivity apps.

1. Document the differences in a small table:

Feature	Server	Workstation
GUI	Minimal/optional	Full
Purpose	Provide services	User productivity
Number of users	Multiple	Single

Step 3: Introduction to Virtualisation Concepts

1. Understand the concept of virtual machines and hypervisors:

• Type 1 hypervisor: runs directly on hardware (e.g., ESXi)
• Type 2 hypervisor: runs on host OS (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware Workstation)

1. Discuss EVE-NG as a network-focused virtualization platform that allows multiple OS nodes to interconnect.

Step 4: 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 5: Creating Basic Nodes and Networks

1. Create a new lab:

• Lab name: Module1_Lab
• Save location: /Labs/Module1/

1. Add two nodes:

• Node 1: Linux VM
• Node 2: Windows VM

1. Connect the nodes using a virtual link.
2. Start both nodes.
3. Open the console for each node to verify connectivity (you can ping each other later if IP addresses are configured).

Step 6: 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.