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
- Log in to your EVE-NG environment.
- Ensure you have access to at least 2 virtual nodes (one Windows VM, one Linux VM recommended for later modules).
- 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
- Log in to EVE-NG web interface.
- 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:
- Node 1: Linux Server 24.04 VM
- Node 2: Windows 11 VM
- Connect the nodes using a virtual link.
- Start both nodes.
- 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
|
- Open the console for each node to verify connectivity (you can ping each other later if IP addresses are configured).
Step 3: Documentation
- Take a screenshot of your lab topology with nodes and links.
- Label which node is server, which is workstation.
- 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.
