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      Acknowledgments

      First, all glory and praise go to God, who through His Son, Jesus Christ, makes all things possible, and gives us the gift of eternal life.

      Many thanks go to the fantastic team of people at Sybex for their outstanding work on this project. Thanks to Kenyon Brown, the acquisitions editor, for offering us the opportunity to work on this book. Also thanks to Gary Schwartz, the development editor, for keeping things on track and making this book more presentable. Thanks, Gary, for all your hard work and diligence. The technical editor, Kevin E. Ryan, did a wonderful job of double-checking all of the work in the book in addition to making suggestions to improve the content. We would also like to thank Carole Jelen at Waterside Productions, Inc., for arranging this opportunity for us and for helping us out in our writing careers.

      Christine would particularly like to thank her husband, Timothy, for his encouragement, patience, and willingness to listen, even when he has no idea what she is talking about.

      About the Authors

      Richard Blum, CompTIA Linux+, LPIC-1, has worked in the IT industry for more than 25 years as both a system and network administrator, and he has published numerous Linux and open-source books. Rich is an online instructor for Linux and Web programming courses that are used by colleges and universities across the United States. When he is not being a computer nerd, Rich enjoys spending time with his wife, Barbara, and two daughters, Katie Jane and Jessica.

      Christine Bresnahan, CompTIA Linux+, LPIC-1, started working with computers more than 25 years ago in the IT industry as a systems administrator. Christine is an Adjunct Professor at Ivy Tech Community College where she teaches Linux certification and Python programming classes. She also writes books and produces instructional resources for the classroom.

      Introduction

      Why should you learn about Linux? It's a fast-growing operating system, and it is inexpensive and flexible. Linux is also a major player in the small and mid-size server field, and it's an increasingly viable platform for workstation and desktop use as well. By understanding Linux, you'll increase your standing in the job market. Even if you already know Windows or Mac OS and your employer uses these systems exclusively, understanding Linux will give you an edge when you're looking for a new job or you're looking for a promotion. For instance, this knowledge will help you make an informed decision about if and when you should deploy Linux.

      The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) has developed its LPIC-1 certification as an introductory certification for people who want to enter careers involving Linux. The exam is meant to certify that an individual has the skills necessary to install, operate, and troubleshoot a Linux system and is familiar with Linux-specific concepts and basic hardware.

      The purpose of this book is to help you pass the LPIC-1 exams (101-400 and 102-400), updated in 2015. Because these exams cover basic Linux installation, configuration, maintenance, applications, networking, and security, those are the topics that are emphasized in this book. You'll learn enough to get a Linux system up and running and to configure it for many common tasks. Even after you've taken and passed the LPIC-1 exams, this book should remain a useful reference.

      What Is Linux?

      Linux