Part 1
Identify the function of the Linux kernel and its associated features.
The Linux kernel is the core of the operating system. It allocates computer resources such as memory, and CPU time as well as controlling hardware running on the machine. The Linux kernel is dynamic; allowing the addition and removal of software modules while the kernel is running. The subsystems of the kernel include: system call interface, process management, virtual file systems, memory management, network stack, arch, and device drivers. According to the textbook author, Wells, there are thousands of Linux kernel options [p614].
Identify the appropriate steps and commands used to compile and install a new Linux kernel.
You have to execute a series of make commands that prepare the code files. According to Wells the typical command string is: #make dep; make bzImage; make modules; make modules_inatall. Substituting make bzdisk for bzImage allows you make a boot disk that contains the new Linux kernel. The bzImage makes a compressed kernel image that you can use to replace the original kernel file. The following commands will set up the new kernel: #cd /boot; #cp (the new image of your kernel); #ln –s vmlinuz vmlinuz-new.
What are the main tasks involved in managing kernel modules in Linux.
You can look at what the kernel is doing with the command: cat /proc/ (and the type of information you want to view). You can look at memory, battery info, DMA channels, ports, file systems, or disk partitions, only to name a few modules. The command lsmod, lists the modules, modinfo gives you detailed information about a module, modprobe allows you to add a module, and rmmod removes a module form the kernel.
Part 2
For pandora what do you suggest for the following? What would you backup?
I would backup the student files that are being changed.
How often would you backup?
I would back up just the student files and the history files every hour while school was in session. This backup would be automated with a cronjob. I would do a level "zero" back up three times a year at the beginning of every semester, January, May and September. I would do a level "one" back up once a month.
What tools would you use to backup? If it something other than out of the box Linux please describe in detail the product you are going to use.
I would use the rsync tool. It only copies what has been changed since the last time it preformed a sync. I think it is better not to compress the backups, so that if something goes wrong, it will be easier to restore the corrupted or missing file.
Where would you backup the data?
My personal preference would be a RAID 5 backup. However, due to budget cuts, I may only have enough money for a RAID 3. I could utilize an older box and put several hard drives in it for my yearly and monthly back ups of pandora. I think I would do the hourly backups on hard drive in pandora and write over them as long as there were no system errors in the last week. The backups could also be burned to dvd's and stored for a period of time to be sure no student work was lost.
Resources:
Anatomy of the Linux kernel by IBM – the history and architectural decomposition.
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-linux-kernel/
Wells, Nicholas, The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration (class text), 2005, Canada, Thomson.
Very cool diagram of the Linux kernel here:
http://fcgp.sourceforge.net/lgp/index.html
Additional Linux kernel "how to" information websites:
http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/Kernel-Build-HOWTO.html#SECTION-INTRO
http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-HOWTO/Kernel-HOWTO.html#AEN307
http://kernelnewbies.org/KernelBuild
