10.1. Linux

The components of Zorp Gateway run on Ubuntu-based operating systems, currently on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Therefore, for local management, the tools and procedures available are more or less the same as for any other Linux installation. If you install the Zorp host using the installation media of Balasys, only the most essential tools and services are installed by default. Although it is technically possible to install almost any kind of Linux software on a Zorp host, it is not recommended because custom installed tools may have a negative effect on the system in terms of security and stability. In fact, all local administration tasks can be accomplished by using the software tools that are available by default.

Linux is a technically sophisticated operating system that allows full access to and total control over itself for system administrators. Therefore, it is vital to have the sufficient skills and experience before administering it locally in a production environment.

Note

Untrained or inexperienced use can render any Linux system inoperable quickly, therefore extreme care is required when performing local administration.

This chapter is by no means intended to be a Linux tutorial. If you are unfamiliar with the concepts of general administration of Linux, consult some form of documentation before proceeding. There is excellent documentation available for Linux, both in printed and online forms. To avoid scattering of resources and material, the Linux Documentation Project (LDP) which manages the documentation tasks of Linux, provides a central access point to a thematically organized set of Linux documentation. Visit LDP site ( http://www.ldp.org) for more information. Although the primary language of documentation is English, a substantial part of the material is either translated or is in the process of translation to other languages. If you prefer traditional, paper–based documentation forms, books on Linux administration are also available from major publishers worldwide. For more information, see Appendix C, Further readings.