Rounding up the top 5 Linux tips and tricks of 2012

Whether you're a new admin or have been at it for years, adding more Linux tips and tricks to your arsenal can help avoid unnecessary struggles when things go awry in the data center. Here's our compilation of the five most popular tutorials from 2012.

How to use SEL on SUSE

For sysadmins running servers that house sensitive data, you need to control who has access to that information.

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Security Enhanced Linux is one way to clamp down on security for a safer enterprise Linux environment. This tip discusses how to set up SEL on SUSE, but much of the information applies to other distributions.

Swap your way to better server performance

Linux swap space is an underutilized tool for extending a system's memory when RAM runs out. This tip will teach you how to fine-tune your swap configuration as well as tweak your cache settings to reduce the amount of hard-drive access.

Pro tip: DRBD saves money on storage

Distributed Replicated Block Device (DRBD) is a free software alternative to storage area networks (SAN). If your shop is considering an expensive SAN deployment, this Linux tip might help you avoid an unnecessary capital expenditure.

Tips and tricks for RHEL DNS server setup

A domain name system (DNS) controls the naming process for multiple IP addresses; DNS setup is a necessary part of enterprise networks. We discuss how to set up a DNS server on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

How Linux plays into the mainframe's future

Our last Linux tip for 2012 comes in Q&A format all the way from the land of big iron. James Vincent, a senior z/VM systems programmer and director of conference operations for SHARE, discusses how Linux fits in with the mainframe's evolution, cloud computing and virtualization. Good things to consider if your Linux-based mainframe shop is ready for an upgrade.

This was first published in March 2013

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