Linux Internals · Track 1
Linux Training Course¶
Fourteen mechanism-first modules that build a coherent vertical model of a
running Linux system, from the DAC access check the kernel runs on every
open() up through namespaces, cgroups, and the eBPF tooling
you use to watch it all happen. 62 hands-on labs, curated primary sources,
and a "senior signal" checklist per module.
Every module follows the same shape: concept deep-dive → hands-on labs (Objective / Setup / Steps / Prove it) → curated resources → senior signal. Do the labs. Reading without running them gets you recognition, not recall.
Modules¶
Module 01
Permissions and Access Control
DAC internals: mode bits, setuid/setgid, POSIX ACLs, capabilities.
Module 02
Users, Authentication and PAM
Identity stores (NSS), the PAM stack, sessions, credential lifecycle.
Module 03
Processes, Scheduling and Signals
Process lifecycle, the scheduler, signal delivery and semantics.
Module 04
Filesystems and the VFS
VFS objects, path walk, page cache, ext4/XFS, extended attributes.
Module 05
Storage and LVM
Block layer, device-mapper, LVM, snapshots, md/RAID, LUKS2, NVMe.
Module 06
Networking Deep
NIC to socket: netdev, sk_buff, netfilter, routing, namespaces.
Module 07
systemd
Unit model, job engine, cgroup integration, socket activation, journald.
Module 08
Boot and Init
Firmware → bootloader → initramfs → PID 1, the early-userspace pivot.
Module 09
The Kernel
Kernel architecture, syscalls, memory management, modules, config.
Module 10
Namespaces and cgroups v2
The isolation and resource-control primitives behind containers.
Module 11
Observability and Tracing with eBPF
Tracepoints, kprobes/uprobes, bcc and bpftrace workflows.
Module 12
SELinux and Hardening
LSM hooks, type enforcement, policy authoring, hardening.
Module 13
Samba and SMB
Shares, the passdb model, permissions and ACLs, troubleshooting, AD.
Module 14
Early Userspace
dracut hooks, udev and the initqueue; initramfs debugging and triage.
Before you start¶
- You'll need a Rocky 9.x (or RHEL-compatible) throwaway VM for the labs
- 62 labs total across 14 modules; each module takes 2–4 hours
- The Track Overview has the recommended study order, shortcut paths, and a consolidated lab index