SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16 Official Administration Guide: Master SLES 16 system administration, security, and automation for the SCA exam

The official SUSE Linux guide to mastering Linux administration. Deploy, secure, and manage SLES 16 servers while preparing for the SCA certification

Key Features

• Build real-world SLES 16 sysadmin skills through hands-on tasks and examples
• Secure and optimize enterprise Linux systems using mcphost, cockpit, firewalld, SELinux, and system roles
• Prepare for the SUSE Certified Administrator (SCA) exam with guided exercises
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book Description

Mastering enterprise Linux administration can be overwhelming without guidance, especially for those targeting the SUSE Certified Administrator (SCA) certification or managing critical IT infrastructures. This practical guide offers the complete skillset required to confidently operate, secure, and maintain SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 16.

Written by senior SUSE product experts, this book helps you deploy physical and cloud systems, configure software and networking, secure services using firewalld and SELinux, and manage storage using BTRFS and LVM. With step-by-step instructions, real-world examples, and detailed chapters on automation with system roles and containers with Podman, you’ll build confidence across core Linux administration topics. You’ll also gain hands-on practice with system snapshots, kernel tuning, and AI with mcphost. It also includes a brief introduction to SLES 4 SAP-specific features. You'll learn how to configure services, harden systems, automate infrastructure with tools like Agama, Cockpit, and System Roles.

This is the only official guide for SLE administrators and engineers, providing trusted insight you will not find anywhere else. By the end, you will be well-equipped to manage SLES systems in enterprise environments and approach the SCA certification with confidence.

What you will learn

• Install and configure SLES 16 on physical and cloud platforms
• Manage users, permissions, and network settings
• Secure systems using firewalld and SELinux
• Administer remote access with SSH, Cockpit, and tunnels
• Use Agentic AI with mcphost
• Handle storage with BTRFS, LVM, and NFS
• Tune system performance and kernel parameters
• Use automation tools like Ansible and system roles
• Deploy and manage containers using Podman

Who this book is for

This book is for system administrators, platform engineers, DevOps professionals, developers, and certification aspirants looking to strengthen their Linux expertise, prepare for the SUSE Certified Administrator (SCA) exam, and gain practical skills for managing IT infrastructures. It is especially valuable for those working with SAP environments on Linux, where reliability and performance are critical. Prior Linux knowledge isn’t required, but familiarity with basic IT concepts will be helpful.

Table of Contents

1. Getting SLES 16 Up and Running (Physical and Cloud)
2. Running Basic Commands and Simple Shell Scripts
3. Managing Regular Operations with Tools
4. Securing the System with Users, Groups and Permissions
5. Enabling Network Connectivity
6. Adding, Patching, and Managing Software
7. Remote Systems Administration
8. Enabling and Using Cockpit
9. Securing Network Connectivity with firewalld
10. Keeping the System Hardened with SELinux
11. Agentic AI with mcphost
12. Manage Local Storage and Filesystems
13. Flexible Storage Management with LVM
14. Configuring and Using System Snapshots with BTRFS and Snapper
15. Understanding the Boot Process
16. Automating with System Roles
17. Managing Containers with Podman

(N.B. Please use the Read Sample option to see further chapters)

Miguel is an experienced technology enthusiast with a clear orientation towards IT, free/open source software and open standards. His career has grown in the IT field with connections in every direction. From User Support and Teacher; through Systems and Network Administration; to Systems Engineering, Systems Architecture, IT Strategy definition and now as a Senior Director of Product Management for Business Critical Linux at SUSE he works on making products that make users and customers more efficient

Sergio Ocón Cárdenas is Senior Product Manager for Core Platforms at SUSE, with deep expertise across Red Hat, Oracle, and SUSE Linux. He has led major projects in cloud-native infrastructure and containerized workloads, including SUSE Framework One and Red Hat Insights. Sergio holds an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering and an MBA, along with RHCSA and OpenStack certifications.

Pablo Iranzo Gómez is a software engineer whose Linux exposure began while studying physics, a period during which he was also involved in LUGs and some projects related to HPC clusters and system administration and consultancy. Currently, he is a senior software engineer in Red Hat's SolEng department, focusing on OpenShift, with experience in consulting, cloud technical account management, OpenStack software maintenance in industries such as hospitality, retail, airlines, government, telco, 5G, partners, and IT, covering system administration and automation, virtualization, PaaS, support, the cloud, and so on, having a broad understanding of different views, needs, and risks across the industry. Pablo was born and lives in Valencia, Spain with his family.