NSSA221 Systems Administration I

Lab 05 Report

Name: ____Vaishnavi Mangnale_________________________________

Grade ___/50

Requirements:
Use this document to answer questions related to Lab 04. Submit this template to the LR04 drop box by the due
date. Late submissions are subject to a 20% penalty. You must use this template and submit the document in Microsoft
Word any other format will result in a zero grade for the report.

When submitting your material, please use the following format; LRXX, followed by an underscore, and the first initial of
your first name in uppercase, and your entire last name with the first letter in uppercase. Example: LR04_GArcoraci.doc.

Answer ALL questions in your OWN words. Your answer should give some indication that you understand the topic in
question and can relate it to your experience in the lab, and not a general textbook answer. DO NOT copy and paste or
plagiarize. You may use an outside resource and cite it accordingly to support your answer, but it should NOT be your
entire answer.

Your answers must be complete sentences and use proper sentence structure. Phrases or one word responses will
receive a zero.

1. (5 points) What does the following rsync command do? Be specific.

rsync -av host::src /dest

The rsync command transfers files and directories from a remote source directory on the host with the name "src" to a
local destination directory specified as "/dest" using the parameters and arguments given.

The "-a" option specifically refers to the "archive" mode, which recursively copies files and directories while maintaining
file rights, ownership, timestamps, and other information. With the "-v" option, which stands for "verbose," information
about the files being copied is displayed in great detail.

The source argument's double colon ("::") syntax instructs rsync to transfer the files using the rsync daemon running on
the remote computer. When SSH access is unavailable or not desired, this method is frequently used for remote
transfers.

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Overall, this rsync command performs a recursive and verbose copy of files and directories from a remote host using the
rsync daemon to a local destination directory, preserving attributes and ownership.

2. (10 points) From the client, could you view the file that was transferred to the FTP server at the completion of
Activity 4? Explain why or why not? How could you verify that the file was transferred?

The permissions and configurations of the FTP server determine whether a client can access a file that was sent to it.

The client might be able to see the transferred file if they have the required permissions and the FTP server permits
anonymous access or if they have a working login and password. The client might not be able to read the transferred
file, though, if the FTP server limits access to it.

The client could check the status of the FTP transfer in the FTP client software or in the FTP server logs to confirm that
the file had been transferred. They could also attempt to use the proper login information and permissions to access the
transferred file from the FTP server. Additionally, they could compare the size and modification timestamp of the
transferred file on the client machine with those of the file on the FTP server to confirm that they match.

3. (15 points) Explain the samba.conf file format in your own words. What are the three special sections and there
intended purpose?
The samba.conf file has a straightforward text-based structure with a hierarchy of sections and parameters. The file
is divided into one or more sections, each of which is composed of one or more parameter-value pairs after a
section header in square brackets ([]).

The samba.conf file's three special sections are:

[global]: The global settings in this section are applicable to the whole Samba server. This comprises system-wide
settings for things like the workgroup name, server name, security options, log file location, and others.

homes]: This section specifies the settings for the user's home directory shares. Samba automatically creates a share
for each user's home directory, and this section specifies the parameters for these shares. This includes settings such
as read/write permissions, user-level security, and other settings.

[printers]: This section specifies the settings for printer sharing. It includes settings for printer drivers, access
permissions, and other printer-related settings.

These three sections serve a specific purpose:

The [global] section sets global parameters that apply to the entire Samba server, and it must be present in the
samba.conf file.

The [homes] section is optional, but it is often included in the samba.conf file to configure home directory sharing
for users.

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 The [printers] section is also optional, but it is used to configure printer sharing on the Samba server.

Overall, the samba.conf file is a crucial component of the Samba server setup, as it specifies the various settings and
parameters that control its behavior and functionality.

4. (15 points) Explain the three options (rw, sync, and no_root_squash) that were used when creating the entry in the
exports file in Activity 8. Include in your answer the advantages and disadvantages of using the synchronous (sync)
and asynchronous modes. Explain the security implications of using the “no_root”squash” option.

"rw": This option indicates that read and write permissions can be mounted for the exported directory. Users of the
client system can now read from and write to the files and directories included in the exported directory.
Advantages: This option is appropriate for circumstances requiring collaborative work since it enables users to make
modifications to the files and directories on the exported directory.

Disadv : Giving users write capabilities on the client system raises the possibility of unintentional deletion or change
of crucial files. It is crucial to check that the right access controls are in place.

Synchronous data writing to the exported directory is indicated by the option "sync." This indicates that the system
is awaiting the physical receipt of the data.

Advantages: Using synchronous mode ensures that data is fully committed to the disk before the write operation is
confirmed, reducing the risk of data loss or corruption.

Disadvantages: Writing data in synchronous mode can slow down the write performance, as the system has to wait
for the disk to complete the write operation.

"no_root_squash": This option specifies that the root user on the client system is mapped to the root user on the
server system, with full access permissions to the exported directory.
Advantages: This option allows the root user on the client system to perform administrative tasks on the exported
directory, which may be necessary in some situations.

Disadvantages: Allowing the root user on the client system to have full access permissions to the exported directory
can pose a security risk, as it increases the attack surface of the system. This option should therefore be used with
caution, and appropriate access controls should be in place.

5. (5 points) What is the purpose of the “_netdev” in the fstab file when mounting to an NFS export?

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The "_netdev" option in the fstab file should be added when mounting to an NFS (Network File System) export to signal
that the mount point is a network device and that the mount should be postponed until the network is operational.

This option is required because the system attempts to mount every file system mentioned in the fstab file during
system startup, whether the network is operational or not. If the network is not yet operational, the mount without the
"_netdev" option may fail, leading to errors and possibly interfering with other processes that depend on the file system
being mounted.

If "_netdev" is used, the system will wait until the network has completed initialization before attempting to mount the
NFS export, ensuring that the mount is successful and avoiding any potential errors or issues.

In summary, the "_netdev" option in the fstab file for an NFS export serves the purpose of delaying the mount until the
network is fully up and running, ensuring a successful mount and preventing any potential errors or issues.

All screenshots must be labeled using the following titles.

Figure 1 – Forward Lookup Zone

Figure 2 – Reverse Lookup Zone

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 Figure 3 – Rsync History

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 Figure 4 – FTP User Login

Figure 5 – FTP Anonymous Login

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 Figure 6 – FTP xferlog File

Figure 7 – Remote Samba Access and Write Verification

Figure 8 – Windows Client Samba Verification

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 Figure 10 – RSYNC File Transfer
Figure 11 – Linux Client NFS Verification
Figure 12 – Windows NFS Write Verification
Figure 13 – NFS Network Connection Verification

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