ChromeOS System Administrator's Guide

ChromeOS System Administrator's Guide

by Dr. Willie Sanders
Released February 2023
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781803241050

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Book description

Explore the sysadmin features and architecture of ChromeOS to master its local and cloud-based administrative tools and capabilities

Key Features

  • Get a complete overview of using ChromeOS as a powerful system admin tool
  • Get hands-on experience working with Google's administration platform
  • Learn about centralized management of resources as the hallmark of enterprise system administration

Book Description

Google's ChromeOS provides a great platform for technicians, system administrators, developers, and casual users alike, providing a seemingly simplistic architecture that is easy enough for a novice user to begin working with. However, beneath the surface, this operating system boasts a plethora of powerful tools, able to rival any other OS on the market. So, learning how to harness the full potential of the OS is critical for you as a technical worker and user to thrive at your workplace. ChromeOS System Administrator's Guide will help you reap the benefits of all features of ChromeOS.

This book explains ChromeOS' unique architecture and its built-in tools that perform essential tasks such as managing user accounts, working with data, and launching applications. As you build your foundational knowledge of the OS, you'll be exposed to higher-level concepts such as security, command line, and enterprise management.

By the end of this book, you'll be well-equipped to perform a range of system administration tasks within ChromeOS without requiring an alternative operating system, thereby broadening your options as a technician, system administrator, developer, or engineer.

What you will learn

  • Install, update, and configure ChromeOS on standalone devices
  • Manage Google's cloud-based applications and resources effectively
  • Implement key networking and security features to protect your architecture from cyber threats
  • Understand common troubleshooting and disaster recovery techniques
  • Migrate data from other platforms to Google Workspace efficiently
  • Perform administrative tasks and run Linux scripts with Chrome Shell
  • Manage your enterprise from the Google Workspace Admin Console

Who this book is for

This book is for you if you want to become a system administrator, developer, or engineer, and are looking to explore ChromeOS architecture all while expanding your knowledge of administration tools and techniques. Basic knowledge of system administration is required.

Table of contents

  1. ChromeOS System Administrator’s Guide
  2. Contributors
  3. About the author
  4. About the reviewers
  5. Preface
    1. Who this book is for
    2. What this book covers
    3. To get the most out of this book
    4. Download the color images
    5. Conventions used
    6. Get in touch
    7. Share Your Thoughts
    8. Download a free PDF copy of this book
  6. Part 1:Working with ChromeOS
  7. Chapter 1: ChromeOS Basics
    1. Technical requirements
    2. ChromeOS versus the competition
      1. Cloud-focused
      2. Ease of use
      3. Priced to move
    3. Getting up and running on ChromeOS
    4. Personalizing ChromeOS
      1. The desktop and its tools
      2. The Device menu
      3. The Personalization menu
    5. OS updates, upgrades, and ChromeOS Flex
      1. Importance of ChromeOS updates
      2. Upgrade time
      3. Hardware flexibility with ChromeOS Flex
    6. Summary
  8. Chapter 2: Getting Connected
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Ethernet and Wi-Fi internet access
      1. Connecting with Ethernet
      2. Connecting with Wi-Fi
      3. Virtual private network (VPN)
    3. Mobile data connectivity
      1. Built-in mobile data
      2. Mobile data connection using a dongle
      3. Mobile data connection using an Android device
    4. Bluetooth and connected devices
      1. Connecting with Bluetooth
      2. Connecting an external display
      3. Connecting with Chromecast or smart TV
    5. Casting and syncing
      1. Casting from Google Chrome
      2. Casting from your desktop
      3. Syncing with Android devices
    6. Summary
  9. Chapter 3: Exploring Google Apps
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Managing default apps and notifications
      1. Default apps
      2. Notifications
    3. Google Workspace applications
      1. Gmail
      2. Drive
      3. Meet
      4. Calendar
      5. Chat
      6. Docs
      7. Sheets
      8. Slides
      9. Keep
      10. Forms
      11. Jamboard
      12. Freemium versus premium plans
      13. Premium tiers
    4. Accessing Chrome browser-based apps
    5. The Chrome Web Store
    6. Google Play Store
    7. Summary
  10. Part 2:Security and Troubleshooting
  11. Chapter 4: ChromeOS Security
    1. Technical requirements
    2. User account management
      1. Secondary user accounts
      2. Sync
      3. Other Google services
      4. Guest browsing
      5. Advanced user management
    3. Screen locks and 2FA
      1. Screen locks
      2. 2FA
    4. System updates, sandboxing, and verified boot
      1. System updates
      2. Sandboxing
      3. Verified boot
    5. Parental controls
    6. Chrome browser-based settings
    7. Summary
  12. Chapter 5: Recovering from Disasters
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Hardware and cloud-based data encryption
      1. What is encryption?
      2. ChromeOS hardware-based encryption
      3. ChromeOS software-based encryption
    3. Data backup strategies for ChromeOS
      1. Backup basics
      2. Backing up to Google Drive
      3. Backing up to external storage
    4. OS and app recovery
      1. When should you recover ChromeOS?
      2. Recovery mode
      3. USB-based OS recovery method
    5. Summary
  13. Chapter 6: Troubleshooting 101
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Crashing and freezing
    3. Slow system performance
    4. Constantly refreshing tabs
    5. No network connectivity
    6. Missing OS
    7. Summary
  14. Part 3:Advanced Administration
  15. Chapter 7: The Linux Development Environment
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Enabling the Linux development environment
      1. What is the Linux development environment?
      2. Turning on the LDE
      3. Linux features
    3. Managing device permissions and Linux backup/restore
      1. Linux permissions
      2. Linux backup/restore
    4. Managing Linux storage
    5. Enabling Android Debug Bridge
    6. Implementing port forwarding
    7. Summary
  16. Chapter 8: Working with the Chrome Shell (Crosh)
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Accessing Crosh
    3. Looking at the essential Crosh commands for systems administration
      1. help
      2. help_advanced
      3. uptime
      4. top
      5. enroll_status
      6. ipaddrs
      7. ping
      8. modem
      9. set_time
      10. battery_test
      11. battery_firmware info
      12. free
      13. meminfo
      14. memeory_test
      15. Ssorage_test
      16. network_diag
      17. tracepath
      18. route
      19. rollback
      20. vmc
      21. exit
    4. Shell scripting
    5. Summary
  17. Chapter 9: Google Workspace Admin Console
    1. Technical requirements
    2. An overview of Google Workspace
    3. The major features of the Admin console
      1. Accessing the Admin console
      2. Account
      3. Billing
      4. Reporting
      5. Apps
      6. Security
      7. Storage
      8. Rules
    4. Migrating to Google Workspace
    5. Summary
  18. Chapter 10: Centralized Administration of OUs, Users, Groups, and Devices
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Exploring the Directory and Devices submenus in the Admin console
      1. Directory
      2. Devices
    3. Getting organized with OUs
    4. Exploring advanced user account management
      1. Adding or editing multiple user accounts in your Google Workspace
      2. Managing the custom attributes for user accounts
    5. Understanding groups and target audiences
    6. Exploring advanced device management
    7. Exploring advanced application management
    8. Summary
  19. Index
    1. Why subscribe?
  20. Other Books You May Enjoy
    1. Packt is searching for authors like you
    2. Share Your Thoughts
    3. Download a free PDF copy of this book

Product information

  • Title: ChromeOS System Administrator's Guide
  • Author(s): Dr. Willie Sanders
  • Release date: February 2023
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781803241050