Background

Until recently, my main line of work has been Web development, and over the years I've worked on a wide range of CGI scripts, including: shopping carts, online dating, referral systems, autoresponders, web forums, spiders, member's areas etc. However, CGI tends to become rather repetitive, and since 2004 I've been concentrating on system administration and UNIX/Linux programming.

The majority of the work I do involves looking after Linux web servers (mostly Fedora, RHES, or SuSE), and I hold half a dozen long-term administration posts with companies in the UK and USA. Typically these take up no more than a few hours each week, and involve tasks such as keeping services up to date, monitoring logs, and generally just 'being there' in case of problems.

In addition to these, I have around a dozen regular clients who don't need a permanent system admin, but who contact me 2 or 3 times a year when they need specific tasks doing. Recent projects include: setting up MySQL replication, Apache load-balancing, security auditing, upgrading PHP, configuring Sendmail to support TLS/SSL, and adjusting MX records.

I am, of course, also available for one-off consultancy. Typically these tasks include cleaning up compromised servers and fixing security holes, implementing backup strategies, migrating existing systems to new hosts, and setting up Linux servers for the first time.

I'm also involved in Open Source software, and have written several freely available applications, the most ambitious of which is Ghoti, an IRC client for X11 (the Linux/UNIX desktop).

More recently, I have also authored a book, Linux Network Security, which was published in March 2005 by Charles River Media. As the name suggests, the book covers the subject of securing Linux systems, particularly in a network setting, and is intended for both system administrators and home users alike. Topics covered include network topology, configuration of services, trojans and viruses, system auditing, and Mandatory Access Control models such as SELinux and LIDS. The table of contents (in pdf format) is available here

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Fun Stuff

pete@linuxbox.co.uk

(+44) 07890 592198