Making sad servers happy

Introduction to SadServers#

Recently, I stumbled upon sadservers, a platform described as “Like LeetCode for Linux”. The premise is: you are given access to a full remote Linux server with a pre-configured problem. Your mission is to diagnose and fix the issues in a fixed time window.

With the goal of documenting my journey through these challenges and sharing the knowledge gained, I decided to not only tackle these puzzles but also to record my solutions in a video format. The format is twofold in its purpose: it allows me to reflect on my problem-solving approach and provides a resource for others who may encounter similar problems, whether in real-world scenarios or in preparation for an SRE/DevOps interview.

The Learning Curve#

Each server presented a different issue, from misconfigured network settings to services failing to start, from permission issues to resource overutilization. One server, for instance, had a failing database service because of a disk full partition. The cause? Stale backup files. Another had a web server throwing errors because of incorrect file permissions.

Recording the Solutions#

The video recordings start with an introduction to the problem and my initial thoughts. Viewers can see my screen as I work through the issue, making the troubleshooting process transparent and educational. The commentary explains my thought process, the tools/CLI utilities used, and the solutions applied.

Part 1#

Part 2#

Part 3#

Conclusion#

For those looking to enhance their Linux troubleshooting skills, sadservers.com is a gold mine. It’s an excellent preparation ground for anyone aiming to step into the SRE/DevOps field or wanting to keep their skills sharp.

As I continue to record and share these troubleshooting escapades, I invite you to subscribe, comment with your insights, or even suggest what types of challenges you’d like to see addressed next.