**Transform Your Server Management with Shell Scripting Automation** Shell Scripts for Server Maintenance is the definitive guide to automating Linux server operations using the power and simplicity of Bash scripting. This comprehensive resource teaches system administrators, DevOps engineers, and infrastructure professionals how to create robust, production-ready maintenance systems that keep servers healthy, secure, and performing optimally. Unlike complex orchestration tools that require additional dependencies, this book focuses on shell-based solutions that leverage the native capabilities available on every Linux system. You'll learn to build lightweight, fast, and transparent automation scripts that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure while remaining maintainable by any system administrator. The book progresses from foundational safety practices to advanced automation techniques, covering every aspect of server maintenance through practical, real-world examples. Each chapter builds upon previous knowledge while providing immediately applicable solutions you can implement in your environment today. **Core Coverage Areas:** - **System Updates & Patch Management**: Automate package updates with intelligent rollback capabilities and comprehensive testing procedures - **Service Monitoring & Health Checks**: Create sophisticated monitoring systems that detect issues before they impact operations - **Storage & Filesystem Management**: Implement automated cleanup, disk monitoring, and filesystem maintenance routines - **Backup & Recovery Systems**: Build reliable backup automation with verification, rotation, and disaster recovery capabilities - **Security Hardening**: Automate security policy enforcement, compliance checks, and vulnerability assessments - **Performance Monitoring**: Develop systems for capturing and analyzing performance metrics and system health indicators - **Log Management**: Create intelligent log analysis, rotation, and alerting systems - **User & Access Management**: Automate user lifecycle management and SSH security maintenance **Advanced Automation Concepts:** The book goes beyond basic scripting to cover enterprise-grade automation concepts including idempotent operations, distributed locking mechanisms, comprehensive error handling, and rollback strategies. You'll learn to build notification systems that integrate with modern communication platforms and create audit trails that satisfy compliance requirements. **Production-Ready Solutions:** Every script and technique presented follows industry best practices for security, reliability, and maintainability. The extensive appendices provide ready-to-use templates, troubleshooting guides, and reference materials that accelerate implementation in production environments. **Integration & Scalability:** Learn how to coordinate multiple automation scripts, integrate with cloud services, and scale maintenance operations across diverse infrastructure environments. The book includes strategies for managing hybrid environments and adapting scripts for different Linux distributions and deployment scenarios. Whether you're automating your first maintenance task or building comprehensive infrastructure automation suites, this book provides the knowledge and tools needed to create reliable, efficient server maintenance systems using the universal power of shell scripting.

| Chapter | Title | Page | | ------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ---- | | 1 | – Introduction to Server Maintenance with Bash | 8 | | 2 | – Environment & Safety Defaults | 22 | | 3 | – System Update & Patch Automation | 43 | | 4 | – Service Health & Process Monitoring | 65 | | 5 | – Disk, Filesystem & Cleanup Tasks | 86 | | 6 | – Log Management & Analysis | 104 | | 7 | – Backup & Restore Automation | 129 | | 8 | – User, Group & SSH Hygiene | 149 | | 9 | – Security Hardening Tasks | 186 | | 10 | – Network & Connectivity Checks | 219 | | 11 | – Performance Snapshots | 242 | | 12 | – Database-Aware Maintenance | 264 | | 13 | – Notifications & Alerting | 292 | | 14 | – Scheduling & Orchestration | 317 | | 15 | – Idempotence, Locking & Rollbacks | 336 | | 16 | – Compliance & Audit Trails | 363 | | 17 | – Cloud & Hybrid Hooks (Optional) | 392 | | 18 | – Putting It Together | 419 | | 19 | – Practical Projects | 446 | | 20 | – Best Practices & Pitfalls | 477 | | 21 | – Summary & Next Steps | 500 | | App | – Reusable Helpers Library | 529 | | App | – Cron & systemd Timer Templates | 552 | | App | – Notification Snippets | 570 | | App | – Backup & Restore Templates | 597 | | App | – Hardening & Audit Checklists | 631 | | App | – Troubleshooting Guide | 665 |