The Byobu session manager extends the shell, adding a range of useful functions, such as splitting the screen, running programs in the background, or organizing programs in tabs. In particular, administrators who rely on SSH will appreciate Byobu.

The Fabric Python library makes it extremely easy to create repeatable scripts of commands over SSH to any number of servers.

Desktop databases are perfect for keeping tabs on miscellaneous data – from links and text snippets, to tasks and invoices – but building databases from scratch can be a daunting proposition, unless you use Glom for the job.

Combining Puppet, Foreman, Pulp, Candlepin, and Katello lets you deploy software and servers automatically and securely.

To check on the health of a Linux system, administrators can turn to vmstat, iostat, netstat, and ifstat. Or, you can just use the versatile dstat, which combines the features of several tools in a single package.

Logfiles contain records of what happens on a Linux system and the services it runs. Tools like Logcheck and Logsurfer filter out the most important events for the administrator, and they can even trigger an appropriate reaction automatically.

Programmers and Linux administrators appreciate the benefits of event logs. The Glogg tool is the perfect choice for searching even large logfiles.

When a cluster node fails, the Pacemaker high-availability tool launches the services on another node. A lesser known feature is Pacemaker’s ability to put failed services back on their feet in the cluster manager.