Sebastopol, CA--Linux people are problem solvers. As authors Tom Adelstein and Bill Lubanovic write, "A typical Linux power user can put together a small server, get a dedicated Internet pipe with static IP addresses into her home, register a domain name, and build a server on the Internet." Now to some people, that may sound like the equivalent of rappelling down a 10,000-foot mountain. Adelstein and Lubanovic's advice for them is simple: just start somewhere. More specifically, they mean start somewhere in their new book, Linux System Administration (O'Reilly US $44.99). "That's exactly what we're here for," they say, "to help you explore the Linux system landscape without all the hardships our forefathers experienced."
Linux System Administration is the book for Linux users who want to take the step from power user to administrator. It also serves as an introduction to Linux for Unix veterans, MCSEs, and mainframe administrators. In a series of independent "module" chapters, it summarizes the steps you need to follow to build standalone servers. If you need to build a mail server, create a web server and blogging system, or set up a gateway for your LAN, you can jump straight to the chapter that deals with that topic.
Learn to:
- Install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot a DNS server using BIND
- Set up an email service for a small- to medium-size site, complete with authentication
- Install and configure Apache, PHP, and MySQL on a web server built from scratch
- Combine computers into a load-balanced Apache web server cluster based on the free Linux Virtual Server
- Create Shell scripts and adapt them for your own needs
- Back up and restore data with rsync, tar, cdrecord, Amanda, and MySQL tools
According to Adelstein, there's a significant dearth of books for Linux system administrators: "I grew tired of buying books promising information on system administration that rehashed the same old Linux documentation." He and Lubanovic spent more than two years researching and writing their book. "I didn't expect to find so little documentation, even from the large projects," Adelstein recalls. "I found leads in mailing lists, usenet groups, online articles, Safari, and by writing members of projects and asking them questions. Each step along the way seemed like a struggle, but in the end, the effort was worth it."
As a result, Linux System Administration offers a wealth of knowledge and experience--often previously undocumented--in one convenient place. These lessons are now available to anyone who wants to further explore the exciting and powerful world of Linux.
Tom Adelstein works as a technical analyst writer for a large international publishing company. He became a young author by accident in 1985 and has written prolifically ever since.
Bill Lubanovic started developing software with UNIX in the 70s, GUIs in the 80s, and the Web in the 90s. He now does web visualization work for a wind energy company.
Additional Resources:
Linux System Administration
Tom Adelstein and Bill Lubanovic
ISBN: 0-596-00952-6, 279 pages, Print: $44.99 US, $58.99 CA
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