Sebastopol, CA--The reasons for switching to Linux are as varied as Linux users themselves. Whatever spirit of rebellion drives them to begin a Linux installation--whether they're fed up with commercial operating systems, or looking for something stable that will run on a clunker PC, or they just like living on the edge of the latest technological trends--Linux offers many options, for free, that will satisfy them. Moreover, these rebel Linux users soon find that they have a degree of control over their computer systems that they may not have previously experienced. Without much trouble, they can learn how Linux works, how to troubleshoot problems, and how to dig even more deeply into their systems. Whatever they hope to accomplish, Running Linux (Welsh, Dalheimer, Dawson, and Kaufman, O'Reilly, US $44.95), a classic now in its fourth edition, is the book they'll want to reach for.
"Running Linux" explains everything readers need to know to understand, install, and start using Linux. "More than ever, Linux is being adopted by new users with no previous Unix experience, and most users do not buy a Linux distribution with customer support," says coauthor Lar Kaufman. "Although the Linux Documentation Project provides ample resources in many areas, 'Running Linux' provides that needed master source that pulls information together." Recognized by the Linux community as the getting-started book that solves users' actual needs, this book answers the questions and tackles configuration issues that frequently plague users, but are seldom addressed in other books.
Whether readers are installing Linux for the first time, or need to know more about a specific task, such as adding a network printer or configuring for ADSL, they will benefit from the authors' clear, well-organized instructions. The book doesn't draw the line at the kernel, or the shell, or the GUI, or even at the point of essential applications. Rather, the authors, experienced Linux enthusiasts, have anticipated problem areas, selected stable and popular solutions, and provided clear discussions and instructions to ensure that readers will have a satisfying experience running Linux. The discussion is direct and complete enough to guide novice users while still providing the additional information experienced users will need to progress in their mastery of Linux.
The fourth edition of "Running Linux" delves deeper into installation, system administration, configuring desktops, and networking than earlier editions did. New topics include:
- The popular LAMP configuration that combines Linux with Apache, MySQL, and PHP
- Applications ready for prime time
- The GNOME desktop
- Basic security and firewalling
- Package management on Debian
- The Postfix mail transfer agent
- Sound configuration
A solid foundation text for any Linux user, the book also includes additional resources for dealing with special requirements imposed by hardware, advanced applications, and emerging technologies. Whether readers are using Linux on a home workstation or maintaining a network server, they'll find that "Running Linux" provides expert advice just when they need it.
What the critics said about the previous edition of this book:
"'Running Linux,' by Matt Welsh and Lar Kaufman, is a gentle welcome to Linux that shows you around, points out some places where you may want to spend some time, and tells you where to find good detailed guides. Over time, 'Running Linux' has become my first choice for broad questions. ('Linux in a Nutshell' is my choice for details like utility program options.)"
--Jeff Taylor, Dr. Dobbs Electronic Review of Computer Books, April 2001"Amazon Best of 2000: Computer Networking"
"For beginners the best choice is the classic 'Running Linux.' There are other good starting guides, but this one does the best job of capturing the spirit of Linux while providing essential guidance."
--Gene Wilburn, Computer Paper, December 2000"Widely accepted as the book on Linux for the new generation, it has achieved international acclaim and survived the battering of the flame wars, which is saying something! It's an easy book to read that takes you through just about everything you need to know to get a broad overview of what Linux is and how it works."
--Rob Fenwick, PC Answers, December 2000"First Place, Linux Magazine's Editor's Choice Awards, 2000"
"If you're a user that's fairly new to Linux, this book will help you get up to speed quickly. If you're a die-hard Linux fanatic, you'll love this book as a reference for those long nights when you can't quite remember the syntax to a command you last used five years ago. Buy it, read it, but be careful about loaning it out! My copy disappeared for a month."
--Linux Magazine, December 2000"A good core for configuring and running a Linux system."
--Dr. John Joyce, Scientific Computing, October 2000
Additional Resources
Chapter 7, "Upgrading the Software and the Kernel," and Chapter 15, "TCP/IP and PPP," are available free online
More information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bios and samples
Running Linux, Fourth Edition
Matt Welsh, Matthias Kalle Dalheimer, Terry Dawson, and Lar Kaufman
ISBN 1-596-00272-6, 672 pages, $44.95 (US), $69.95 (CAN), 31.95 (UK)
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
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