The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux 6 [DVD-ROM]

Bob Rankin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Once considered a fringe operating system with a cult following, Linux is now touted as the only viable alternative to Windows. Recent attention in the media and backing from industry leaders such as Oracle and IBM have helped increase shipments of the open source operating system dramatically over the past year.

The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux is a comprehensive and concise guide to the most popular Linux version on the market -- Red Hat. Its release is timed to coincide with the release of Red Hat's newest version -- the first Linux version with a graphical user interface. No 1,000-page doorstop, this book provides new and experienced users with succinct, easy-to-follow instructions for installing, configuring, and running Red Hat Linux. The author illustrates this operating system's features and capabilities and leads readers through the commands and utilities, showing that Linux can do anything Windows can do -- only faster and cheaper.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux 6 is a clear, easy-to-follow guide to installing and learning to use the most popular commercial distribution of the Linux operating system. Meant for Linux novices with Microsoft Windows experience, this book provides procedural information about installation and configuration. It then conveys orientations to the Linux way of thinking about problems and the tools used to get work done, mostly with the Bash shell.

After walking the reader through Red Hat installation, Bob Rankin provides a quick introduction to Gnome. Mostly, this is a tour of the obvious: He introduces all the standard utilities and some of the games. There's a speedy introduction to setting up a PPP connection with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Rankin's introduction to the file-management capabilities of the Bash shell is the most valuable aspect of this book. He lists scores of tasks, ranging from copying a file to concatenating multiple files, and provides clear statements of the syntax used for each. He explains Linux features, such as piping, which aren't widely seen in Windows and MS-DOS environments, and shows how to use utilities that improve Linux's ability to work with Windows data and software.

The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux 6 ships with its eponymous operating system and a bunch of other software on CD-ROM. For that reason, it's a decent deal--but most new Linux users will soon want a richer guide. --David Wall

Review

"A comprehensive introduction to the world of Linux. This is a great place for the beginning user to start." -- St. Paul Pinoeer Press

"An aptly named book. . . great for a beginner to Linux. If you are constantly being called by friends to help out with installing and running Linux, this book makes a great gift." -- Linux Forum, October, 1999

"For someone who has already installed Red Hat 6.0 Linux and wants to learn more about its new capabilities, I wholeheartedly recommend this book." -- Linux Journal, February 2000

"Rankins expertise and informal style make this an ideal choice for the beginning Linux user and an excellent reference for the more experienced user." -- Sys Admin Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• DVD-ROM: 464 pages
• Publisher: No Starch Press; Pap/Cdr edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886411301
• ISBN-13: 978-1886411302
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,131,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title speaks for itself, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux 6 (DVD-ROM)

"No B.S." is right. I have thoroughly read this book and loved every bit. Everything was so understandable and easy to read with a humorous comment here and there to keep the book from going dull. This book goes through a lot of basics. The installation was a cinch, and working with XWindows has never been easier!

The one downfall that wasn't touched on much was the networking. I run a small LAN in my basement, (a 4 computer 10/100mb network) and when my main computer is in Linux, I can't have my thrilling 4 player Quake battle :-) Other than that tiny, tiny problem, the book is wonderful. If you want a guide that won't mislead you into a dead end, get this book! I highly dought you'll be disappointed.

I DID find a few small spelling errors, though ;-p

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Red Hat, Learn it, Love it., January 30, 2000

By 

Kris Ring (Bozeman, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux 6 (DVD-ROM)

I have just began learning Linux since I can foresee Microsoft Windows unaviodable demise, and I think Bob Rankin has done a perfect job with this book. I am a person who, like most all of us, is almost totally dependant on Windows to get anywhere, and now is the time for us to revolt! Well maybe not, but this book does a perfect job in helping a Windows junky like me to make the transition to Linux and never made me feel like a lost puppy. By the time I finished reading this book I was ready to dump Windows and make a complete switch... except I would lose all my fun games. The only drawback this book had was in talking about running more than one hard drive, but for my intents and purposes there couldn't have been a better way to start learning Linux, and even though version 6.0 isn't the newest anymore, I would still very strongly suggest to anyone out there wanting to learn Linux to start with this book, it will be much worth their time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential reference for Red Hat Linux 6 users., February 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The No B.S. Guide to Red Hat Linux 6 (DVD-ROM)

The No B.S. Guide To Red Hat Linux 6 explains clearly and precisely how to install and run Rat Hat Linux 6 with relative ease. Written specifically for users wanting to get Red Hat Linux up and running, programmer and Linux expert Bob Rankin writes in an easy-to-understanding style how to install Red Hat Linux 6 in ten easy steps; use and configuring GNOME (the new Linux GUI); write Bash or Perl Scripts and use the Bash shell; connect to the Internet with SLIP/PPP; run the Apache Web server; and access DOS files, running Windows programs under Linux. The accompanying CD-ROM containing Red Hat Linux 6. The No B.S. Guide To Red Hat Linux 6 is ideal for novice users needing a swift and certain approach to installing and using this cutting edge software.