Red Hat® Linux® Bible [Paperback]

Christopher Negus (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764545744 | ISBN-13: 978-0764545740 | Publication Date: November 26, 1999 | Edition: 1

If you're considering making the switch to Linux -- or if you already have -- this task-oriented reference gives you the answers you need to make the most of this open source operating system right away. Whether you're running Linux on a single PC or an entire network, user-friendly chapters on topics such as customizing your desktop, running applications, automating system tasks, connecting to the Internet, and managing client workstations, make it easy to meet every Linux challenge.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Negus has been working with UNIX systems, the Internet, and (more recently) Linux systems for nearly two decades. Over that time, Chris worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories, UNIX System Laboratories, and Novell helping to develop the UNIX operating system. Features from many of the UNIX projects Chris worked on at AT&T have found their way into Red Hat and other Linux systems.
During the past few years, Chris has written several books on UNIX and the Internet, including the Internet Explorer 4 Bible and Netscape Plug-ins for Dummies for IDG Books Worldwide. He also co-authored several books for Que Corporation, including the Complete Idiot's Guide to Networking (second edition) and Using UNIX(second edition). Chris' other writings include articles for Internet World, NetWare Connection, and Visual Developer magazines.
At home, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Sheree, and his boys, Caleb and Seth. His hobbies include soccer, singing, exercising with Sheree, and hiking the Wasatch mountains near his home in Salt Lake City, UT.

Product Details

• Paperback: 700 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764545744
• ISBN-13: 978-0764545740
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,459,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Negus has been one of the world's leading writers of Linux books for nearly a decade. His Red Hat Linux Bible series has sold more than one-quarter million copies worldwide. Chris also authored or coauthored the books Linux Bible (2005 through 2007 editions), Linux Toys, Linux Toys II, and Linux Troubleshooting Bible for Wiley Publishing. For Prentice Hall, Chris is the editor of the Negus Live Linux Series and author of that series' flagship book, Live Linux CDs. Before becoming a full-time author, Chris Negus worked on UNIX operating system development teams at AT&T Bell Labs, UNIX System Labs, and Novell in the 1980s and 1990s. In particular, Chris worked in the areas of UNIX system administration and networking. When not working on computer books, Chris likes to spend time with his family: Sheree, Seth, and Caleb. Chris also enjoys playing soccer, singing opera (when nobody can hear him), and making things out of old computers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Fear of Linux Is No More!, May 28, 2000

By 

Phoebe M. Fuentes (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Hat® Linux® Bible (Paperback)

I bought RedHat Linux 5.2 when it first came out a couple of years ago. All it had was a 96 page installation guide. Anyway, it wasn't a very good experience. I did something wrong and lost everything on my hard drive. *Gasp!* I've stayed away from Linux ever since then...

But now not anymore! I wanted to give Linux another try and I shopped around for a good basic guide to Red Hat Linux. From the fair and honest reviews that this book, Red Hat Linux Bible, received on this page, I thought that this would be the best book to help me install the operating system and be able to configure and work with it.

Installation was much easier this time around. I think it was due more to my previous experience and being super cautious, but Mr. Negus' explanations and advice on what to expect during installation and the various types of installations helped out a bit.

But what is the most helpful feature of Red Hat Linux Bible is that it's an extremely good reference. There are so many features in Linux and the amount of programs included as part of the Red Hat Linux distribution, that I'm quite amazed that the author was able to cover as much as he did! The layout of the book is quite easy on the eyes. He gave good descriptions to many of the programs and features of Linux, and provided some of the most useful commands for each program or feature to get the beginner started. Of course, if he went on into an indepth treatise on *each* and *every* program or feature, the book would no longer be a "bible", but more like an encyclopedia, so he points the reader to the corresponding man pages (Linux' manual or information system) or web sites (so far I haven't found any dead links!) for more information on a particular package and for downloading newer versions.

I have to admit, though, that sometimes it IS a bit hard to find the information that you're looking for. But if you persist in your research, you WILL find it. It IS there! For example, I had a hard time finding out how to change the resolution of my monitor. I find the index at the back of the book quite helpful for the most part, but didn't find that particular topic there. As it turns out, Xconfigurator is the program you need to execute to change your resolution anytime after installation, but I found this information hidden away in Appendix A, which is the section on the programs (RPM packages) that come on the CD.

But other than that, I think Red Hat Linux Bible is a wonderful reference! I'm no longer intimidated by the technicalities associated with Linux and this book freed me to try out many of the packages that came on the CD without fear of messing up my computer.

Right now, I'm downloading Red Hat Linux 6.2 free and can't wait to install it! The book is worth buying!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, Concise Newbie Advice, March 3, 2000

By 

Ken McDonald (Thousand Oaks, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Hat® Linux® Bible (Paperback)

I loved this book. The step-by-step instructions are great. I used this book to set-up my first Linux server - an old 486dx100 machine. It runs the network in my house - 3 machines - all connected to a cable modem. My computer, my girlfriend's, my kid's. All thru the Red Hat/Apache server. Great book, and the software is included. Free! This is a no brainer. $80 for Red Hat direct OR . . . $40 for a good manual AND Red Hat - DUH! Buy it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect, but close., October 14, 2000

By 

"tall_guy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Hat® Linux® Bible (Paperback)

I have some experience with UNIX, largely from my early-1990's college discovery of the Internet, but I did not make the switch to Linux until a few months ago (primarily because a friend who works for Microsoft kept telling me that Windows "can't do that"). Upon following the instructions of a co-worker and installing Red Hat 6.2 on my PC, I found that my knowledge of Linux was more limited than I had thought - I could not, for example, figure out how to configure my sound card. That's when I bought the "bible."

This book will walk you through installation, configuration, and the use of various system utilities. It includes chapters that explain how to set up an Apache web server and install downloaded software like Xemacs. It is very thorough and the tone is geared toward folks like me who have some experience, but are not experts.

However, the information is not always presented in a logical fashion. Often, I find myself scrutinizing the index repeatedly while looking for information on a particular topic. Further, the author assumes that you are using Gnome or KDE, and there are few examples for true command-line geeks.

I still recommend this book to anybody who is making the switch from Windows to Red Hat (did I mention that the book *includes* Red Hat 6.1?). The introductory chapters will get you up and running, and by then, you'll have a good reference book at your disposal.