Inside Linux [Paperback]

Michael Tobler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0735709408 | ISBN-13: 978-0735709409 | Edition: 1

With in-depth complete coverage on the installation process, editing and typesetting, graphical user interfaces, programming system administration, and managing Internet sites, Inside Linux is the only book "smart users" new to Linux will need. Many of the users new to Linux have an understanding of computer technology and will be looking for just the right reference to fit their sophisticated needs. This book guides users to a high level of proficiency with all the flavors of Linux, and help them with crucial system administration chores. Inside Linux is different than other books available because it's a unique blend of a how-to and a reference guide.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The author of Inside Linux acknowledges that adequately teaching how to use Linux involves more than communicating a series of recipes. For that reason, he goes to considerable effort to explain what's going on when the user executes various commands. He uses procedures to expose facts about Linux's innards, rather than as mere strategies for achieving desired effects. Therefore, his prose--particularly his extended coverage of the bash shell--reads like a scientist's journal: If we do this, here's what happens (and by the way, here's why). The approach is more leisurely than that of many introductory Linux books, and it leads to a deeper understanding of what's going on under the shell.

The author shows how to configure and use XFree86, the K Desktop Environment (KDE), and GNOME. These are handy skills to have, even if most distributions will more or less automate those processes and some readers may wish instead for information on more obscure aspects of the operating system. Coverage of network configuration, where an intimate knowledge of the command line and configuration files is critical, suits this book's experiment-and-observe format very well. The reader gets to see lots of important pieces of software in action. There's nothing about Apache, but the sections on setting up FTP and Unix-to-Unix Copy Protocol (UUCP) services are particularly detailed. --David Wall

Topics covered: Linux for those unfamiliar with the operating system, with particular focus on the Caldera OpenLinux 2.2, Red Hat Linux 6, Slackware Linux 4, and SuSE Linux 6.1 distributions. Installation of XFree86, KDE, and GNOME are covered, as are the mechanics of setting up a TCP/IP network at the command line. Coverage of FTP and UUCP services conclude this book.

From the Back Cover

With in-depth complete coverage on the installation process, editing and typesetting, graphical user interfaces, programming system administration, and managing Internet sites, Inside Linux is the only book "smart users" new to Linux will need. Many of the users new to Linux have an understanding of computer technology and will be looking for just the right reference to fit their sophisticated needs. This book guides users to a high level of proficiency with all the flavors of Linux, and help them with crucial system administration chores. Inside Linux is different than other books available because it's a unique blend of a how-to and a reference guide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 832 pages
• Publisher: Sams; 1 edition (October 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735709408
• ISBN-13: 978-0735709409
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,184,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy, fun read with lots of info ..., February 15, 2001

By 

"r4dell" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Linux (Paperback)

I have a few books on Linux and have finally found one that is refreshing! Rather than a book that rehashes the public domain documentation, I find this book to provide an "I'm with you" perspective - it speaks to you as if the author is sitting there right next to you, explaining in a "been there, done that" attitude.

The format appears to be a "how-to" and pseudo-reference and does both very well. Although Tobler seems to be slightly Win-phobic (which I guess you should be for Linux), the information provided is complete and accurate. And even though the distros discussed are a version behind, no one should have a problem applying the information to current versions of Linux distros. I would have liked to have seen a CD-ROM included. Otherwise, you get a well-rounded opportunity to explore the many pieces of the Linux puzzle.

My tag line? ... all you need is Inside Linux (and "Linux in a Nutshell" for a true reference) and you're ready to go!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The right mix of reference and explanation, February 12, 2001

By 

John Archer (Woburn, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Linux (Paperback)

I have used a couple of different distros of Linux. I have been able to get things up and running, but without much real knowledge about the system. However after reading and then later referring to Inside Linux for some of my nagging "whats" and "whys" I feel I have a much stronger understanding of this new choice for an operating system. I feel that I can better take adavantage of some of the services that Linux provides. Excellent samples....

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inside Liux, April 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside Linux (Paperback)

This is one of the poorest written Linux books I have ever read. The author jumps around, leaves out many of the important details and is very careful not to touch on the tougher topics.
I would recommend not buying this book unless you are an absolute beginner with Linux.