Introduction to Unix and Linux [Paperback]

John Muster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0072226951 | ISBN-13: 978-0072226959 | Edition: 1

Ideal for students with little or no computer experience, this essential learning tool is filled with fundamental skill-building exercises, hands-on tutorials, and clear explanations. And, it’s written by a leading UNIX and Linux curriculum developer and instructor, making it perfect for both learning -- and teaching -- the basics.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Essential IT Skills for On-the-Job Success

Includes Student Edition of Red Hat Linux on CD-ROM

John Muster, leading UNIX and Linux Curriculum Developer and Instructor at the University of California Berkeley Extension, will teach you how to use UNIX and Linux through clear presentation of the concepts, hands-on tutorials and exercises, illustrations, chapter reviews, and more. This classroom-tested resource covers all the essential features of UNIX and Linux and allows you to learn by applying your skills to real-world scenarios.

Inside this book, you will learn to:

• Log on to a UNIX/Linux system
• Run programs to obtain system and user information
• Create and execute shell scripts
• Use the visual editor (vi)
• Use multiple utilities in scripts
• Create and change directories
• Specify instructions to the shell
• Set and use permissions for files and directories
• Control user processes
• Manage, print, and archive large files
• Access and tour graphical desktops
• Administer a Linux PC system

In each chapter, you'll find:

• Learning objectives
• Skills-check sections
• Hands-on tutorials
• Fundamental skill-building exercises
• Illustrations and figures
• Chapter self-tests
• End-of-chapter summaries, quizzes, and projects

About the Author

John Muster teaches and conducts educational development at the Educational Center of Silicon Valley, the University of California’s Extension Division, where he was given the Honored Teacher Award. In addition to teaching and multimedia development, he consults and teaches for clients in industry, government, and universities across the globe. His undergraduate and graduate education took place at Otterbein College, The Ohio State University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (December 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072226951
• ISBN-13: 978-0072226959
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Text Book that Teaches, April 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Unix and Linux (Paperback)

Our students use this text because it carefully teaches them how to do everything they need in UNIX and Linux. Each skill is examined with specific laboratory exercises that demonstrate how it works and how to best use it. Figures are clear and save the teaching staff a lot of time because the figures focus in on the hard parts of the system. The student reviews, chapter summaries, assignments, and expanded explanations of more complex topics make this the text we use with our community college students. The teacher's pack provides us with power point slides, handouts, question bank, tests and added materials.
For our more advanced, faster paced classes, we use this book's big brother, UNIX Made Easy 3rd Ed. Both have been very carefully developed and students use them with few errors or problems. This book does not have the shell programming that is in UNIX Made Easy. Instead, Introduction to UNIX and Linux has Red Hat Linux CD's, a chapter on installation and chapters on administration of a system, plus additional GUI information and exercises.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book of instruction., September 18, 2009

By 

TSW III "tswiii" (Henderson, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Unix and Linux (Paperback)

If you are a person who likes to understand the reasoning behind certain command line executions - because it helps with your rentention - then this is the book for you. This book is what my local College uses and I can see why. The class is an "online" class and this book is all I need to understand. The book gives you the basics of why things work the way they do. What it is NOT is a reference book. It is a book on how to learn (and understand) Linux and what the commands are and why they are in a particular order. If you already know a little about Linux, this will help to connect the dots. If you are a Linux pro, don't bother. But I just wanted to learn the OS for the fun of it and I am learning much with this book.
Also, this book is very "hands on" so the CD that comes with it will reinforce what you're reading. I love this about the book. You actually DO what your learn. And visa versa. :o)
One other comment. You will find as you read that the author has a sneaky (and sometimes not-so-sneaky) way of restating the material that he just stated. It helps you to learn although you might say to yourself "you pretty much just said that...". But I understand the reasoning and it works. :o)

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Condensed version of another book by same author, February 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Unix and Linux (Paperback)

Don't bother with this book...It is a condensed version of the Unix made easy (3rd edition) book by the same author...The author basically took out some programming in shell chapters and used the rest of the Unix made easy book verbatim...

Save your money as this "newer" book is twice as expensive as the Unix made easy (3rd edition) and has less information...If you want a book that gives a good solid introduction to Unix and Linux use the author's other book, which I would give 4 stars.