Knoppix Hacks: Tips and Tools for Using the Linux Live CD to Hack, Repair, and Enjoy Your PC [Paperback]

Kyle Rankin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 059651493X | ISBN-13: 978-0596514938 | Publication Date: November 27, 2007 | Edition: Second Edition

If you think Knoppix is just a Linux demo disk, think again. Klaus Knopper created an entire Linux distribution on a bootable CD (and now a DVD) so he could use his favorite open source tools on any computer. This book includes a collection of tips and techniques for using the enormous amount of software Knoppix offers-not just to work and play, but also to troubleshoot, repair, upgrade, and disinfect your system without having to install a thing.

Knoppix Hacks is just like the distribution it covers: a veritable Swiss Army knife packed full of tools. Scores of industrial-strength hacks-many of them new to this second edition-cover both the standard Knoppix CD and the feature-rich DVD "Maxi" distribution, which is included with this book. Discover how to use Knoppix to its full potential as your desktop, rescue CD, or as a launching point for your own live CD.

With Knoppix Hacks, you can:

• Investigate features of the KDE desktop and its Internet applications



• Save your settings and data between reboots with persistent storage



• Employ Knoppix as a system administration multitool to replace failed servers and more



• Use the CD/DVD as a rescue disc to repair filesystems or a system that won't boot



• Rescue Windows systems with Knoppix to back up files and settings, hack the registry, and more



• Explore other live CDs based on Knoppix that could augment your system



• Easily install the popular Debian GNU/Linux distribution with all of your hardware detected and configured



• Remaster Knoppix to include your favorite software and custom branding

Whether you're a new Linux user, power user, or system administer, this book helps you take advantage of Knoppix and customize it to your needs. You may just find ways to use Knoppix that you never considered.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kyle Rankin is a system administrator for QuinStreet, Inc., the current president of the North Bay Linux Users Group, and the author of "Knoppix Hacks", "Knoppix Pocket Reference", and "Linux Multimedia Hacks" (all from O'Reilly). Kyle has been using Linux in one form or another since early 1998. In his free time, he either writes or does pretty much the same thing he does at work: works with Linux.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second Edition edition (November 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059651493X
• ISBN-13: 978-0596514938
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am currently a systems architect for QuinStreet Inc., and the president of the North Bay Linux Users' Group (http://nblug.org). I started using Linux in 1998 with Redhat 5.1 and continue to use Linux as my primary desktop and server platform (although these days I use Ubuntu, Debian and Red Hat).

In my free time I do much of what I do at work--play with Linux and computers in general, although these days a good deal of my free time might also be spent writing. When I get a chance I also like going to the local skate park.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantistic Resource, December 18, 2007

By 

George G. Geller (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Knoppix Hacks: Tips and Tools for Using the Linux Live CD to Hack, Repair, and Enjoy Your PC (Paperback)

Like all the O'Reilly hack books, Knoppix Hacks consists of a collection of recipes for carrying out a variety of tasks. The overwhelming majority of the recipes stand on their own, so you can use them without reading the rest of the book.

The Knoppix version 5.1.1 DVD is included with the book. Since Knoppix is a live-boot DVD, arguably the premier live-boot DVD, you don't have to modify your system's hard disk in order to try out most of the ideas in the book. This makes for a great environment for experimentation and learning. You have a sandbox in RAM where you can play with new concepts and commands without messing up your hard disk.

In this reviewer's opinion, Knoppix Hacks 2nd edition is one of the very best computer books available, and belongs in the library of every technically-inclined PC owner.

Full Disclosure: The publisher, O'Reilly, gives many books to Kernel-Panic Linux Users Group for review. I am a founding member of the group and am currently serving as its treasurer. The review copy of Knoppix Hacks went to another member, and I purchased my own copy. A more complete review and errata is available on my website.

Pros:

This book is well-organized, well-written, and has both depth and breadth. It is an excellent resource for learning Linux. Although many of the recipes cover advanced topics, they are relatively easy to follow in part because they start with the system in a known state -- booted from the included Knoppix DVD.

Knoppix Hacks covers everything from familiarizing you with the KDE desktop, to mastering your own customized Knoppix DVD. Two examples: Do you want to learn the basics of Linux system administration? Read Chapter 5, "Put Knoppix in Your Toolbox". Do you want to use free software for Windows system administration -- possibly saving hundreds of dollars? Read Chapter 7, "Rescue Windows".

There are a lot more pros I could list, but you get the idea.

I found a few cons, but they are very minor:

The included version of Knoppix is not suitable for really old PCs that lack DVD drives. But, the text explains how to download and burn your on copy of the Knoppix CD version.

On the copyright page, my copy shows a printing date of November 2007 and a copyright date of 2008 -- that seems odd.

The book contains a few terms and phrases that the editor probably should have changed. In the in forward they say some "forged new ground" instead of "broke new ground". They talk of "MD5sum" rather than "md5sum", the command, or "MD5 sum", the algorithm.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly Surprised, November 12, 2008

By 

Bob Maxland (SW Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knoppix Hacks: Tips and Tools for Using the Linux Live CD to Hack, Repair, and Enjoy Your PC (Paperback)

I had heard that Knoppix would allow the installation of OS' without the need to leave the parent process -- something I couldn't figure out. I browsed this book and saw the many intriguing options Knoppix had to offer. After buying (at full retail) I immediately tried the options.

I was able to get my Nvidia card synced up to my SyncMaster at 1680x1050 with depth of 24...AND...it is persistent. For that alone, the book paid for itself.

At the moment, I'm finding, with the help of this book, that Knoppix may be the do-all system I've been searching for. Currently, I'm running Ubuntu 7.10 and LinuxMint. What I want is a thin streamlined Linux and I think I've found it with the help of this book.

BTW, some of the files pointed to in the book do not exists but can be found on the net.

Highly Recommended!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Knoppix Resource, April 14, 2008

By 

Daniel McKinnon "Dan" (Tewksbury, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Knoppix Hacks: Tips and Tools for Using the Linux Live CD to Hack, Repair, and Enjoy Your PC (Paperback)

Knoppix is an outstanding programming achievement, allowing users to boot Linux from CD/DVD without installation (WITHOUT installation?!?). Also contained in the Knoppix package is a whole slew of open source tools and other favorite goodies that any Linux programmer might want to use and learn from. Knoppix has so many tasties and fun stuff present that content wasn't the problem, instead navigating through all this had to offer was the only issue. With 'Knoppix Hacks: Tips and Tools for Using the Linux Live CD to Hack, Repair, and Enjoy Your PC' those days of navigating through Knoppix have come to an end. Jam packed with 120 tips and tricks of the trade, you will learn it all. From basic administration to desktop tweaks to file I/O work to playing with Windows, it's all here. If you are a Linux lover that wants to learn what Knoppix can do for you or you simply are a weekend computer warrior that wants to take it to the next level, this is a great guide, written in the classic spirit of past 'Hacks' books by O'Reilly.

***** RECOMMENDED