Customer Reviews

LINUX® Network Toolkit

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Linux Network Toolkit is not bad, but it is not particularly useful for those of us who actually want to contruct a network of Linux computers. This book is useful for those who want to network a bunch of Win95 machines with one Linux/Samba server.

There is less than one page devoted to setting up a Linux client (part of pages 407 and 408). The author covers this setup by writing, "I leave it up to you to configure a Linux box as a client."

Buy this book if you want to connect Win9X clients to a Samba server, and if you want to do so with an outdated kernel with the intent to upgrade after you learn the fundamentals.

If you want to to build a network of Linux machines, and intend to use NFS, keep shopping.

I purchased this book for two reasons, firewalling and samba. Both areas are covered quite well at an introductory level but the books is beginning to show its age. All of the firewalling and masquerading information is dated because it utilizes the usage of ipfwadm and since the book was published, ipchains has become somewhat of the standard for ip filtering under Linux.

But don't get me wrong, the book is well written and if you are using an older distribution of Linux, it will be quite handy.

Also, there are some great sections on beginner level functions of linux as well.

Overall, I would say it is a must have for the libraries of Beginner to Intermediate Linux users.

This book fills a gap in the Linux/Windows space. It does not assume that you know anything about Linux or Windows and will walk you through such problems as networking the two systems together, setting up a Linux box as a server for your Windows network, etc. One of the more useful things you can do is set up a Linux box as the gaeway/firewall to the internet. I have such a setup for my company - I have one machine which talks to the net over DSL and a bunch of machines hidden behind that one machine. You can also set up Linux to alias as several hosts, my box is acting as bitmover.com, bitkeeper.com, and mcvoy.com.

This book is just the ticket if you need to make Linux work as your gateway and/or have Linux act as your file/print/DNS/mail server for your network of Windows machines.

If you want to get a handle on internetworking Windows and Linux/UNIX machines, firewalls, multiple-homed hosts and everything in between you'll want to get this book! It starts with a simple two computer network concept and then expands through successive chapters to help you understand the concepts and tools used to connect large networks together and to the internet! Some of the information is a little dated as it relies on PPP (dial-up) connections to the internet and not dedicated access (i.e. ISDN, Cable Modems and T1/T3) and some of the programs and features it discusses have been upgraded and/or replaced but the concepts still remain the same. If you can gain an understanding of the concepts in this book and apply the information contained in the updated manpages provided with your copy of Linux/UNIX then you'll want this terrific book!

Well written book but too much fluff:

* History of Linux - 20 pages ???

* Complete runthrough of RedHat install

* Finding and Using Resources ???

* X-Windows ????

But this isn't what really upset me about the book. What really got to me was that the example LAN had a static IP as if you are setting up a network for a business.... But it doesn't mention NT! What about Windows 2000? Thats based on NT networking right? The 9x stuff is going away, anyone can setup RH Linux and get Samba working with a 9x machine. How about a 2nd edition minus the fluff with some more realistic examples (i.e. a home network with a surfboard and Linux as a proxy for 9x and NT machines, wireless LAN, a real toolkit). Those may be the small business networks of the future anyway.

This IDG book does NOT have a way to contact the author, nor a web page for errata. Linux works because of user/reader feedback. Linux books should always have a way to contact the author, and also a way to report errors. IDG : Get a clue!

A good book for a SOHO "administrator" setting up a Linux x86 (if you're using RISC or Xeon, this book is beneath your needs anyhow) server with PPP access and a simple Win LAN. That's about it though. Some factual errors, alot of chit-chat and the firewall section is so dismal, you'd think you missed a chapter. The author certainly doesn't believe that there's more than one way to do it. There are also some CDROM files covered in the book that aren't on it.

Very SAMBA oriented, I would have liked more information on Netware and Appletalk connectivity, that would have made it much more complete, though the PPP/SLIP/internet sections were great. Overall, a fantastic book for a Linux beginner, especially if you're in need of a PERFECT replacement for those nasty, EXPEN$IVE NT M$ workgroup servers! In which case, this book contains EVERYTHING YOU NEED to go from bare server hardware, to full-fledged Workgroup server, for less than $50!!!!

I was hesitant to plunk down 40 bucks for a book but I needed some sort of Linux book to help me set up my network. A friend recommended Linux Network Toolkit and I was not dissapointed. It was extremely helpful for me, a relative novice, and was also very entertaining to read. The author explains the nuts and bolts as well as leads you through the process of building a network in a clear and precise manner.

If your new to unix/linux and your looking for a way to start using the red hat distribution for setting up and maintaining a file and print server this book will get you there. However, advancing to a next level using Windows profiles and login scripts is not supported. Have the Microsoft Windows 95 resource kit nearby for solving some issues on this level.