Linux: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition (Red Hat 7.3 DVD Included) [Paperback]

Richard Petersen (Author), Michael Mueller (Illustrator), Lyssa Wald (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 007222505X | ISBN-13: 978-0072225051 | Publication Date: August 15, 2002 | Edition: 5 Pap/DVD

Tap into the power of Linux using this comprehensive and easy-to-use reference. Featuring a bonus DVD, which contains previously unavailable source code and over 1500 applications found on the Red Hat Linux 7.3 distribution (usually on 5 CD-ROMs), this valuable reference includes up-to-date coverage of everything from installation and configuration to system administration and programming.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Ultimate In-Depth Linux Resource!

Maximize the powerful capabilities of Linux using this comprehensive and up-to-date reference. Featuring detailed coverage of everything from installation and configuration to system administration and server management, this valuable reference covers all the new distributions of Linux--including Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE, Debian, and Caldera--and the Linux kernel 2.4. Updated chapters include full coverage of system, network, security, and server setup tasks as well as a discussion of GUI interfaces (Gnome and KDE), security concerns, TCP/IP network configuration, Internet tools, and software management. And, the enclosed DVD contains over 1500 applications and corresponding source code for the entire Red Hat Linux 7.3 distribution--normally available on 5 CD-ROMs. For anyone wanting to learn to install, administer, or program using the latest Linux platform, this is your one-stop guide.

• Learn to configure and administer different Linux distributions including the latest versions of SuSE, Mandrake, Red Hat, and Caldera
• Master KDE, Gnome, office and multimedia applications, the shell, file systems, and Internet clients including mail, ftp, news, and Web tools
• Set up and manage servers-- wu-ftpd and ProFTP (FTP), Apache (Web), Sendmail and Qpopper (mail), Squid (proxy), LPRng and CUPS (print), and HTDig (search)
• Use network configuration tools and servers including SAMBA, NFS, NIS, and BIND (DNS)
• Manage users, services, CD and DVD writers, journaling file systems, RAID devices, and printers (remote and local), as well as reconfigure the kernel and its modules
• Ensure system and network security using packet filtering (firewalls), authentication, digital signatures, intrusion detection, and encryption methods--including IP Tables, GNU Privacy Guard (GPG), Tripwire, the Secure SHell (SSH), and Kerberos.
• Deploy powerful desktop, office, database, graphic, editing, and Internet applications
• Update distribution software automatically on Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian, and SuSE.

About the Author

Richard Petersen has an MLIS in library and information studies and teaches UNIX and C/C++ courses at the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Linux: The Complete Reference (all four previous editions), Linux Programming: A Beginner's Guide, and many other titles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 944 pages
• Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill; 5 Pap/DVD edition (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007222505X
• ISBN-13: 978-0072225051
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,161,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Who's the target audience?, April 14, 2003

By 

D. Hunter "dhunter21" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Linux: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition (Red Hat 7.3 DVD Included) (Paperback)

This book is decent, but there doesn't seem to be a target audience that allows the book to be more cohesive. I generally found that the author went far into depth about things that I (a personal linux user as opposed to a network admin) did not care about, and only skimmed the surface of items that I found truely interesting and relevant. Moreover, the audience seems to range from someone who has never touched a keyboard (I read an explination of what he backspace key does, last night), to budding admins.

2.0 out of 5 stars Get the 4th ed., May 12, 2009

By 

Scott L. Murphy (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition (Red Hat 7.3 DVD Included) (Paperback)

So in this edition they decided to take out all the helpful info that was in the fourth and replace it with advertisements for linux features. I think most people who have a book like this want detailed descriptions of underlying components in linux. Not ads for applications that will be outdated in a few months.

4.0 out of 5 stars it is useful book, June 22, 2005

By 

Alex Vox (Winnetka, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Linux: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition (Red Hat 7.3 DVD Included) (Paperback)

It is not the best first book of Linux or UNIX but it may be very useful if know what are you looking for. If you need quick initial training see Linux and UNIX for a beginner training suite, 4DVDs + 2CDs includes 4 Unix Academy Certifications ed.2008.