Linux Internals [Paperback]

Moshe Bar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2000 | Series: Application Development

-- Providing in-depth coverage of the source-code internals of Linux, this book gives a high-level explanation of how this operating system works and the knowledge needed to program and run it optimally.
-- With a thorough knowledge of kernel programming and OS theory, readers will get the following:
-- Performance and Tuning issues discussed, measured and explained
-- Crisis-avoiding strategies for busy servers explained in detail
-- Variations of different Linux versions are explained
-- CD-ROM with code from the book and sample kernel enhancements
-- Written by an expert active in the development of KhaOS, a secure version of Linux.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

An Insider’s Guide to the Linux Kernel!

Today, millions use Linux as their operating system of choice. And although all Linux distributions include source-code, few people understand the inner workings of kernel programming. As more companies begin to rely on Linux for solutions, administrators and programmers need to optimize system performance to keep critical business functions running smoothly. Linux Internals, is a comprehensive insider’s guide to kernel programming and OS theory. Written by recognized Linux expert, Moshe Bar, Linux Internals covers in detail core concepts of the Linux kernel, including the latest version 2.4. Including revealing commentary and enhancement suggestions, this book will give readers a thorough knowledge of Linux design principles and the process model.

Includes in-depth coverage of:

• Factors affecting performance, with measurements and explanations
• Sample kernel enhancements
• Variations between different Linux versions
• Crisis-avoiding strategies for busy servers
• Installation and tuning issues

And the CD-ROM contains the latest in kernel enhancements, which can incorporated into the server kernel. For experienced Linux users and busy professionals wanting to plan and implement powerful Linux-based solutions, this is the most insightful and important reference available.

On the CD-ROM:
The latest Linux kernels including, the 2.3.51 and 2.3.99-pre4 file system updates, kernel core updates, and numerous network driver updates.

About the Author

Moshe Bar (Milan, Italy) is the Linux columnist for Byte.com and one of the creators of Kha0s, a secure version of Linux. H is also a regular columnist for Linux Journal and contributes to Dr. Dobbs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Osborne Publishing (July 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072125985
• ISBN-13: 978-0072125986
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,522,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment, August 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Linux Internals (Paperback)

I was curious how one book could be oriented to both "Linux internals" and "application development", and once I started reading this book, I realized my initial hunch was correct--it can't. This book is purely about the internals of the Linux kernel, period. That's not a bad thing, but people looking for a reference for app. development under Linux will be very disappointed.

The author has an extremely terse style, which I found very annoying. Reading this book is like spending hours listening to one of your arrogant, techie friends who loves to explain things just well enough to impress you with his/her knowledge, but not well enough to help you understand the topic fully.

The book's cover blurb says that it covers kernel 2.4, but it doesn't mention devfs, easily one of the more radical and significant changes in the release.

Finally, I found numerous minor glitches throughout the book, like the table that lists the "bite size" of various architectures, when clearly "word size" was the intention.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Badly organized and edited, July 8, 2001

By 

David MacKenzie (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Linux Internals (Paperback)

Here are some examples of the errors in this book; I gave up on it around page 50. It tries to distinguish between RISC and CISC but gets them backwards. Most of the underscores in the code listings have been replaced by spaces. It states that linked lists and arrays are the same thing. A table refers to the "Bite size" of processor architectures. Structurally, it jumps quickly into a deep description of x86 instruction scheduling without explaining why. There's some useful information in there, if you can find it through the errors and poor organization. There are better books on the topic.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unedited garbage, June 8, 2001

By 

Conrad Heiney "ignatzmous" (Newport Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Linux Internals (Paperback)

This book was not edited. I believe they folded up the second draft and mailed it to bookstores. The author is also a very poor writer. Portions of the text remind me of the "All your base are belong to us" funnies or similar jokes about bad translations. I recommend that no one buy it; that the author be vigorously slapped with a large wet fish; and that the publishers and editors be exiled to some land without books or paper.

This is the worst technical book I have EVER purchased.