Linux Kernel in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

by Greg Kroah-Hartman (Author)
Key Phrases: wireless extensions, distribution kernel, atest prepatch, Device Drivers, Kernel Configuration Option Reference, Intel Corporation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"you can't go wrong with adding Linux Kernel in a Nutshell to your library." - James Pyles, Linux Magazine, March 2007

Product Description

Written by a leading developer and maintainer of the Linux kernel, Linux Kernel in a Nutshell is a comprehensive overview of kernel configuration and building, a critical task for Linux users and administrators.

No distribution can provide a Linux kernel that meets all users' needs. Computers big and small have special requirements that require reconfiguring and rebuilding the kernel. Whether you are trying to get sound, wireless support, and power management working on a laptop or incorporating enterprise features such as logical volume management on a large server, you can benefit from the insights in this book.

Linux Kernel in a Nutshell covers the entire range of kernel tasks, starting with downloading the source and making sure that the kernel is in sync with the versions of the tools you need. In addition to configuration and installation steps, the book offers reference material and discussions of related topics such as control of kernel options at runtime.

A key benefit of the book is a chapter on determining exactly what drivers are needed for your hardware. Also included are recipes that list what you need to do to accomplish a wide range of popular tasks.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; illustrated edition edition (December 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596100795
• ISBN-13: 978-0596100797
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #409,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reminded of things I'd forgotten and learned some new things too!, January 18, 2007

By	Leam Hall (NC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When you are ready to build your own linux kernel this is a great book to read! Greg achieves his goal of providing lots of kernel building information in one easily useable source. He explains without being wordy and lets you learn from his ample experience. The first section deals with getting and building a vanilla kernel and should take you about an hour to read. Chapter 7 is neat because it shows how to isolate exactly what hardware you need to build for to optimize a running system. Chapters 9-11 cover half the book in reference format; boot parameters, build parameters, and configuration options.

If you are a kernel hacker the material is a bit light. However, if you have never built a kernel before you will save hours by this one read. I particularly like the reference style because I can study as much as my brain can absorb, make notes, and come back when I have a question.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Kernel reference..., April 15, 2007

By	Valerio Valerio "VDVsx" (Evora, Portugal) - See all my reviews

Nowadays its less common for a user to have to compile a kernel, but there are times that if you don't do it a given device will no work properly (or at all). Despite the huge amount of Linux distributions available none is able to fulfill every user requirement. Configuring a laptop or installing a server requires different sets of modules with imply reconfiguring and recompiling the kernel. If you want to listen to a music, enable power management on a laptop or install some enterprise grade features like RAID or LVM this book is surely to help you.

The "Linux Kernel in a Nutshell" was written by one of the most renoun Linux kernel hackers, Greg Kroab-Hartman. Greg Kroab-Hartman develops system drivers since 1999 and is currently responsible for several of the kernel's subsystems, udev and hotplug.

This book was written to explain everything with is necessary to compile and install a Linux kernel. You don't need any prior programming experience but is most recommend some knowledge of the Linux system and it's command line.

The "Linux Kernel in a Nutshell" is quite complete and clear making it easy for the reader to compile its first kernel in just a few hours after having the book. Kroab-Hartman manages to do this supplying plenty of information in a well structured form that makes its reading extraordinarily easy.

The first chapters explain how to obtain and compile the kernel with is very light reading (about one hour). In the next chapters he explains how to customize your kernel. Finally at the end there is a list of boot and compilation parameters.

If you have some experience with Linux or you usually compile your kernel the information available in this book is a bit too simple never the less useful. If you never compiled a Kernel this book will save you plenty of time.

I recommend "Linux Kernel in a Nutshell" to every Linux user with wishes to learn a bit more how it's Linux system works.

Review made by Luis Rodrigues "Khromu".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably valuable reference, even for kernel hackers, December 15, 2008

By	John F. Hubbard "Engineer, Naval Officer (vet.)" (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When you are configuring or compiling a kernel, or booting one up, there are so many options that a short reference manual is required just to list them all. That's what this does. It also explains each option well enough that you can use each one effectively. At least, I think that's the case; I tend to use the book as a reminder that a given option even *exists*, and then I read the kernel source code for details as to the exact effect it provides.

This book is on a very short list of books that I keep two copies of (one for work and one for home). I recommend it for anyone involved with the linux kernel, from superusers to kernel hackers, to students.