The Linux Problem Solver (with CD-ROM) [Paperback]

Brian Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2000

You've got Linux installed and running, but what do you do when the printer spits out a bunch of gibberish? Or you set up a network but only guests can login and users can't? Or it just won't connect to the Web--no matter what you try?

Solving the innumerable problems that arise on a Linux machine or network can be a full-time job. Fortunately, Brian Ward has written The Linux Problem Solver to ease the pain. The Linux Problem Solver helps solve difficult Linux snafus by integrating troubleshooting techniques with clear explanations and tutorials of Linux tools. With the first half of the book focusing on configuration tools, and the second half focusing on maintenance, this book guides you through the maze of advanced problems that confront any Linux user or system administrator. An indispensable quick reference, The Linux Problem Solver covers solutions to over 100 problems, including how to:

• Troubleshoot problems with printing, filesharing, and connecting to a network.
• Configure and install software from source code.
• Compile and install a new Linux kernel.
• Debug a network connection and secure a system.
• Recover from a system crash and prevent serious damage in the future.

Each chapter covers a specific Linux issue with a clear treatment of common pitfalls including the symptom, the problem, and the fix, and you'll soon understand problems as they arise.

The CD-ROM directly supports the book's contents, with configuration files and many programs not included with most Linux distributions. The CD also doubles as an emergency boot disk with diagnostic recovery tools. Together with the book, this package is a must for anyone serious about starting or maintaining a Linux network.

Contrary to the license agreement in the book, all programs on the CD (except for nvi) are GPL and covered by the GNU Public License. You can get the source for every binary included on the CD-ROM at http://metalab.unc.edu/pub/Linux and ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu . The nvi license can be found at http://www.bostic.com/vi/docs/LICENSE.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brian Ward, author of The Linux Problem Solver, first gained fame as the writer of the Linux kernel HOWTO document, a public-domain piece of the Linux operating system's documentation set. In this volume, he steps up from the kernel's secret recipe and presents high-quality advice on Linux system administration. More specifically, he tells you what to try when your Linux system starts to misbehave, whether as a result of faulty configuration or the consequence of an attack. He also gives advice on setting up services in the first place. Generally, Ward is neutral on the question of Linux distributions, attempting to explain features that they have in common, and explaining differences where necessary.

In a lot of ways, this book is an example of traditional Linux documentation, with discussions of what various commands do and when you should use them. However, Ward has added problem-and-solution boxes amid the documentation paragraphs. The boxes describe a symptom (rdist is too slow), state the likely problem (-ocompare is slow), and suggest a solution (think twice about using -ocompare). You're kind of out of luck if the analysis of the problem doesn't pan out on your machine, but, for easy reference, there's a handy list of problems in an appendix. Pay special attention to the chapter on printing, which does a great job of explaining how this universally required service works (and can fail to work) under Linux. --David Wall

Topics covered: The Linux operating system for power users and system administrators who have a fair bit of experience in modifying and using Linux. How to install, configure, reconfigure, and repair services that have to do with networking, printing, user environments, and Internet services. How to do administration work, such as backup operations, kernel modifications, and installations from source.

About the Author

Brian Ward has been working with Linux since 1993, when he scraped together enough pennies for a secondhand 386. He has a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Chicago, and currently works in San Francisco as a consultant and instructor. He is author of the Linux Kernel-HOWTO, The Book of VMware and The Linux Problem Solver.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: No Starch Press; Pap/Cdr edition (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886411352
• ISBN-13: 978-1886411357
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,028,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Job Handbook, February 25, 2002

By 

Nicholas Russo (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Linux Problem Solver (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

It's no coincidence I use this book as the authoritative reference when I'm at work: I'm lucky enough to claim the author as our local unix god.

Anytime something on our network of several hundred linux boxes causes me to scratch my head, I ask Mr. Ward what to do and he replies "It's in the book." Invariably, it is, and he's already covered the specific problems I'm encountering.

The Linux Problem Solver is blunt about which programs are horrible and should be avoided, and which will really make your life easier. The advice it offers is always backed by lots of experience.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who's in charge of taking care of one or more linux machines. If you want to keep your machine(s) secure, get printing to work, or fix your X configuration, you'll find out how in The Linux Problem Solver.

Also makes a great gift for any System Administrator; I've given several myself!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loaded with useful tips, July 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Linux Problem Solver (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I've made good use of Mr. Ward's Linux Kernel HOWTO and wasn't at all disappointed in his book. It's by far the most useful sysadmin book I've purchased. I've found others to be too heavy on the "theory" of system administration, and too low on practical, hands-on tips. The chapter on printing alone is worth the price of the book, if you've ever struggled with network printing issues, as I have many times. He clearly knows his stuff.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great practical book..., November 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Linux Problem Solver (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

The Linux Problem Solver is that and more. As a new Linux user, I am developing an appreciation of this book in a hurry! The organization of this book is straightforward and logical, each chapter covering an essential topic of making Linux work and how to return it to working order when it stops working right, or getting it to work right after you've made an incorrect change. The author spends a chapter discussing things such as client networking, file systems, networking with Windows and Apples, printing, kernel upgrades, backups and crash recovery, and user environments. One chapter I feel deserves special praise is Chapter 6, installing software from source code, something I haven't found in other Linux books, at least not yet. Since I'm coming from a Windows environment, I'm relieved that someone out there realized new Linux users don't all automatically know how to install software in this environment.
As far as subject coverage, the author tells you the basics of what you need to know and how it works before he starts talking about what can go wrong and how to fix it. Granted, sometimes the information can be sketchy or shallow in places, but there is still a great deal of information packed into 239 pages.
The one small complaint I have with this book is that it doesn't really talk about the initial Linux installation. In fact, I haven't found a really good book that does talk about it in detail, frustratingly enough. Other than that, I can see this book getting frequent use as I explore Linux further and start to do more with it. If you can only buy one book for Linux, this is not the book to have unless you're already conversant with Linux. If you're not, this is a great companion book to have along with a Linux primer for troubleshooting when you do something wrong.