Linux for Windows NT/2k Administrators: Secret Decoder Ring with CDROM (Mark Minasi Windows 2000) [Paperback]

Mark Minasi (Author), Dan York (Author), Craig Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mark Minasi Windows 2000 | Publication Date: September 2000

Perfect for Windows NT/2000 System Administrators daunted with the task of convergence to a world of both Linux and Windows NT/2000, Linux for Windows NT/2000 Administrators: The Secret Decoder Ring provides the tools necessary to translate Linux concepts and practices into terms Windows administrators understand. Co-written by Windows guru Mark Minasi, this book explains how Linux works, looks at its strengths and weaknesses in relation to Windows, and helps the administrators evaluate it for use in the enterprise.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Too many Linux books shoot themselves in the foot, either by explaining Linux in terms that can't be understood without a grounding in some other Unix flavor or by expecting readers to follow instructions blindly and be satisfied at their completion. Linux for Windows NT/2000 Administrators advertises itself as a "secret decoder ring," which means that it explains Linux phenomena in Windows terms. For example, the book specifies that daemons are to Linux what services are to Windows NT/2000. It might not make any sense to those who are unfamiliar with either environment, but it's perfectly clear to those who know Windows. This sort of approach, which reflects knowledge of the audience, as well as the subject matter, is typical of accomplished author Mark Minasi.

In large part, this book comes across as Linux for the Reader Who Has a Clue. Minasi enumerates the tasks that system administrators typically have to carry out. Examples of these include installing software and manipulating the privileges of users and groups. He explains how to do those jobs in various Linux environments, and addresses himself to Windows experts who'll need a bit of background, but don't require babying. Minasi doesn't explain why you'd want to install applications, but rather explicitly the mechanics of installing RPM packages and tarballed source code. He states flatly that most people will be happy with a precompiled kernel--that's what works for Windows, after all--but shows how to build your own, anyway. The book's full of that kind of material. This fact-rich text is a pleasure to read and learn from. --David Wall

Topics covered: Linux 2.2, explained in terms that Windows adepts can understand easily. Staying rather distribution-neutral, the book explains how to install Linux, use it in single-user workstation mode, and configure it as a network operating system. System administration tasks--software maintenance, user management, network troubleshooting, and so on--get top billing, although an ongoing comparison of Linux and the Wintel platform is important, too.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Sybex Books (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782127304
• ISBN-13: 978-0782127300
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,768,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It gets you most of the way, but leaves out some stuff, June 26, 2001

By 

Kurt Lieber (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Linux for Windows NT/2k Administrators: Secret Decoder Ring with CDROM (Mark Minasi Windows 2000) (Paperback)

Overall, this book is well worth purchasing. Mark does a good job of keeping the practical information and weeding out the useless .... There's a good, detailed discussion about how to get linux installed and running on your machine, including setting up basic services like www, dns, samba, etc. (I found the samba section especially good)

The chapters are well organized and flow nicely together. Additionally, the index (which is what I use the most) is detailed and easy to navigate -- you can generally find the right page the first time.

However, you'll find it won't suffice as your only linux book. There are too many basic topics that aren't covered, such as:

* How to do basic troubleshooting? What's the linux equivalent of the NT event viewer? What are some basic steps to take if you're having networking problems?

* How do you update drivers? (especially NIC drivers) It talks about configuring NIC properties, but not updating the actual driver.

* What's the linux equivalent of a service pack? Where do you go to get it and how do you install it?

Again, overall, this book is well worth the money and does a good job of preparing you to use linux. It will get you about 70% of the way there. For the remaining 30%, you'll want to pick up a more comprehensive linux book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book well worth the read, only one bad thing, January 28, 2002

By 

Brian Brackeen "_code_poet_" (Denton, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Linux for Windows NT/2k Administrators: Secret Decoder Ring with CDROM (Mark Minasi Windows 2000) (Paperback)

This book is excellent. I am a long time Windows NT/2000 programmer / administrator. This book helps in you learn linux in windoze terms.

He starts off with a very nice and informative history on Linux and unix. Then does a fairly decent job of describing open source and how linux can grow and flourish in this environment. I mean, as former M$ guy, I couldnt quite figure out how Linux could thrive and continue to make forward progress in the mehem that seemed to be open source, where any one ant anytime could modify the source and start their own distribution. He answers that question quite nicely.

He then gives a detailed overview of all Linuxes and which one might be best for you.

Bottom line--
This is an excellent started book, that will give any NT admin the basics of learning Linux. The only flaw? The material is dated, Redhat 7.2 is out and he discusses Redhat 6.2, the same with all the other linux distros he talkes about, they are all older versions. None of which has mattered so far, I just wish it was over the newer stuff, maybe he will come out with an updated version? Too, this is only a beginner Linux book, get this with the intention of getting a solid learning foundation in Linux, then you can look elsewhere for a comprehensive book on Linux. I suggest Wrox, they are the best learning books I have ever read.

Pros--
1) Concise
2) Covers all major versions
3) Does not overload you with Linux only speak
4) Explains linux in NT terms
5) Comes with Mandrake distro
6) Extremely converstional writing style very easy to read

Cons--
1) Covers dated material
2) A bit thin on setting up servers, could go into a bit more detail, and does not offer any trouble shooting tips when doing so
3) Ugly blue cover (heh, my opinion only :o)) )

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS is DA BOOK for NT peple want to learn Linux FAST, October 12, 2000

By 

Yowei Liu (Oceanside, California USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Linux for Windows NT/2k Administrators: Secret Decoder Ring with CDROM (Mark Minasi Windows 2000) (Paperback)

I am so happy when someone wrote a book about Linux for NT/2000 Administrator, and couldn't be more happier when this person is Mark Minasi-- DA MAN. I have been waiting this book to be out since July.. I got it on Oct 9 and I being reading since then. I read every words, front cover, back cover, Intro.. (I work 10 hrs+ everyday and in 3 days I already on page 87) I'd try to learn linux since beginning of this year, but all the books that I buy about Linux is too hard to understand, It doesn't explain in a NT/2000 term that I understand, so, I finally gave up the ghost, gave up Linux... This book is so easy to understand... It explain everything in NT terms... The book come with a Linux Mandrake CD, and the book does not base on Mandrake, It also talk about other distributions... I know NT/2000 pretty darn well, but I am a newbie on Linux... With this book, I know it can get me up to speed with Linux... THIS is DA BOOK, if you know NT/2000 and TCP/IP and want to learn Linux FAST.