Managing Linux Systems with Webmin: System Administration and Module Development [Paperback]

Jamie Cameron (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131408828 | ISBN-13: 978-0131408821 | Publication Date: August 15, 2003 | Edition: 1

Written by the creator of Webmin, this book explains how to use the most popular Webmin modules to perform common administration tasks on a Linux system such as adding users, configuring Apache, setting up NFS file sharing and managing the Sendmail mail server.Each chapter covers a single server or service, and is broken down into sections that list the steps required to carry out certain tasks using Webmin. The chapters also provide some background on the service being configured and the basic concepts behind it.Cameron also explains how to develop your own Webmin modules and themes, and includes a complete reference for the API that is available to module writers. He dissects each of the standard modules and themes so that programmers thinking of writing their own can see how they work, and what kind of coding style is used.Webmin is a browser-based user interface for performing system administration tasks on Linux and Unix servers.Part of the Bruce Perens' Open Source Series

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

I am more than satisfied (actually impressed) with how much system administration is possible from Webmin. Comprehensive and convenient, just about any administration I've done is covered here, along with several areas that I've hesitated to explore.
--Karel Baloun, Sr. Software Engineer, Looksmart, Ltd.

Easy, browser-based Linux/UNIX administration with Webmin--step by step

Webmin gives you an easy, browser-based solution for virtually any day-to-day Linux/UNIX administration task. Now, there's a definitive Webmin guide for every beginning-to-intermediate sysadmin. Written by Webmin's primary developer, Managing Linux Systems with Webmin delivers authoritative, step-by-step coverage of the latest version of Webmin, from basic installation to centrally managing multiple servers. Coverage includes:

• How Webmin works--and how to install and secure it
• Using Webmin to configure basic system services, including filesystems, users/groups, and printing
• Configuring Apache, Sendmail, Squid, Samba, MySQL, PostgreSQL, FTP services, and more
• Cluster modules: configuring multiple systems from one master server
• Webmin modules: configuring Webmin itself
• Full API documentation and instructions for writing your own Webmin modules and themes

Jamie Cameron walks you through more than 50 essential Webmin tasks--offering all the background you need, step-by-step instructions, extensive screen captures, and listings of the underlying configuration files that are being modified. Whether you're new to Linux/UNIX system administration or you simply want an alternative to the command line, Managing Linux Systems with Webmin will be an indispensable resource.

About the Author

JAMIE CAMERON, Webmin's primary developer, has unsurpassed knowledge of Webmin's functions, user interface, and internal design. He has been working with and managing UNIX and Linux systems for over seven years. He was previously employed by Caldera and MSC Software, where he worked full time on Webmin.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (August 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131408828
• ISBN-13: 978-0131408821
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #512,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Making system administration easy, January 3, 2004

By 

ylikone "ylikone" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing Linux Systems with Webmin: System Administration and Module Development (Paperback)

Webmin is an open-source web application which puts a graphical user interface on the typically command line oriented tasks involved in administrating a Unix-based server. I personally have been using Webmin for many years already, although I initially acquired most of my administration knowledge by getting my hands dirty at the command line level. If administration is not your main job and you don't have all the administration tool syntax memorized or the time to wade through man pages, having a helpful interface like Webmin is a godsend.

The book's author, Jamie Cameron, is also the main developer of Webmin. When you read the book you realize that he is first and foremost a command line administrative guru. However, he wanted to develop something to help novice admins get important jobs done quickly without getting bogged down in learning syntax.

The book has a useful "Contents at a Glance" page at the start which is handy when you want to quickly look up a common administrative task. Then there is the main "Contents" section which contains all of the chapters' subtopics and titles. The end of the book contains a very thorough index. Although the book has 60 chapters, the author did not bother to explicitly divide them up into sections. On my first glance at the book, it seemed as though the chapters were not very logically ordered, but upon further inspection I realized that they follow the general ordering of the modules within the Webmin application. The one exception is that the chapter on configuring Webmin itself is found close to the end of the book although it is the very first module in the actual application. If I had to split the book up into sections, I would do so as follows: Introduction/Installation, System Modules, Networking Modules, Hardware Modules, Miscellaneous Modules, Server Modules, Usermin, Clusters, Webmin Configuration, Custom Module Development, and The API.

The book starts off with a rather short but efficient introduction, installation guide and security suggestions for Webmin. Maybe a few more ideas should have been included in the "Securing Your Webmin Server" chapter. I'm sure security is a topic which many admins would like to see emphasized because of the general mistrust of granting power to a remotely accessible administration system which might easily allow a hacker or ignorant admin to take down a critical server.

Webmin lets you perform many high-level tasks without ever knowing what files on the server are being affected. For myself, as a programmer who sometimes gets involved with administration work, I have configured sendmail services using Webmin many times and I have just let it work its magic without worrying about the file changes being made. This book, in addition to explaining usage of the application, fills in the details of what is going on behind the scenes.

I believe Webmin is a great tool for junior administrators or hobbyists to learn Unix-based administration as long as a book like this one is used so the processes are thoroughly understood. This book probably won't be of much use to a professional administrator with lots of experience and a repertoire of scripts to handle all daily admin tasks. Although, if you are a pro and have grown weary of tedious command line work, this book will help you quickly get up to speed with the Webmin interface.

I found that the book also introduced me to a few concepts I had only heard about but had not really bothered to delve into more, such as Usermin and Clustering. Usermin is basically a trimmed version of Webmin meant for use by the average user on a system. I can see this being used in cases where an administrator wants to give users enough power to control their own email and website settings without giving them shell access. The author devotes three chapters to clustering and explains its usefulness, management and configuration.

At the end of the book you will find a number of useful chapters on creating your own Webmin modules, including explanations of standard module flow structuring, API function descriptions, and a sample dissection of the default theme structure. This section alone may be reason enough for some to purchase this book.

The writing is fairly clear, although as I mentioned before, some of the unusual chapter ordering and missing section divisions are distracting. All in all, this book is a very thorough explanation of the Webmin administration interfaces as well as an introduction to the lower level work being done by the interface, and a short but informative section for those wanting to create their own modules.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Teaches Linux, Not Just Webmin, May 16, 2004

By 

Joe Jaworski (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing Linux Systems with Webmin: System Administration and Module Development (Paperback)

Before buying this book, I used Webmin and thought it was pretty easy to use and didn't think I needed a book about it. Was I wrong.

Not only does this book teach you all the things that you can do with Webmin, it is an excellent general Linux tutorial. The author goes into details about each subject (including what command line programs are run or which config files are changed by Webmin) and provides the meaning behind each setting. Along the way, you learn things that you didn't know existed or couldn't figure out how to do. For example, I had no idea I could mount a folder from a Windows machine without using samba or NFS. If you need to set up Raid, LVM, Apache Web server, Samba, the list goes on... this is the book.

If you need to set up Linux in a home or small office with Windows file sharing, internet gateway, web and mail hosting, DHCP server, etc., you should buy this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great software. Great book. Thanks, Jamie!, September 16, 2003

By 

David Matusiak "matusiak" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing Linux Systems with Webmin: System Administration and Module Development (Paperback)

The evolution of the Webmin Linux/UNIX administration tool is nothing short of phenomenal. It stands as yet another great example of Open Source development, as many modules and bug fixes were contributed by the User Community. However, the core of Webmin comes from Jamie Cameron, who began developing a simple tool back in 1997 to help Junior Sys Admins maintain DNS servers. It is clear that Jamie was the best possible person to write "Managing Linux Systems with Webmin" not only because of his intimate knowledge of the software, but also because he is able to explain esoteric Admin-speak in clear, concise language.

This book is not about installing Linux or server software (such as Apache, BIND, or MySQL). Rather, it guides one through both the installation of Webmin --making sure your Webmin installation is complete and secure-- and the use of Webmin to administer practically *everything* on your Linux machine. And, it does an excellent job of accomplishing these goals!

For those new to Linux, this book provides information on making your server easy to administer via the friendly Webmin interface. For the seasoned Linux/UNIX Administrator, this may provide you the turn-key solution for setting up Junior Admins with the appropriate levels of access and configurability. For small shops looking to find more cost efficient and reliable solutions, Webmin may be the final piece needed to turn these prospects into reality. Jamie's task-oriented book makes mastery of Webmin simple and straightforward.

There are many impressive aspects of Webmin, including the fact that Webmin is available for almost every major Linux and UNIX distribution. This can provide those in a heterogeneous environment with a higher level of interface uniformity, thus reducing the complexity involved in administering several disparate systems. Also impressive are the modular nature of Webmin development and the highly extensible Webmin API (for creating your own custom modules). I highly recommend this book both for those getting their feet wet in Linux/UNIX administration and those looking for an effective alternative to command line management.