Mastering Unix Shell Scripting [Paperback]

Randal K. Michael (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471218219 | ISBN-13: 978-0471218210 | Publication Date: January 31, 2003 | Edition: 1

• Provides readers with end-to-end shell scripts that can be used to automate repetitive tasks and solve real-world system administration problems
• Targets the specific command structure for four popular UNIX systems: Solaris, Linux, AIX, and HP-UX
• Illustrates dozens of example tasks, presenting the proper command syntax and analyzing the performance gain or loss using various control structure techniques
• Web site includes all the shell scripts used in the book

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Discover how to solve real-world system administration problems with this collection of end-to-end shell scripts

This comprehensive book takes you step-by-step through the process of writing shell scripts to solve real-world Unix problems and tasks. Each chapter begins by presenting a typical Unix challenge that you'll most likely experience at your job. With each challenge, you'll learn how to identify a specific goal and start the shell script by defining the correct command syntax to solve the problem. You'll find out how to build the shell script around the commands, filter the commands output to strip out the unneeded data, and add options that give users more flexibility on the command line.

The approach used will teach you how to attack problems logically. It will also empower you to take the basic command syntax and turn it into a shell scripting solution.

Throughout the book, you'll find end-to-end shell scripts that you can use to automate repetitive tasks and solve real-world system administration problems. These tasks include:
* Communications such as automated event notification, monitoring processes locally and on remote systems, and automated FTP file transfers
* Information gathering and monitoring for file systems, paging/swap space, system load, applications, processes, and capturing the system's configuration
* Print queue management to keep the printers printing
* Floating point mathematics in shell scripts using the bc utility

The companion Web site contains all of the shell scripts and most of the functions that are discussed in the book as well as bonus shell scripts for various tasks.

About the Author

RANDAL K. MICHAEL is a Unix Systems Administrator at Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., where he writes shell scripts to address complex monitoring and event notification issues. He has more than 23 years of industry experience and 10 years of experience as a Unix Systems Administrator, working with Solaris, Linux, AIX, and HP-UX.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471218219
• ISBN-13: 978-0471218210
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Unix > Shell

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Exclusively KORN shell, October 15, 2003

By 

Stephen Doonan "music, art and linux enthusiast" (Portales, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering Unix Shell Scripting (Paperback)

If you are interested in Bourne or Bash shell programming, be aware that this book focuses exclusively on the Korn shell (ksh or "ksh93"). The Korn shell is a superset of the Bourne shell, but if you want to write scripts for sh (Bourne) or bash, another book might be more appropriate.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for all levels of *nix users., August 1, 2004

By 

Bindlestiff (rixtertech.com) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering Unix Shell Scripting (Paperback)

The breadth of real-world examples make the difference between this book and most reference texts. It's true that it's written for korn, but I've had little trouble adapting for Bash; many of the scripts run almost unchanged and the ones that don't provide a useful opportunity for exercise in adaptation. The authors prose is clear. His attitude is a bit challenging; he says early on that that his intention is to teach you how to -solve problems- by shell scripting, NOT to present a ream of canned solutions. This is NOT a reference text for any particular shell, you'll still need plenty of O'Reilly books, a web browser & etc.

This book has enabled me to write a major project using scripting as the glue to hold together a hefty mass of file-moving daemons, fax/paging engines, python UI code, PostGreSQL database engine, networking/email, SSH, and Expect scripts on a Gnu Linux platform. I absolutely could not have done it without this book and I'm very grateful to Mr Michael for his work. If a later edition could more closely serve the needs of the masses by presenting more Bash examples and maybe throwing in a CD it would be a 5-star text.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best in the shelf, May 31, 2004

By 

Sanjoy Basu (Northglenn, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Unix Shell Scripting (Paperback)

Mastering UNIX Shell Scripting is a must for all Unix Administrator. The beauty of this book is it teaches shell script with practical examples which are required in day to day life of a System Admin. Unlike many shell scripting book it just not talks about syntax but also explains whats happening behind the curtain.
Inspite of all praises the reason for giving 4 stars is due to the fact that its not meant for beginners. For serious shell script writers this book deserve 5 star rating