Mastering UNIX [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Katherine Wrightson (Author), Joseph Merlino (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0782128173 | ISBN-13: 978-0782128178 | Publication Date: December 11, 2000

All Your Unix Questions—Answered!

Mastering Unix is your source for everything you need to know about today's most influential operating system. Inside, two Unix experts provide essential information on a wide range of Unix flavors, concentrating on Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris8. Whether you're just getting started with Unix or want a resource to help you handle system administration's toughest chores, this example-filled book will answer all your questions and promote the skills you need to succeed.

Coverage includes:

• Using the Unix shell
• Using X-Windows
• Configuring and using remote services
• Connecting to the Internet
• Creating user accounts
• Creating user groups
• Designing and building a network
• Using Unix utilities
• Programming the shell
• Setting up and administering a mail server
• Setting up and administering a news server
• Setting up and administering a Web server
• Implementing effective security practices

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This fine, big (over 900 pages) book about the original operating system, Unix, is aimed at beginners and long-term users alike. Hardcore system admin folk may find that there is too much introductory padding for what they are after (although almost half of the book is devoted to basic system admin, network admin, and administering services), but for most users of Unix, this is an excellent guide.

Mastering Unix is targeted at those using one of the three most popular Unix renditions (Solaris, FreeBSD, and the ubiquitous Linux), and it is a real strength of the book that Linux and open source are properly explained and contextualized.

The history of Unix is briefly but fully walked through, and then the book describes the OS's structure and how it uses files and directories. Scripting is covered (the focus is on the bash shell; other shells are given comparatively short shrift), and a useful overview of differing text editors is covered. The writing is clear throughout and the examples useful and illuminating. Despite the book's size, the text never feels exhaustive, and although this may not be the only Unix book to consider having on your desk, it should definitely be among them.

The particularly useful CD-ROM contains the Gnome and KDE desktop environments and a number of Unix servers and utilities, including Samba, Apache, Sendmail, GNU Emacs, Perl, and NEdit. --Mark Thwaite, Amazon.co.uk

From the Back Cover

All Your Unix Questions—Answered!

Mastering Unix is your source for everything you need to know about today’s most influential operating system. Inside, two Unix experts provide essential information on a wide range of Unix flavors, concentrating on Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris8. Whether you’re just getting started with Unix or want a resource to help you handle system administration’s toughest chores, this example-filled book will answer all your questions and promote the skills you need to succeed. Coverage includes:

• Using the Unix shell
• Using X-Windows
• Configuring and using remote services
• Connecting to the Internet
• Creating user accounts
• Creating user groups
• Designing and building a network
• Using Unix utilities
• Programming the shell
• Setting up and administering a mail server
• Setting up and administering a news server
• Setting up and administering a Web server
• Implementing effective security practices

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 944 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (December 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782128173
• ISBN-13: 978-0782128178
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,903,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference for beginner and beyond, August 18, 2001

By 

Mark Woelfle (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering UNIX (Paperback)

I'm an NT administrator, new to the world of Unix, and definately find this book informative. "Mastering Unix" is well written, not only as a reference for the experienced, but for those who are new to Unix as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but you will not be a master after reading it..., January 11, 2002

By 

Douglas E. Taylor "some reader" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering UNIX (Paperback)

This book, despite its bombastic title, is an excellent introduction to the UNIX [Linux] operating system. Aimed at the beginner or beginner++, it touches on most of the salient topics a prospective sys admin might need to know about. Topics covered include: basic commands, the file system, the X Window System, environment setup, basic scripting, basic networking, and basic sys admin, among other things.

Although the book is rather hefty--nearly 900 pages--the reader never gets bogged down. The writing is clear, and topics are covered in enough detail as to promote a decent all around understanding of the material.

If I could fault the book in any way, it would be because there are perhaps too many topics covered here. The writing is very good, and I think the authors could have expanded this book into, say, 3 books without getting mired in every detail.

5.0 out of 5 stars UNIX in general, February 6, 2006

By 

TLAW_DBA "OCP Oracle 6i/9i/10g, SCSA Solaris ... (Montreal, QC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering UNIX (Paperback)

The book discussed the history of UNIX and its evolution. The author also talked about different flavor of UNIX. The book is good it discussed many things that are common to all flavors of UNIX. It also discussed the shell programming, the different editors, and unix networking and mail configuration. Overall it is good book you can use as reference too, I do recommend it.