Pro OpenSolaris: A New Open Source OS for Linux Developers and Administrators (Expert's Voice in Open Source) [Paperback]

Harry Foxwell (Author), Christine Tran (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1430218916 | ISBN-13: 978-1430218913 | Publication Date: April 27, 2009 | Edition: 1

OpenSolaris is coming into its own in 2009. It is the operating system that is the most technically advanced of all Unix installations, and it is the number one choice for many decision makers for 2009. This book provides the professional keys to this powerful Unix distribution.

Now OpenSolaris has become much more accessible than ever as well. Linux programmers and system administrators will profit from this book enormously, since it will broaden their skill set and add to the thrill that this high-tech operating system can bring to their professional lives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harry Foxwell is a system engineer for Sun Microsystems Federal, Inc, specializing in operating systems support (Solaris, OpenSolaris, and Linux). He is also an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at George Mason University, where he has taught, among other classes, operating systems courses based on OpenSolaris. He has also written several book reviews forACM's Computing Reviews.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (April 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430218916
• ISBN-13: 978-1430218913
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Solaris

More About the Author

Harry Foxwell is a Principal Engineer for Oracle in the Washington DC area, where he is responsible for solutions consulting and customer education on Cloud Computing, Solaris, Linux, Open Source software, and Virtualization technologies.

Harry has worked for Oracle and Sun Microsystems (acquired by Oracle in 2010) since 1995. Prior to that he worked for 6 years as a UNIX and Internet specialist for Digital Equipment Corporation; he has worked with UNIX systems since 1979. He also contributes to Oracle's internal website of Linux technical information and has been a Linux user since 1995. He blogs frequently on Cloud Computing at http://blogs.oracle.com/drcloud

Harry has been influential in developing and promoting Oracle's Linux and Solaris strategies and messages. He is coauthor of the book Pro OpenSolaris (Apress, April 2009) and two Sun BluePrints: Slicing and Dicing Servers: A Guide to Virtualization and Containment Technologies, Sun BluePrints Online, October 2005, and The Sun BluePrints Guide to Solaris Containers: Virtualization in the Solaris Operating System, Sun BluePrints Online, October 2006.

He earned his doctorate in Information Technology in 2003 from George Mason University (Fairfax, VA), and has since taught graduate courses at GMU in Computer Architecture, Operating Systems Security, and in Electronic Commerce.

Harry is a Vietnam veteran; he served as a platoon sergeant in the US Army's 1st Infantry Division in 1968-1969; (awarded Air Medal, and Bronze Star).

He is also an amateur astronomer and contributing member of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, a USATT member and competitive table tennis player, and a USSF (Soccer) referee.

See also http://cs.gmu.edu/~hfoxwell/Resume.html for additional career details.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll want to start using OpenSolaris now!, June 17, 2009

By 

Alan Formy-Duval "Senior Systems Engineer" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pro OpenSolaris: A New Open Source OS for Linux Developers and Administrators (Expert's Voice in Open Source) (Paperback)

Pro OpenSolaris is an excellent primer to Sun's new operating system - OpenSolaris! The book provides a great introduction to OpenSolaris for anyone not accustomed to a UNIX environment and a great transition guide for anyone looking to transition from older UNIX or Linux platforms. Administrators familiar with earlier Solaris versions will find Pro OpenSolaris a benefit in transitioning to the latest technologies such as the Zetabyte File System (ZFS) and the various ways to employ virtualization. The fluid discussions and excellent screenshots allow the user to quickly learn the ins and outs of the system. This book has shown how easy it is to get an OpenSolaris system up and running and all the fun that can be had for both legacy Solaris users and Linux users alike!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction and exploration, May 4, 2009

By 

Mark E. Heily (Herndon, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pro OpenSolaris: A New Open Source OS for Linux Developers and Administrators (Expert's Voice in Open Source) (Paperback)

This book is written in an informal, conversational style that makes it easy and fun to read. Unlike other introductory texts, however, this one provides a wealth of technical knowledge and experience, and assumes a minimum level of familiarity with Linux/Unix. It covers everything that makes OpenSolaris an interesting addition to the free software ecosystem. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Containers, ZFS, DTrace, and SMF.

I would have liked to see a little more coverage on the OpenSolaris community and development processes work, and a little less focus on how things are done in the Linux world. Overall, however, the book does a great job of exploring all of the material you need to get started with OpenSolaris.

I hope you have some extra time on your hands, because this is the kind of book that makes you want to install OpenSolaris and tinker with it for hours.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide for the uninitiated!, October 18, 2010

By 

Gjorgi Varelov "avid reader" (El Pueblo, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pro OpenSolaris: A New Open Source OS for Linux Developers and Administrators (Expert's Voice in Open Source) (Paperback)

I just got this book today and am already half way through it, it's a great read, authors keep your attention while preserving a level of discussion not too newbie- ish but not too high- level either.
Yes, you could search and search for days through the maze of online articles on OpenSolaris, but this book is more than a compilation of online material.
Its main focus is on the hallmarks of OpenSolaris that make it such a great system, authors explain it in a way that motivates you to try it on your own and join the crowd of Solaris- initiated enthusiasts.
A tiny word of caution: you have to have at least some familiarity with Linux (in any flavor) and its command- line. That familiarity becomes handy to keep up with the discussion.
I have never thought of OpenSolaris as anything more than yet another Linux distro until I got this book.
I hope more from these authors is on the way regarding OpenSolaris, keeping this style and level of discussion.
On a sad note, it seems the OpenSolaris project itself stalled after Oracle took over Sun. Let's hope that's gonna change...