SUSE Linux 9 Bible [Paperback]

Justin Davies (Author), Roger Whittaker (Author), William von Hagen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764577395 | ISBN-13: 978-0764577390 | Publication Date: January 28, 2005 | Edition: 1

* SUSE is the leading Linux distribution in Europe, with a strong enterprise presence and reputation as the most secure Linux distribution
* Written by two SUSE insiders, this book explains the best way to carry out a task while making full use of SUSE's configuration utilities and unique YaST modules
* Offers unique information not found anywhere else on the latest SUSE editions, including Enterprise Server, Professional (for home users and developers), Standard Server, and Desktop (Enterprise desktop) DVD includes the Fall 2004 release of the SUSE Personal Edition, a $29.95 value

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If SUSE Linux 9 can do it, you can do it, too ...

SUSE is the oldest commercial Linux distribution, favored in Europe and rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. Whether you're just discovering Linux or switching from another distribution, this comprehensive reference gives you not only the "how-to" information, but also a thorough understanding of Linux principles and possibilities. Learn to install SUSE and configure it with YaST, use the command line, set up network services, incorporate SUSE Linux into your enterprise, and so much more.

Inside, you'll find complete coverage of SUSE Linux 9

• Install SUSE Linux using YaST, manual installation, or other methods
• Explore the use of system logs and the X Window system
• Unlock the power of the command line for text editing, package maintenance, and advanced networking
• Implement major network services, including Web servers, mail servers, and file and print servers
• Set up Windows^® interoperability with Samba
• Run an FTP server and work with NFS and LDAP
• Examine enterprise architecture, explore the Linux kernel, and understand the Standard and OpenExchange servers

About the Author

Justin Davies has been a Linux user since the age of 15, after getting frustrated at the (lack of) features in DOS. After University, he became a technical consultant at SUSE Linux, where he became very interested in Linux on non-Intel architecture. After a stint as a Unix administrator post-SUSE, he joined the world of the value-added reseller and now works for SCC as an enterprise solutions architect, helping organizations realize that Linux is a viable business solution.

After working as a teacher of mathematics and as deputy head of an independent school in London, Roger Whittaker discovered Linux in 1996 and became increasingly interested (some would say obsessed). When SUSE Linux opened its U.K. office in 1999, he changed careers and worked as a technical and training consultant until early 2004, when he moved to a position in London as a Linux consultant at CSF, a leading supplier of enterprise information technology solutions. He is a Council member of UKUUG, the U.K.’s Unix and Open Systems user group.

William von Hagen has been a Unix system administrator for over 20 years and a Linux fanatic since the early 1990s. He has worked as a systems programmer, system administrator, writer, application developer, programmer, drummer, and content manager. Bill has written books on such topics as Linux filesystems, Red Hat Linux, GCC, SGML, Mac OS X, and hacking the TiVo. He has written numerous articles on Linux, Unix, and open source topics for publications including Linux Magazine, Linux Format, and Mac Format. An avid computer collector specializing in workstations, he owns more than 200 computer systems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 675 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764577395
• ISBN-13: 978-0764577390
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,831,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SuSE Linux 9 Bible is good for the newbie, February 2, 2005

By 

Brian L. Simonin "Brian L. Simonin" (Las Cruces, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SUSE Linux 9 Bible (Paperback)

I purchased this book because I am moving to Novell SuSE Linux Professional 9.2 from RedHat Linux 9 Professional. I wanted something new instead of migrating to RedHat Workstation or Fedora. SuSE Linux 9 Bible gives good detail on installation using YaST. The book goes through disk partitioning, the fundamentals of the Linux System, RPM packages, networking, administration and desktop customization. I thought the book was better than RedHat Linux 9 Bible which I purchased 2 years ago. The book comes with Linux 9.1 on a CD. This is good for a newbie to mid-level administrators. If you are doing anything fancy you can get the official Novell SuSE Linux Professional 9.2 User and Administration Guides on-line and in PDF format. SuSE is an exceptional Linux System and with Novell and IBM's backing could tip the scales away from RedHat Linux. I give it "Daumen Oben" ("thumbs up" in German).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for Novices, May 3, 2005

By 

J. Byrne (Albuquerque) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SUSE Linux 9 Bible (Paperback)

It is surprising to find that a book on SUSE Linux 9 with 665 pages of small print (TOO small) contains so little useful information for someone like me--a Windows user wanting to migrate to SUSE Linux for home use. Most of the book covers topics too advanced for Linux beginners. For example, there are ten chapters on implementing network services, another four chapters on "SUSE Linux in the Enterprise", and six more on using the command line.

Meanwhile, there is very little info on basic topics such as working with applications. For example, a distinctive aspect of SUSE is its inclusion of Rekall as a default database application (a possible replacement for Microsoft Access or similar software); to this important subject the book devotes a grand total of two sentences. For another example, doing backups and archives in linux can be confusing to a newcomer, but barely a page is devoted to them.

In a nutshell, this book may be useful for advanced users, but it does not qualify as a "bible" for "reader level: beginning to advanced." For new linux users, a better choice would be a 2005 book by Thomas Keir: Beginning SUSE Linux From Novice to Professional.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little criticism.., March 5, 2005

By 

Robert Keller - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SUSE Linux 9 Bible (Paperback)

I will agree with the other reviews and add a couple of examples where the book slacked a bit.
The coverage isn't as complete as I expected and the index is slacking a bit. As an example there isn't any reference to pico which is part of the standard installation, only vim. Something like the power management setting to keep the monitor from blacking out isn't mentioned anywhere. The words "power" and "management" are not entries in the index. As a final index example, chmod is listed but the only reference refers to a location where it isn't the primary topic but is only mentioned in passing. The page where it is explained in detail isn't listed.
Other than that, it is really the most up to date coverage of SUSE presently available and remains without competition.