Customer Reviews

Suse Linux

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a highly useful guide to installing and using SUSE Linux. It is aimed at "The enthusiastic pilgrim...", and indeed meets many needs of a Linux beginner and user. The contents are well chosen and described.

The book is very practical, giving detailed instructions for a range of key tasks in the installation and use of SUSE 10.1. But the information given goes beyond this, and is of use with other versions and distributions. For example, the "why" of the tasks is explained in some detail, and there is also a significant amount of command line usage shown.

Beyond the explicit content, the author gives pointers to URLs and more dead tree resources for those that want to explore the topics further.

In short, this book is worth buying, even if you have already have the printed documentation from a Professional version of SUSE.

Do you already have a computer running Linux 10.1? If you don't, then this book is for you. Author Chris Brown, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that is a complete guide to Novell's Community Distribution.

Brown, begins by showing you how to install SUSE and get all of your essentials connected and configured. Then, the author covers basic system administration for desktop machines. Next, he describes how to start putting SUSE Linux to work. He also shows laptop users how to get everything set up just right with SUSE Linux. The author continues by describing everything you need to know about package management. Then, he focuses on the server capabilities of SUSE. Next, he dives into network services such as e-mail, file sharing and more. Next, he gives you a comprehensive collection of labs that explain how to keep your system secure. Finally, the author explains other ways you can install SUSE, from dual-boot configurations to virtual machine installations with Xen.

The author has tried to make this most excellent book intensely accessible. Perhaps more importantly, this book's lab-based structure focuses on real, practical activities.

Ever since Novell purchased SUSE Linux there has been a whirlwind of activity, press releases, and articles everywhere about what they intend to do with it and where SUSE will go from here. In this book the author guides the reader through the details of the community distribution. The focus is on the desktop user who wants to migrate to SUSE but doesn't know much about Linux. Only minimal computer literacy is assumed and the author walks you through everything from the installation through setting up email, printers, network cards, users, and anything else you might want to configure on your desktop. The section on administration is well done and explains how to do things both from the command line and graphical interfaces. Other areas covered include graphics, audio, video, burning CDs and DVDs, installing and configuring on your laptop, package management, and network services including sharing files, remote access, configuring a web server, name resolution and everything else you would need to install and configure a small business server. SUSE Linux is highly recommended to those who want to learn the basics of this system as a desktop operating system. The server portion is useful for a small business server but for a high-demand server the proprietary version is preferred and not covered in this text.

Brown did a great job of encapsulating a lot of entry-level and intermediate knowledge into this book. Each chapter stands along but furthers along the whole, which seeks to educate the reader about the various systems in SUSE Linux. Unlike many computer books, this book will age well because the information is specific but not tied to any one particular version. So what was relevant for 10.1 is equally relevant for 10.3 and beyond.

I read this book from cover to cover and learned a lot in the process. It is approachable and well written. It is technical but good at explaining and teaching.

I am moving some CPU/RAM hungry applications from Windows to Linux, mainly Ubuntu but keep my eyes open for other Linux distributions. SUSE meets my needs and this book made this transition much more user friendly. Got it brand new from Amazon via Redbrazil for unbelievable 2.73+4S&H, still recovering after price shock!

I was (am) a complete noob to Suse and linux in general. I'm very experienced when it comes to OS-level stuff and computers, but I needed a good overall book to get my suse install going. Well, this wasn't the book to get. If everything works perfectly on your install, you're good to go - and you wouldn't need this book anyway! If, however, your install hiccups, then this book won't help.
Like the install section, the rest of the book is basics only. Not much in the way of troubleshooting, either.
I'm not saying it's not a good book. It may be perfect for the transition user, someone going from Win to linux and primarily interested in using desktop applications and doing simple admin tasks. Perhaps for that user segment, this is a five-star book. I wanted a bit more and for that, it doesn't deliver.
An example is during the install section. There's no info on dual-booting a machine. I don't want to speak for others, but I imagine that's a common install of linux. It's certainly what I wanted to do. No info was contained on how to do it, however. The install that is done in the book offers little in explanation of 'why' you would do things - just do them. Again, perhaps only a fault if you want something other than a vanilla single-boot machine installation.
Lastly, the book references version 10.1 and shipping version is 10.2. Some things have changed although not enough to say the book needs updating.

This is really only an overview of Suse Linux. It did not answer questions I had for installation or repair or how to get applications working after the installation fails as it often did first time around in this Operating System.

It did get me started allocating space, partitioning and help somewhat in the first overall installation. However, even that was not completely as described and I am now at a point where I must seek elsewhere. Not a happy position after the cost of this book.

Chris Brown is a talented writer, able to take a complex subject and both simplify and clarify it for everyone. Chris walks the reader through SUSE Linux step-by-step, explaining virtually everything you want to do with your system with ease and speed. If you're wanting to get up and running with SUSE Linux and enjoying your system and files, then this book  even in the Summer of 2007  is well worth the money. I look forward to his next title.

'SUSE Linux' by Chris Brown is a perfect companion manual for any and all Linux enthusiasts looking to install, administer, configure and play with this distribution of Linux. Jam packed with 400+ pages of goodness, this is a must buy for anyone that isn't a SUSE Linux guru. Even for gurus out there, this book will no doubt improve your Linux abilities and get you up and running and/or super configuring your Linux box here and now!!

If you are looking to work with SUSE Linux now or in the future, pick up this book, you'll be glad you did!!

***** RECOMMENDED

Chris Brown's SUSE LINUX: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO NOVELL'S COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION is a very user-friendly, accessible Linux guide progressing logically and easily from initial installation to hardware support. SUSE is installed daily and favored for its ease of use and versatility: SUSE LINUX examines the operating system through a series of easy lessons which teach all the basics of setting up SUSE as either a desktop or server operating system.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch