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The Debian System: Concepts and Techniques [Paperback]

Martin F. Krafft (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews) |

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Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1593270690 | ISBN-13: 978-1593270698 | Edition: Pap/Dvdr

The Debian GNU/Linux operating system approaches Linux system administration differently than other popular Linux distributions, favoring text-based configuration mechanisms over graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Debian may appear simplistic and even slightly outdated, but it is actually very robust, scalable, and secure. Debian's open development cycle and strict quality control by the developers help Debian to constantly gain popularity, despite its reputation as an operating system just for professionals and hardcore computer hobbyists.

The Debian System introduces the concepts and techniques of the Debian operating system, explaining their usage and pitfalls, and illustrating the thinking behind each of the approaches. The book's goal is to give the reader enough insight into the workings of the Debian project and operating system so that they will understand the solutions that have evolved as part of the Debian system over the past decade. While targeted at the well-versed UNIX/Linux administrator, the book can also serve as an excellent resource alongside a standard Linux reference to quickly orient the reader to Debian's unique philosophy and structure. Co-published with Open Source Press, an independent publisher based in Munich that specializes in the field of free and open source software.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I was extremely impressed . . . strongly recommend for . . . anyone who wants to get the most out of Debian." -- TaoSecurity, January 21, 2006

"Likely to have a long shelf-life . . . a technical book for sure, without fluff or off-topic detours, and packed with information." -- Linux Journal, February 1, 2006

"One of the most complete works covering any distribution or, indeed, operating system, embracing the culture of the active community." -- Linux User & Developer

"This book will have something new in store for all but the most advanced Debian users." -- MozillaQuest Magazine, February 24, 2006

"This is the definitive Debian manual . . . There isn't anything about this book I don't like." -- Groklaw, June 15, 2006

This book has the potential to become the future Debian Bible. -- Freshmeat, September 10, 2005

About the Author

Martin Krafft has been a faithful supporter of Debian since 1997, working as a developer and a PR person, and fielding user questions on mailing lists. He has experience administering mid-sized networks and providing user support, and is responsible for numerous university servers and a 40-node cluster of Debian machines. Krafft is currently working on his Ph.D. at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the University of Zurich.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 608 pages
  • Publisher: No Starch Press; Pap/Dvdr edition (September 26, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1593270690
  • ISBN-13: 978-1593270698
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Forget about debian being hard to install. Pick up a copy of this book, and be on your way to enjoying an operating system that is well built, and orders of magnitude more stable than Windows. In fact, I had zero installation issues with debian -- which compared favorably even with my attempts to install Fedora, another popular and well-regarded Linux distribution.

I liked this book because, finally, an author has had the presence of mind to write a book that did not regurgitate Unix commands like 'ls' and 'vi' for the gazillionth time. The focus is on debian, and only on those parts that make debian unique -- the culture of the "debian project", the notoriety for its alleged difficulty of installation (which I have not experienced), the speed and timeliness of its releases (not!), and homage to that supreme program -- apt-get and its close relatives.

Those new to Linux may do well to first read a general Unix/Linux book before delving into this one. They will also be well served by first playing around with Knoppix (...) which is a debian derivative that does not require a hard-disk install. This is especially useful if you are not (yet) prepared to wipe your hard disk clean of Windows.

If you're not a rank beginner, buy this book, and install Debian 3.1 which is on the accompanying DVD. People wanting a more polished and up-to-date debian might want to try its close cousin, Ubuntu (...). While individual packages might vary somewhat, the concepts presented in this book are applicable across debian and its progeny (including Knoppix and Ubuntu).

In summary, raise the quality of your Linux reading a few notches by purchasing this book, and raise the quality of your personal computer usage by installing debian or its derivatives.
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was extremely impressed by Martin Krafft's "The Debian System" (TDS). I approached this book as a fairly experienced FreeBSD user and an occasional Linux user. (I run Debian on i386 and PA-RISC, but I wanted to know more about Debian as a system.) I strongly recommend TDS for two types of users. The first group includes anyone who wants to get the most out of the unique techniques and tools found in Debian. The second group includes developers and users of other operating systems who are looking for different ways to approach system administration problems. Both groups benefit from TDS' thorough and commanding coverage of Debian and its community.

Prospective TDS readers should understand that this book is unlike any I have read on operating systems. Readers will not have to skip pages on setting up Apache or configuring BIND, thankfully! Instead, TDS covers core system administration subjects to a degree I have not seen elsewhere. I do not mean that TDS delves into kernel structures in the way that McKusick and Neville-Neil's "The Design and Implementation of the FreeBSD Operating System" does. Rather, Krafft takes readers on an inside tour of the how and why of Debian. Rather than just explaining a technique or tool, the author discusses the overall problem, possible ways to approach it, and Debian's solutions. He presents pros and cons for each, and then demonstrates usage with command line syntax and sample output.

Krafft is obviously a Debian enthusiast, but he is not a zealot blind to any flaws Debian might possess. He is also not afraid to praise other OS' (like NetBSD) or declare that certain misconceptions (think debconf) are invalid. When necessary he compares Debian tools or syntax to other Linux distributions, such as a chart on pp 200-201 on apt, yum, up2date, and urpmi. The book also contains a large number of footnotes with URLs for more research and additional commentary.

The only weakness I found in TDS involved rough editing. Krafft has a tendency to use the phrase "a software" repeatedly. Some parts of the book (e.g., the bottom of p 299) are mis-set. These are minor errors that can be fixed in a second printing. Keep in mind that it helps to not have TDS as your sole source of Linux experience. I believe new Linux users would not be able to navigate TDS' waters. For that crowd I recommend Wiley's "Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 Bible."

It is fair to say that Krafft's book has helped me decide to stay with Debian for systems that need to run Linux. I am confident that I can return to TDS when I need to solve problems, and be armed with a variety of options for doing so. I would love to see an equivalent book for FreeBSD!
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is probably the best book about Debian ever written, but it has a specific target audience: those who are already familiar with GNU/Linux, or at least other unices.

This book is not about GNU/Linux in general, it is about Debian GNU/Linux and as such this is an very important book. Debian is quite unlike any other GNU/Linux distribution. With over 1000 volunteer developers, completely community oriented and community driven, it provides over 15000 (that's right - fifteen THOUSAND!) applications on 14 CDs (but only one CD is enough to install the basic system), it features a security and stability matched only by BSD and it can run on 11 different architectures. No other operating system and no other GNU/Linux distribution can offer anything in the same league. Martin F. Krafft explains this seeming miracle with clarity in a thorough and very well written book.

The books goes over what makes Debian different, what makes it unique, and what makes it possible. However, to fully understand the argument a reader does need to have at least a basic understanding of GNU/Linux, and if not - reading a book such as "The Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 Bible" or even a more general, non-Debian specific, introduction to GNU/Linux might be a prerequisite. For those with already a basic understanding of GNU/Linux and interested in debian Krafft's book will be THE indispensable companion.

This is definitely the best written and most intelligent IT book I have ever read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Standard Stuff
Copyright 2005, so it is badly out of date. Not much here for the beginner who just wants to solve the problems that will get him up and running. Read more
Published 11 months ago by MikeBravo
Debian System by Krafft; good reference book about the Debian...
This is an easy to read book about the Debian Operating System. I like using it; reading it is easy. Read more
Published 21 months ago by EleganzShopper
extensively dog-eared
This is one of the better technical books I have read. Author Krafft's English usage occasionally betrays the fact that German is his native language, but he is an earnest and... Read more
Published on February 15, 2009 by Glenn Becker
Debian Love
The author is not only technically proficient, and in detail; but his love for the subject matter is clearly evident. Debian is a treasure. Read more
Published on September 30, 2008 by Sebastian
Good overview of the distribution and packaging, not much else
As a professional system administrator who works with a variety of different linux distributions as well as a the full panopoly of different unix-like operating systems (Solaris,... Read more
Published on August 19, 2008 by Dave
Debian System
If you use Debian you want this book. I believe I saw that a newer version may be coming out. Debian has pretty much settled on how they do things now and this book should be... Read more
Published on April 16, 2008 by R. Hord Jr.
Very in-depth coverage of Debian
I bought this book because I wanted a good understanding of the operating system I'll be working with well into the future. Read more
Published on December 29, 2007 by Vince Ieraci
Debian universe unmystified...
Have been utilizing Linux for +5 years- primarily main-line distros with an "RPM-based" flavor. My continued favorite and primary distro is Mandriva, which I've used solidly... Read more
Published on July 12, 2007 by R. G. Ragosta
Great reference
If you think you are a Debian user, you should read this book. It will show you how to do things the Debian (the right) way. Read more
Published on March 10, 2007 by Jure Kodžoman
Good Book For Novices Administrating One's Own Workstation
I am not a sys admin by profession. My computer at home is running debian testing (which is currently "etch"). Read more
Published on February 25, 2007 by Ken of Orange
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
debian revision, maintainer tools, maintainer scripts, postfix package, configuration file handling, experimental archive, new debian package, debian directory, dsc file, package management system, package indices, pseudo packages, upstream authors, upload queue, hook scripts, inet static address, system initialisation, package maintainer, meta packages, debian stable, next stable release, upstream software, inet dhcp, upstream version, config script
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wilhelm Tell, Social Contract, Reading Package Lists, Done Building Dependency Tree, Ian Murdock, Version Table, Separate Kernel Address Space, Bruce Perens, Internet Protocol, Web of Trust, Advanced Package Tool, Debian Archive Automatic Signing Key, Fully Automatic Installation, Ian Jackson
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