FreeBSD 5: The Complete Reference (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

~ Roderick Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Here is your complete guide to FreeBSD installation, configuration, and use with full coverage of FreeBSD-specific material such as its own configuration files and kernel. The bonus CD-ROM contains the latest version of FreeBSD.

From the Inside Flap

The Definitive Resource on FreeBSD

Why run FreeBSD? Based on UNIX, FreeBSD is a highly stable, flexible operating system that can be used in a wide range of computing applications. This all-you-need book is a comprehensive guide to FreeBSD installation, file and kernel configuration, operation, and more. Integrate this powerful OS with your existing hardware and software, and take advantage of system management and administration benefits, graphic and office tools--even multimedia and gaming features. Whether you're a home user or an IT professional seeking a reliable, fully supported OS solution, let FreeBSD: The Complete Reference help you realize the power and functionality of this open-source tool.

Check compatibility issues, prepare your system, and install FreeBSD Run non-BSD UNIX, Linux, DOS, and Windows programs Configure basic and dial-up networking Operate office and graphics software, play games, run multimedia programs, and more Implement file, Web, login, and mail servers Understand ownership, permissions, and file-manipulation commands Locate, install, and use FreeBSD software Modify, recompile, and upgrade kernels Use GNOME or KDE, create your own desktop environment, or utilize text-mode commands Implement system maintenance and security functions

CD-ROM contains latest software version--FreeBSD 5.0

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Product Details

• Paperback: 912 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (February 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072224096
• ISBN-13: 978-0072224092
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #471,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good FreeBSD Overview book, March 2, 2003

By	Joseph Chimento (Bayonne, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

So far I've purchased every FreeBSD book on the market. I was slightly disappointed with this book. The author failed to go into details on many attributes of FreeBSD. A new user will not find detailed steps on getting the OS running. An experienced user will not find much use for this book. It is however a great book for someone looking for an overview of FreeBSD. In my opinion, the best FreeBSD book for my money has been and still is:
FreeBSD: An Open-Source Operating System for Your Personal Computer, Second Edition (with CD-ROM)
by Annelise Anderson (Paperback)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Starter FreeBSD Book, June 8, 2003

By	Fedor Popov (Canada) - See all my reviews

This book can only be of use to those new to FreeBSD. I found that a lot of topics were too general and did not provide any in-depth information for more experienced users.

If you're just starting out with FreeBSD then this is great book for you. If you are looking to further your knowledge then look for a book aimed at a higher experience level.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Shallow coverage, especially for an inexperienced BSD user, February 18, 2005

By	scott_from_dallas (Irving, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This may be a complete reference in terms of topics covered, but it isn't one, in my view, in terms of FreeBSD coverage. That may be impossible, if you are going to title a book as such, I think you need to deliver -- at least better than the authors did.

I am in the process of setting up a freebsd network. I've used this book to help in that endeavor, and it has helped, but the configuration issues I'm dealing with now do not have a solution referenced in this book. For example, in the chapter on file servers, there are many discussions on the basics of FTP, Samba, and other servers, but there isn't a guide on how to set up a plain vanilla file server that's used essentially as a big hard drive for a number of clients on the network, either Unix clients or Windows clients. THAT would have been a very helpful discussion and it wasn't here. Instead, there's a brief (in my view) discussion on Samba, including installation, but nothing with respect to troubleshooting if something isn't working right.

I'll be the first to confess that I am no guru on this operating system, so please don't take much from this review is you are a guru. Just be aware that "complete" may be a bit misleading, at least as I define it.