The Linux Problem Solver (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

~ Brian Ward (Author) "This book is all about solving the two basic types of Linux systems administration problems: configuration issues and ongoing maintenance problems..." (more)
Key Phrases: Red Hat, Window System, Network Neighborhood (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brian Ward, author of The Linux Problem Solver, first gained fame as the writer of the Linux kernel HOWTO document, a public-domain piece of the Linux operating system's documentation set. In this volume, he steps up from the kernel's secret recipe and presents high-quality advice on Linux system administration. More specifically, he tells you what to try when your Linux system starts to misbehave, whether as a result of faulty configuration or the consequence of an attack. He also gives advice on setting up services in the first place. Generally, Ward is neutral on the question of Linux distributions, attempting to explain features that they have in common, and explaining differences where necessary.

In a lot of ways, this book is an example of traditional Linux documentation, with discussions of what various commands do and when you should use them. However, Ward has added problem-and-solution boxes amid the documentation paragraphs. The boxes describe a symptom (rdist is too slow), state the likely problem (-ocompare is slow), and suggest a solution (think twice about using -ocompare). You're kind of out of luck if the analysis of the problem doesn't pan out on your machine, but, for easy reference, there's a handy list of problems in an appendix. Pay special attention to the chapter on printing, which does a great job of explaining how this universally required service works (and can fail to work) under Linux. --David Wall

Topics covered: The Linux operating system for power users and system administrators who have a fair bit of experience in modifying and using Linux. How to install, configure, reconfigure, and repair services that have to do with networking, printing, user environments, and Internet services. How to do administration work, such as backup operations, kernel modifications, and installations from source.

Product Description

Plenty of books teach installation of Linux. But what to do once it's running and something goes wrong or doesn't function? This book helps Linux users solve problems related to printing, networking, backup, recovery, recompiling their kernel, and more. It addresses problems both simple and complex, with detailed examples as illustrations and the complete technical information necessary to solve each problem. The first part of the book is devoted to system services, the second to maintenance. The accompanying CD-ROM contains files and programs not included in many Linux distributions and also doubles as an emergency boot disk.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886411352
• ISBN-13: 978-1886411357
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,213,325 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Job Handbook, February 25, 2002

By	Nicholas Russo (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

It's no coincidence I use this book as the authoritative reference when I'm at work: I'm lucky enough to claim the author as our local unix god.

Anytime something on our network of several hundred linux boxes causes me to scratch my head, I ask Mr. Ward what to do and he replies "It's in the book." Invariably, it is, and he's already covered the specific problems I'm encountering.

The Linux Problem Solver is blunt about which programs are horrible and should be avoided, and which will really make your life easier. The advice it offers is always backed by lots of experience.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who's in charge of taking care of one or more linux machines. If you want to keep your machine(s) secure, get printing to work, or fix your X configuration, you'll find out how in The Linux Problem Solver.

Also makes a great gift for any System Administrator; I've given several myself!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loaded with useful tips, July 12, 2000

By A Customer

I've made good use of Mr. Ward's Linux Kernel HOWTO and wasn't at all disappointed in his book. It's by far the most useful sysadmin book I've purchased. I've found others to be too heavy on the "theory" of system administration, and too low on practical, hands-on tips. The chapter on printing alone is worth the price of the book, if you've ever struggled with network printing issues, as I have many times. He clearly knows his stuff.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great practical book..., November 25, 2002

By A Customer

The Linux Problem Solver is that and more. As a new Linux user, I am developing an appreciation of this book in a hurry! The organization of this book is straightforward and logical, each chapter covering an essential topic of making Linux work and how to return it to working order when it stops working right, or getting it to work right after you've made an incorrect change. The author spends a chapter discussing things such as client networking, file systems, networking with Windows and Apples, printing, kernel upgrades, backups and crash recovery, and user environments. One chapter I feel deserves special praise is Chapter 6, installing software from source code, something I haven't found in other Linux books, at least not yet. Since I'm coming from a Windows environment, I'm relieved that someone out there realized new Linux users don't all automatically know how to install software in this environment.
As far as subject coverage, the author tells you the basics of what you need to know and how it works before he starts talking about what can go wrong and how to fix it. Granted, sometimes the information can be sketchy or shallow in places, but there is still a great deal of information packed into 239 pages.
The one small complaint I have with this book is that it doesn't really talk about the initial Linux installation. In fact, I haven't found a really good book that does talk about it in detail, frustratingly enough. Other than that, I can see this book getting frequent use as I explore Linux further and start to do more with it. If you can only buy one book for Linux, this is not the book to have unless you're already conversant with Linux. If you're not, this is a great companion book to have along with a Linux primer for troubleshooting when you do something wrong.