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Running Linux, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

by Matt Welsh (Author), Lar Kaufman (Author), Matthias Kalle Dalheimer (Author), Terry Dawson (Author)
Key Phrases: terminal services, text editing, emacs editor, Window System, Red Hat, Windows Systems (more...)

4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (134 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The Linux operating system has made a lot of progress in the past few years, and Running Linux has progressed right along with it to remain the single best general-purpose book for curious computer users who want to install, use, and enjoy Linux. The team of authors present a text that's simultaneously detailed and readable. Coupled with an inquisitive and capable reader, that's a recipe for success with the world's most popular open-source operating system. This new edition adds coverage of the GNOME desktop environment, the Apache/MySQL/PHP server suite, and the Postfix mail transfer daemon. It also covers core capabilities and behaviors of Linux through kernel version 2.4. There's better coverage of network security (including firewalling and ADSL link configuration), and coverage of how to set up audio-related hardware and software.

Perhaps best of all, this book conveys a sense of the "Linux attitude" as the authors see it. Linux, they say, is largely about experimentation, research, trial and error, and participation in a community. This comes in welcome contrast to books that focus on recipes (follow these steps to accomplish A; do these things to make your system do B). Though the authors of this book provide lots of how-to information, it's always presented with an eye toward further exploration. In explaining how to build the kernel, for example, the authors provide six concise steps as a reference, but then go on for several pages about designing makefiles and how to deal with error messages. This book's a treat. --David Wall

Topics covered: Assuming you know next to nothing about Linux, socially and historically as well as technically, this book teaches you what you need to know to make the operating system meet your desktop and server computing requirements. Coverage takes you from preparing to install Linux (in a multi-OS environment if you wish), continues through system administration and the most useful applications (like TeX and Internet clients), and proceeds to cover programming tools and server daemons (notably Apache, MySQL, and PHP). The coverage is mostly generic, but peculiarities of Red Hat, SuSE, and Debian get attention, too.

Review
"With so many books on the market covering every aspect of Linux configuration and use under almost every distro available, it's refreshing to see a well updated work which tackles the core issues with such vigour. Running Linux is a fabulous guide for the eager newbie and experienced user alike." - Martin Howse, Linux User & Developer, issue 27

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Product Details

Paperback: 692 pages
Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 4 edition (December 15, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0596002726
ISBN-13: 978-0596002725
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (134 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #658,119 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#34 in Books > Computers & Internet > Security & Encryption > Linux Security

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
terminal services, text editing, emacs editor, managing your finances, remote desktop access, loadable device drivers, managing user accounts, concept index, terminal server, enterprise server, parent account, lct users, total login time, ipppd daemon, graphical runlevel editor, done papaya, time for all good women, unpack the tar file, shared library images, hard drive filesystems, taskbar panel, raw queue, konsole window, linked clone, root filesystem

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Window System, Red Hat, Windows Systems, Programming Tools, Sharing Files, Managing Print Services, Microsoft Windows, Desktop Environment, Multimedia Applications, System Administration Basics, Red Carpet, Managing Filesystems, All Figure, Microsoft Word, Tux Racer, Compiling Programs, File Sharing, Microsoft Office, Free Software Foundation, Running Web Applications, Some Linux, The Postfix, Samba Version, Managing Users, Sun Microsystems

Citations (learn more)

32 books cite this book:

LabVIEW Graphical Programming by Gary W. Johnson on 4 pages
UNIX for Dummies by John R. Levine on page 34, page 183, and page 361
UNIX for Dummies by John R. Levine on page 36, page 211, and page 360
Advances in Object-Oriented Metalevel Architectures and Reflection by Christoph Zimmermann on page 88, and Back Matter
Shaming The Devil: Essays In Truthtelling by Alan Jacobs on page 191

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Customer Reviews

134 Reviews

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (134 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Linux users, July 27, 2000

By	"mcopple" (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Linux (Paperback)

I was very impressed by Running Linux. Like many other computer professionals, I have always been a fan of O'Reilly Publishing.

"Running Linux" claims on its cover to be "One-Stop Shopping Guide to Linux." They aren't far off. With information ranging from installation to programming tips to TCP/IP, it packs a lot of information into a rather compact binding.

I have only one complaint about "Running Linux." Unfortunately, the book really glosses over some basic Unix system administration and commands that are absolutely necessary for the beginner to be able to be productive with the book and the operating system. If this is your first book on Linux, I strongly recommend getting a companion volume such as a command reference or novice Unix System Administration tutorial. Use "Running Linux" to get concepts, then consult the companion volume when you sit down at the computer to make things work. You will have a lot more fun and a lot less frustration in the long term.

Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about the book. I found it extremely helpful. The text is very readable and well organized. I highly recommend it for all Linux users!

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126 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars dissappointed: much dated material and not enough depth, February 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Running Linux (Paperback)

After reading all the glorious reviews I could only believe this was the book I needed, being a relative newbie. Although I have found much usefullness in the book, I am disappointed nevertheless and will be looking for another.

My main complaints with this book are:

1) The back cover states that, "_Running Linux_ explains everything you need to understand, install, and start using the Linux operating system." Then the author states several times in the book that if you are new to unix/linux you may want to buy a book on the subject!

2) This Third Edition, published in 1999, reads like an older edition at times. For example, I doubt that Chapters 2 and 3 regarding installation are useful to anyone installing a modern ditro, except maybe Debian. In fact these chapters would probably only be confusing - with their descriptions of installing from floppy, etc.

3) The book also goes to great length to point out Linux's superiority over all things Microsoft, and it's not always accurate in this dubious endeavour. Sometimes it seems hardly a page goes by without one of those petty, unprofessional jabs at MS that are unfortunately so common in Linux writing. If I thought Microsoft were god, I wouldn't be Running Linux.

As an example of 2) and 3) consider paes 49-50. The author describes that in a dual boot situation with W95 it's better to install W95 first because W95 has a nasty habit of overwriting the MBR. He then goes on to say, "We don't know whether Windows 98 will demonstrate the same cavalier behavior as as Windows 95." This book was published in 1999 so why doesn't he know? He then conveniently fails to mention that many Linux distros will not only overwrite the MBR, they will also erase the entire hard drive including other OS's partitions. (dated material and misleading evangelism).

4) As other reviewers have pointed out, the book is simply not detailed enough for admins or power users. Considering it's not all that great for newbies either, then what is it good for?

I could go on, but I think you get the point. My feeling is that in 1995 this was _the_ Linux book to have, and it's reputation has earned it a lot of sales, but it's just not the right book for today, not for newbies and not for experienced users.

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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You want this one on your bookshelf!, May 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Running Linux (Paperback)

This was the first Linux book that I bought, which I found to be useful, but often a little too advanced. I therefore ended up buying several other books (Linux Secrets and Red Hat 5.2 Unleashed - these contained a lot of immediately practical info I needed). However, now that I've been using Linux for a while I find myself continually coming back to Running Linux for additional info often not found in other books. People complain about it being out of date and not having a CDROM. These are the resons this book is so good - it doesn't deal with all the distribution specific issues - these can be found in the documentation that comes with your distribution. Instead it supplies a plethora of information on a wide range of Linux topics that don't chage much over time. In addition, Matt Welsh is perhaps the best technical writer I've come across.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars An introduction
I am neutral about this book. Nothing against it, won't recommend it, either.
Depends on what you already know about Linux, this may be good for you if you are a real... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Yuanchyuan Sheu

4.0 out of 5 stars So far, so good...
BEWARE: Many of these customer reviews are dated. For example, the best and worst cited by Amazon are from 1999 and 2001, respectively. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Bizantino

5.0 out of 5 stars My GoTo Book
I love this book; I recommend it to people at least twice a day when I visit [...]. This book covers every aspect of installing and booting a GNU/Linux operating system, from... Read more

Published 14 months ago by Joel Adamson

2.0 out of 5 stars Not helpful
The back of the book says "widely recognized in the linux community as the ultimate getting started and problem-solving book", "will provide expert advice when you need it" and... Read more

Published 19 months ago by abeppu

4.0 out of 5 stars A truly wonderful intro to Linux all around.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is new to Linux and attempting to figure their way around. Read more

Published 22 months ago by T. Visher

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I was in a urgent need of some fairly serious Linux bootcamp. This book worked, and this is how:

I hadn't had any significant Linux experience prior to buying this... Read more

Published on July 15, 2007 by E. Kontsevoy

3.0 out of 5 stars Failed to answer a simple question
I haven't used Unix/Linux for about ten years. I know there is a command that will tell me how full the disk drives are. I tried to find the answer in this book. Read more

Published on January 14, 2007 by M. Dionne

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Extremely Helpful
I bought this book because I am switching from Windows to Linux on my home network. I thought it might be quicker to learn the ins and outs with the book vs. Read more

Published on January 12, 2007 by Russell B. Williston

5.0 out of 5 stars essential
I am a very new user to Linux, this book has helped me out a lot. There is tons of useful info on how to use all the important aspects of Linux. Read more

Published on January 7, 2007 by Clifford Bryce

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
I bought this book for a programing class, because we used linux in the class, and I had very little experience with it. Read more

Published on January 3, 2007 by G. L. Sinsley

› See all 134 customer reviews...

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