How Linux Works, 3rd Edition: What Every Superuser Should Know 3rd Edition

by Brian Ward (Author)

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in Linux Servers

ISBN-13: 978-1718500402

ISBN-10: 1718500408

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Best-selling guide to the inner workings of the Linux operating system with over 50,000 copies sold since its original release in 2014.

Linux for the Superuser

Unlike some operating systems, Linux doesn’t try to hide the important bits from you—it gives you full control of your computer. But to truly master Linux, you need to understand its internals, like how the system boots, how networking works, and what the kernel actually does.

In this third edition of the bestselling How Linux Works, author Brian Ward peels back the layers of this well-loved operating system to make Linux internals accessible. This edition has been thoroughly updated and expanded with added coverage of Logical Volume Manager (LVM), virtualization, and containers.

You'll learn:
• How Linux boots, from boot loaders to init (systemd)
• How the kernel manages devices, device drivers, and processes
• How networking, interfaces, firewalls, and servers work
• How development tools work and relate to shared libraries
• How to write effective shell scripts

You’ll also explore the kernel and examine key system tasks inside user-space processes, including system calls, input and output, and filesystem maintenance. With its combination of background, theory, real-world examples, and thorough explanations, How Linux Works, 3rd Edition will teach you what you need to know to take control of your operating system.

NEW TO THIS EDITION:
• Hands-on coverage of the LVM, journald logging system, and IPv6
• Additional chapter on virtualization, featuring containers and cgroups
• Expanded discussion of systemd

Covers systemd-based installations

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From the Publisher


'A Must-Read' “If you are interested in Linux, How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know is a must-read title.” —LinuxInsider	'An Essential Reference' “Earns its place on the shelf as an essential reference.” —The MagPi	'Thorough and Up-to-Date' "This is a very thorough and up-to-date book. After using Unix and then Linux for nearly 40 years, I am still getting a lot of value and significant insights from reading it." —Sandra Henry-Stocker, longstanding Linux journalist

About the Author

Brian Ward has been working with Linux since 1993. He is also the author of The Linux Kernel HOWTO, The Book of VMware (No Starch Press), and The Linux Problem Solver (No Starch Press).

Who Should Read This Book

Although Linux is beloved by programmers, you don’t need to be a programmer to read this book; you need only basic computer-user knowledge. That is, you should be able to bumble around a GUI (especially the installer and settings interface for a Linux distribution) and know what files and directories (folders) are. The most important thing you need is to be ready and willing to play around with your computer.

About the Publisher

No Starch Press has published the finest in geek entertainment since 1994, creating both timely and timeless titles like Python Crash Course, Python for Kids, How Linux Works, and Hacking: The Art of Exploitation. An independent, San Francisco-based publishing company, No Starch Press focuses on a curated list of well-crafted books that make a difference. They publish on many topics, including computer programming, cybersecurity, operating systems, and LEGO. The titles have personality, the authors are passionate experts, and all the content goes through extensive editorial and technical reviews. Long known for its fun, fearless approach to technology, No Starch Press has earned wide support from STEM enthusiasts worldwide.

Review

"Comprehensive . . . The third edition of How Linux Works is a good introduction to Linux that also is organized such that readers can flip through and go as far into a subject as necessary to answer questions at hand, skipping the more extensive explanations that aren’t crucial for their current topic of interest. In that regard, the book is a nice reference to have on the bookshelf."
—Lee Teschler, Microcontroller Tips

"The book is very thorough—from looking down into the hardware, through delving into how the kernel functions, to covering the most important commands, file systems, swap space, boot loaders, networking and more. In fact, I'm not at all surprised that this book has survived to its 3rd edition—both because it's a genuinely good book and because Linux has gone through some serious changes in the past seven years, especially related to such things as its use of containers, the flexibility of logical volume manager and the continued move toward virtualization. . . . This is a very thorough and up-to-date book. After using Unix and then Linux for nearly 40 years, I am still getting a lot of value and significant insights from reading it."
—Sandra Henry-Stocker, longstanding Linux journalist

"If you've not read this book yet, you really should. It's very good, highly detailed, approachable, comprehensive, and just an overall joy to read as a Linux nerd. Highly recommend!"
—Adam Miller, @TheMaxamillion

"This book provides an overview of Linux, with some information on how to dive deeper into its topics. Recommended."
—Ian Bruntlett, C Vu Journal Vol. 33 #4, ACCU

"I recommend [How Linux Works] if you want to learn and understand the core functioning of Linux. [It's] the perfect book if you are absolutely new or if you want to improve your Linux knowledge."
—It's FOSS - Linux Portal, @itsfoss2

Reviews for How Linux Works:

“If you are interested in Linux, How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know is a must-read title.”
—LinuxInsider

“Lots to offer on almost every aspect of the Linux architecture.”
—Everyday Linux User

“You’ll get an essential understanding of what’s going on under the hood without getting bogged down in minutiae—making this a very refreshing (and wholly recommended) addition to the Linux literature.”
—Phil Bull, co-author of Ubuntu Made Easy and member of the Ubuntu documentation team

“Dives straight into the transparent depths of Linux-based operating systems and shows us how all the pieces fit together.”
—DistroWatch

“Earns its place on the shelf as an essential reference.”
—The MagPi magazine

"The book teaches you the concepts behind Linux internals. It is ideal reference material for anyone curious to know about the operating system’s inner workings."
—Xtreme Pentesting, @xtremepentest

About the Author

Brian Ward has been working with Linux since 1993. He is also the author of The Linux Kernel-HOWTO, The Book of VMware (No Starch Press), and The Linux Problem Solver (No Starch Press).

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ No Starch Press; 3rd edition (April 19, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1718500408
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1718500402
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.06 x 1.09 x 9.31 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #25,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Linux Servers
- #4 in Linux & UNIX Administration (Books)
- #4 in Unix Operating System

Customer Reviews:
174 ratings

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Deviant

good study material for general linux knowledge

Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

UPDATE:after 3 months of study and this book greatly helped me pass my linux+ exam and setup labs. Amazing book

i have only begun using linux about 4 weeks ago reasons of virtualization and hardware control and this is my first linux book that i have read i dont know if i recommend this to a beginner but this book help me understand the lingering questions i had, from the basics of command,file hierchy and disk partition and summary of the kernel linux system and i am in love, with the operating system, i have been referencing this book for the past week now and has been using arch linux, with the help of this book and the arch wiki i have made progress from installing the basic systems to setting up my first kvm/vfio passthrough. there is still a lot to learn.

12 people found this helpful

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Garret P. Arcoraci

Great Read!

Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2021

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I teach System Administration at the Rochester Institute of Technology; usually, I don't make a book a requirement, but this is the exception. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the Linux operating system and traditional computer architecture.

13 people found this helpful

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KarolNow

Disappointment.

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

Half of a book is typical Linux entry guide about everything, nothing wrong with that but title suggested something different to me. Other half where author goes deeper was also not rewarding. It doesn’t provide necessary why and how’s but do describe some minor details and exceptions. Maybe my expectations were too high because of other books from this publisher.

6 people found this helpful

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Utnapishtim

Admirble in so many ways

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2022

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great job.

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D. Wang

Good read for experienced Linux admin. Especially the systemd part.

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2021

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Good read for experienced Linux admin. Especially the systemd part.

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Linux Internals and Behavior for The User, Administrator and System Developer--Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2021

Linux as an Open-Source derivative of Unix is an Operating System that does not hide how it works and how it can be tuned from the end user, developer, or administrator. This is in contrast to Operating Systems Such as Microsoft Windows, and to a lesser extent OS X (which while Unix based hides most user operations under a well-crafted GUI). This means that merely to get Linux to Work and perform optimally the user/self-administrator must know how it boots (including fancy UEFI/Grub Boot Configurations, a windowing system/display server which operates locally and remotely and is a stand-alone vehicle for the server.

The excellent 3rd Edition of Brian Wards book explains in more than sufficient detail all the features of how it interfaces with displays, devices, network protocols and hardware startup to make sure your configuration will work in an optimal fashion. It explains all current to this date features of the operating system, including the Wayland Display server (replacing X0rg's server), startup sequences on current releases like Ubuntu), disk partitioning and network protocols. It explains those mechanics of the operating system needed for the user, administrator, or software developer to get his/her system functioning optimally and know how the pieces fit together. The book is not, nor does it claim to be an operating systems textbook, like the little daemon's BSD Operating Systems textbook.

Among the most useful new features of this edition in the chapter on virtualization and containers, which is vital for anyone who must run Linux in the Cloud or preconfigure an edge device with containers or install a preconfigured environment for machine learning or analytics. Also importantly covered are the Wayland display server, current boot sequences and the issues of fighting between grub and modern UEFI boot loaders.

It is just the right level of systems detail to understand what one is doing while administering Linux and using its many technical features.

9 people found this helpful

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Dave B

This is a great read if you have the right expectations

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2021

If you are new to Linux or a user of Linux who understands how to get around but not the "gory" details under the hood, you might purchase this book thinking that this will move you to having the knowledge to do ALL of the things you currently can't or are afraid to touch. It won't. BUT, that is simply because that level of knowledge would require at least 10 books this size if not more and you likely don't have the time for that. This book will give you a tour of all concepts (that I am aware of) that are relevant to understanding Linux and the tasks you may want to do with it. For many of those concepts it will explain background information, show a simple / common use of relevant tools, and usually provide information on where to get more information if you need to dig into a particular concept. The author usually gives a few hints on the things that those who have not yet mastered the concept typically struggle with.

For topics I have already investigated heavily, it was a nice reminder of a few items and worth the review. For other areas I learned a great deal and realized some things I could be doing better. And in one case, it identified what I was doing wrong on a project I had put on hold.

I would strongly recommend reading it cover to cover initially and then keep it around as a "refresher/reference" when you need to get into a particular concept before jumping into the man, info pages and other books for the specific topic.

This is much better than a cookbook style approach. If focuses on understanding the core concepts that will allow you to grow into a competent and proficient developer/administrator/user of Linux/Unix.

4 people found this helpful

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ABuyer

disappointed

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2021

same as so many other books on this topic.

4 people found this helpful

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Just Some Guy

This book is amazing, but you better be serious.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book is outstanding. I'm generally competent on the terminal, and can figure out how to get things done on Linux when I have to, but I'm no admin. I'm now trying to seriously level-up my Linux skills, and this is absolutely the book I needed.

That said - omg is it a heavy lift. This is not your quick easy read, by any means. This book is so densely packed with deep technical gold that it reads at times (many, many times) more like a reference manual than anything else. It took me a few weeks to get thru the whole thing, just because it's so packed with technically valuable information (and this was not the first Linux book I've read, either).

I'm going to have to read the whole thing again, probably twice, before I really absorb it all. But this is a book I'm going to keep on the shelf by my desk for a long, long time. I can't give it any higher praise than that.

3 people found this helpful

Redbill

Excellent book to help you understand Linux

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2021

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Have used Windows since v3.11 (that dates me I know!) and knowing only the most basic DOS commands this book has been extremely helpful in getting my head around Linux. Am now multi-booting Debian, Arch and Windows on my main machine. Debian as my daily driver, Arch for exploring and Windows for Steam.
Probably could have done this without this book (eventually) but this has certainly speeded up the process.
Thoroughly recommended!

2 people found this helpful

J. R. Lawrence

Mediocre

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book leaves me with mixed feelings. It's seems to go really deep on some topics and not deep enough on others. I suppose it's a good starting place.

2 people found this helpful

batman

titre trompeur

Reviewed in France on April 30, 2021

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D'après son titre, le livre doit nous apprendre comment fonctionne Linux. Dans le descriptif il est dit "But to truly master Linux, you need to understand its internals.". J'ai donc acheté l'édition Kindle du livre, pensant apprendre des choses sur le fonctionnement interne de Linux, par exemple sur le scheduler. L'ordonnancement des threads sur un processeur multi-coeurs est un sujet que j'aurais aimé voir traité.
En fait c'est un livre sur Linux, comme il en existe tant d'autres. On part de la base de la base, en supposant que le lecteur ne sait rien, ou presque. Le livre nous apprend ce qu'est un shell, les commandes de base (ls, cat, etc.), ce qu'est une arborescence de fichiers et comment s'y promener avec cd... On est très loin d'une utilisation avancée.
Egalement : la base de l'écriture de scripts shell, un peu de réseau, 2 ou 3 trucs sur les devices. Tout est survolé, rien n'est vraiment approfondi.
Il y a quelques infos sur le démarrage du système (grub), la gestion des droits, le serveur X, make et gcc. On finit avec les hyperviseurs et Docker.
Bref, on apprend des choses sur comment utiliser Linux (si on n'y connaissait rien avant) mais certainement pas sur comment il fonctionne. En cela le titre est (volontairement ?) trompeur. Ce livre n'est pas mauvais, mais n'apporte rien de plus par rapport à l'abondante littérature déjà existante sur le sujet.

15 people found this helpful

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Alan L.

Sembra ben fatto

Reviewed in Italy on November 23, 2021

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Non l'ho ancora finito ma dai primi capitoli sembra essere scritto bene e sembra abbastanza completo.
Magari rivedrò la recensione una volta terminato

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How Linux Works, 3rd Edition: What Every Superuser Should Know 3rd Edition

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From the Publisher

'A Must-Read'

'An Essential Reference'

'Thorough and Up-to-Date'

About the Author

Who Should Read This Book

About the Publisher

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Brian Ward

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