Running Linux Third Edition

by Matthias Kalle Dalheimer (Author), Lar Kaufman (Author), Matt Welsh (Author)

48 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-1565924697

ISBN-10: 156592469X

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Running Linux: A Distribution-Neutral Guide for Servers and Desktops
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Once a little-known productivity boost for personal computers, Linux is now becoming a central part of computing environments everywhere. This operating system now serves as corporate hubs, Web servers, academic research platforms, and program development systems. All along it's also managed to keep its original role as an enjoyable environment for personal computing, learning system administration and programming skills, and all-around hacking.This book, now in its third edition, has been widely recognized for years in the Linux community as the getting-started book people need. It goes into depth about configuration issues that often trip up users but are glossed over by other books.A complete, UNIX-compatible operating system developed by volunteers on the Internet, Linux is distributed freely in electronic form and at a low cost from many vendors. Developed first on the PC, it has been ported to many other architectures and can now support such heavy-duty features as multiprocessing, RAID, and clustering.Software packages on Linux include the Samba file server and Apache Web server; the X Window System (X11R6); TCP/IP networking (including PPP, SSH, and NFS support); popular software tools such as Emacs and TeX; a complete software development environment including C, C++, Java, Perl, Tcl/Tk, and Python; libraries, debuggers, multimedia support, scientific and database applications, and much more. Commercial applications that run on Linux range from end-user tools like word processors and spreadsheets to mission-critical software like the Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and IBM DB/2 database management systems.Running Linux has all the information you need to understand, install, and start using the Linux operating system. This includes a comprehensive installation tutorial, complete information on system maintenance, tools for document development and programming, and guidelines for network, file, printer, and Web site administration.New topics in the third edition include:

KDE, a desktop that brings the friendliness and ease-of-use of Windows or the Macintosh to Linux
Samba, which turns Linux into an office hub that serves files and printers to Microsoft systems
PPP, the most popular software for logging into remote systems over phone lines
Revised instructions for installation and configuration, particularly covering the Red Hat, SuSE and Debian distributions

Amazon.com Review

Earlier editions of O'Reilly's Running Linux served as central guides on installing, configuring, and using the OS. The third edition of this guide covers the kernel through version 2.2.1 and will prove especially useful to those with high technical aptitudes and a well-tested willingness to experiment with their computing environments.

The explanation of how to rebuild the kernel--a particularly daunting task for many--deserves special praise, as do the sections on configuring network links and servers. Users will find that the informative, prose-heavy style packs maximum information into this book's pages. For example, the purpose of a Linux element is described and then the reader is shown various ways of using it, complete with explicit statements of what you type and what you get in response. Back this book up with a good command reference (Linux in a Nutshell is solid), and you'll be well on your way to Linux mastery. --David Wall

Topics covered: KDE and Gnome windowing systems; Samba, file, and system management; shells; windowing systems and networking; installation on Alpha, PowerPC, Motorola 680x0, and Sparc boxes.

About the Author

Lar Kaufman is a documentation consultant living in Concord, Massachusetts. He began writing about UNIX in 1983 and since then has written on System V, BSD, Mach, OSF/1, and now Linux. His hobbies include interactive media as art/literature, homebuilt and antique aircraft (he's a licensed aircraft mechanic), and natural history. Formerly a BBS operator, in 1987 Lar founded the Fidonet echoes (newsgroups) Biosphere and BioNews. He is currently leading a project to establish a global biological conservation network, using a Linux host as the mail, news, and file server.

is a computer scientist with research interests spanning many aspects of complex systems, including operating systems design, distributed systems, networking, and parallel computing. Matt is a long-time Linux advocate and developer, a role in which he has fielded questions from thousands of Linux users over the years. He was the original coordinator of the Linux Documentation Project and author of the original Linux Installation and Getting Started guide. He completed his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley and is currently a researcher at Intel Research Labs in Berkeley, and will be joining the faculty of the Computer Science department at Harvard University in July 2003.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ O'Reilly Media; Third edition (August 11, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 760 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 156592469X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1565924697
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.36 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.34 x 9.19 inches

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Relentless

The best [linux] primer out there !

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2000

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This book, is one of those that you NEED to have in your bookshelf. The writing, and structure makes learning and consulting a breeze. It covers a whole lot of material, ranging from the very basic to ethereal "guru" concepts. It explains, how and why things work the way they do in Linux. It is organized in such a manner that when you run into trouble, it is easy to find the concept that you think can be causing the problem. For those of you wanting a consistent, easy to read and browse book. Look no further!, this book is hands-down the very best out there.

5 people found this helpful

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Ra Aleksija

4 star

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2021

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The great linux primer out there.

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Jon Shemitz

A fine book

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 1999

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I wish I'd had this before I started setting up my Linux system - while I got things mostly configured by following the HOW-TO trail, this book is much clearer and better written. Reading it was a series of Aha!s that cleared up the problems I wasn't able to solve on my own.
Imho, the explanation of IP routing alone is worth the price of the book - I even learned some things about my Windows machines, here.

10 people found this helpful

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A. J. Gauld

best linux intro around

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2002

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I bought the first edition of this when it forst came
out. I bought the update because I'd come back to
Linux after a gap and KDE/GNOME etc were now the norm.
It filled in the gaps and the general quality of the
information was as good as ever.
There is no CD with this book but Linux is available
everywhere these days so I prefer keeping the price low.
Every new Linux user should get this book.

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Kindle Customer 123

Thank you

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2012

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I got this book to brush my skills on Linux and install Linux in my laptop as well, to make ti a dual boot os.
I did not want to bifurcate my computer's memory and hence did not finally do it, but thanks for the book.

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Primoz Peterlin

A classic

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2000

With its first edition dating back to early 1995, Matt Welsh's book is widely regarded as classic, to the extent this term can be applied to Linux. Mr. Welsh, now continuing his PhD studies at UC Berkeley, is a renowned Linux expert, and was actively involved in Linux development since 1992. In particular, he is known in the Linux community for starting the Linux Documentation Project, for contributing to it with Linux Installation and Getting Started (LIGS) Guide (available freely from the Internet) and, lately, for being the founding editor of the Linux Magazine.

Running Linux grew out of LIGS as its expanded and professionally edited version. This has its pluses and minuses. When it came out, there were hardly any other books on Linux available, so it tried to teach the reader everything, from Linux installation to Unix administration, from the command shell basics to compiling the kernel, and from using the C compiler to configuration of X Windows. Its breadth is thus encyclopedic, and yet it is surprisingly sharp at details. The third edition added all the things that happened since: KDE, GNOME, Samba... It may be my personal feeling only, but the new chapters somewhat stick out, without really growing into the tissue of the text.

More important, the book fails to recognize that the structure of new Linux users changed since 1995. At the time, it was written as a "getting started" guide, and it served its role perfectly. However, nowadays you cannot assume any more that every new Linux user is familiar with command line commands or other Unix systems. Therefore I don't think I could still recommend Running Linux as a beginner's guide.

Being one of the top-selling books on Linux, it doesn't need any particular recommendation, anyway. Still, Running Linux is a book edited to high O'Reilly standards, and written by some of the most knowledgeable people in Linux community - which is to many a definite plus compared to books written by journalists. I would say its best target population are seasoned Unix users wanting to try Linux, technically minded people in general, and CS students in particular. Others might find its learning curve somewhat steep.

19 people found this helpful

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Assad Khan

I simply cannot think of a better book for a Linux beginner!

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2001

When I heard about Linux, way back in 99, I was very eager to try it out. Everyone was talking about its stability and power. I got myself Red Hat Linux 6.0 and *tried* to install it, to no avail. I thought I knew much but I apparently did not. Then I sought help of a Linux pro who installed the system for me, I played around with it for about a month and then got sick of it because I did not know any commands so I was not able to use it productively, guess what, I deleted it again. By that time I hated Linux. Then after a couple of months the Linux bug bit me once again.I came looking for a Linux book at Amazon.com and selected this book mainly because of its great reputation . Since the day this book got to me I have been able to connect to the internet, compile C and C++ programs, edit images, share files with Windows computers in my 4 PC home network,edit files with editors such as vi and emacs,safely multi-boot my system using LILO and re-compile custom kernels. Thats alot of teaching for one book , but this book does it and with ease and style. This book teaches you the essentials in such a way that you get to know the internals of the topic as well, in other words it builds your knowledge from the ground up.
okay enough stories, the bottom line is that there is no better getting started guide about Linux than this wonderful book in the Entire Galaxy!

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Floorripper (Majo)

The best book for all LINUX users admins and gurus

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2013

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I have bought this book in order to make my Linux skills better. At the time I was linux user for 2 years. So still newbie. There are absolutely all basics needed to administer linux desktop and a small server. I use this book everyday. It lies on my table at work! I use it frequently every week. The next book would me Linux Administrators guide... :-) I recommend it to Newbies also to some Gurus.

One person found this helpful

Dan

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2018

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its in good condition.

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Running Linux Third Edition

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Lar Kaufman

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