Product: 0596002726

The Running Linux book is expanded and updated regularly and is designed to bring the casual and new user up to speed with using Linux as well as updated information. This is all done is a distribution-neutral context which makes it one of the better guides available. Of course that also presents problems when a particular distribution does something a little bit different from the norm. If you are a serious Linux enthusiast and have been for some time you will find the book too elementary for your needs but those new to Linux will find it a great introduction. The one real problem that I have with the book is that at times leaves out too much detail and as a result you can’t really understand how to use something. An example is the entire section on MySQL and PHP. Then again, there are many excellent books available on these subjects and this is still more of an introductory guide so letting the reader know what can be done and then letting them seek out an appropriate text for the details is appropriate. Not to mention if it included all the details on all the subjects discussed then this would be a multi-volume work.

The book is laid out in a logical patter and after some preliminary background information the authors start the reader on the details of the installation process and fixing installation problems. From there they move to the desktop environment including both the KDE and GNOME environments as well as basic console based commands and concepts.

Once you have those basics covered they then introduce the most common applications including web browsers, instant messaging, email clients, games, office suites, groupware, and multimedia applications. Once you are comfortable with these they lead the reader into the field of system administration. While it is still just the basics, it does include the every day maintenance skills needed to administer a Linux system. These include an excellent introduction to the filesystems, device files, cron, controlling processes, managing users, groups, and permissions, installing, updating and compiling programs, networking, printing, file sharing, startup and shutdown, and configuring a webserver, email server, or ftp server. They then finish up this section with the basics of securing your system, backup and recovery, and running Windows programs on Linux.

Freshly updated for the new or beginning user, the Running Linux, Fifth Edition is one of the best introductions to Linux for the person who really wants to learn the operating system but need a book that starts from the very beginning.
Rating: 5
0596002726
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