Running LINUX

by Matt Welsh, Lar Kaufman

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.

Genres: Reference, Technical, Nonfiction, Computer Science, Technology, Computers, Programming

610 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[Dale Pearl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very useful, particularly if you have ever used the internet. Nothing in is book is relevant, current or a fresh perspective. Every single line of this book can be found by going to www.google.com and typing in what you want to know. There are no clear examples given, tips, techniques or anything of value that would give the target audience a purpose for which to buy this book. I give the book a two star because I love Linux and just maybe someone who doesn't know what the internet or what google is could possibly find this book remotely useful.

[Carl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book came out only four years after the first kernel was released. Linux was on v1.1 when this was published, before mint, Ubuntu, fedora, etc. had been developed. No doubt there are easier ways to learn how to run Linux on your computer. However there is a lot of interesting historical information on its early development, and some of the command line instructions are still relevant. I’d recommend the introduction if you want to learn history and context, but for someone who has little technical background and no appetite for decoding jargon your best bet is downloading ubuntu22 on a memory stick and playing around with it. I wouldn’t recommend unless you have used it before or are a drone who finds technical guides fun. The author writes with an upbeat, light hearted tone so it is better than most books in the genre.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose this wouldn't be a slog and a half if it wasn't the edition that's 13 years out of date making it Neolithic in software/ hardware terms. You're probably better off at this point just running a VM and trying to install from scratch. Top level nerd points for pulling that off plus you'll be waay more up to date.

[Sean Peterson]

infotech