Product Description

In this handy, compact guide, you’ll explore a ton of powerful Ubuntu Linux commands while you learn to use Ubuntu Linux as the experts do: from the command line. Try out more than 1,000 commands to find and get software, monitor system health and security, and access network resources. Then, apply the skills you learn from this book to use and administer desktops and servers running Ubuntu, Debian, and KNOPPIX or any other Linux distribution.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23108 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

From the Back Cover
Explore a ton of powerful Ubuntu Linux commands

This handy, compact guide teaches you to use Ubuntu Linux as the experts do: from the command line. Try out over 1000 commands to find and get software, monitor system health and security, and access network resources. Apply skills you learn from this book to use and administer desktops and servers running Ubuntu, Debian, and KNOPPIX or any other Linux distribution.

Expand your Linux expertise in these and other areas:

• Using the shell

• Finding online software

• Working with files

• Playing with music and images

• Administering file systems

• Backing up data

• Checking and managing running processes

• Accessing network resources

• Handling remote system administration

• Locking down security

About the Author
Christopher Negus is the author of the bestselling Fedora and Red Hat Linux Bibles, Linux Toys II, Linux Troubleshooting Bible, and Linux Bible 2008 Edition. He is a member of the Madison Linux Users Group. Prior to becoming a full–time writer, Chris served for eight years on development teams for the Unix operating system at AT&T, where Unix was created and developed. He also worked with Novell on Unix development and Caldera.

Francois Caen hosts and manages business application infrastructures, through his company Turbosphere LLC. As an open–source advocate, he has lectured on OSS network management and Internet services, and served as president of the Tacoma Linux User Group. FranÇois is a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).

Customer Reviews

Excellent Quick Ref and Newbie Starter
OK, I'm just starting out with Linux, although I have used Mac and Windows for many years. Ubuntu was my choice as it is so well supported and appears to be the least painful way of getting into Linux.

The book itself has a very good 'building block' approach to getting up and running quickly, then takes you through all manner of configuration options. Throughout, it is well laid out and task based, i.e. 'Mounting File Systems with the mount Command', so you can quickly find out how to do a specific task. It also contains troubleshooting sections and a useful guide for vi and other editors. The Index is very thorough, as is the Table of Contents, so finding what you are looking for is dead easy. I had one Ubuntu Server and a number of desktops up and running in under a day, thanks to this book, notwithstanding the fact that the server is command only (NO GUI!) and I wanted to install VMware Server!

In conclusion, I'd say it is one of the most comprehensive Zero to Hero guides out there on Ubuntu. It's name doesn't do it justice, it is much more than just a 'Toolbox', the words Quickstart and Compendium might do better, I would think.

Well done to the authors, it nailed all of my Ubuntu questions in one neat bundle!

Useful and Dense
As one would expect with any Linux textbook, this one is dense. There is lots of information, not presented in the most readable manner, however the good indexing and contents makes it pretty easy to find what you want.

With the subsequent updates of Ubuntu it is becoming less usual for a normal user to carry out tasks from this manual, however some, such as regular expressions, deserve to be learnt by everyone. In addition learning the different ways there are to go about everyday tasks, graphically and via the terminal, give the user a better understanding of what goes on "behind the scenes".

People argue that "you can get it all from the internet". Personally I would argue that it is easier to read things on paper, and nicer to have something there to dip into rather than switching back and forth between browser and command line continually. Also books, like this one, are written to sell, not just as a hobby, they are generally better written and more complete than online tutorials.

All in all I would recommend this book for people not scared to try the command line and those who want to learn a few more intriguing things that Linux can do. However if you are content with using Ubuntu's easy-to-operate Graphical User Interface, then steer clear!

Amazingly useful!
To summarize; if I had to have only one book on GNU/Linux, this would be it. It is excellently indexed, very readable, and-- at only 330 compact pages-- usefully portable. Almost immediately, it established itself as my number 1 reference. Ubuntu Linux Toolbox is almost entirely devoted to using the shell. After a useful introduction to Ubuntu, the following 13 chapters are on subjects such as using the shell, working with files, manipulating text, managing the system, remote system administration etc. Each chapter is divided into sections such as "Backing up tar archives over SSH". It is in these sections that the authors' experience really shows. Everything is explained and alternative approaches explored. The three appendices cover shell variables, Vim and /proc. The aim always seems to be to get you started, and to point you to a variety of useful features and ways of doing things. As a moderately competent user, I can not judge this book's appeal to a real expert, but to anybody else, I would say that buying this book is a no-brainer. Alternatives versions exist for Fedora and Suse.