Product Description

Ready to truly master Linux system administration? Rely on the book that's been tested and proven by more than 50,000 Web users and Linux trainers worldwide: Paul Sheer's LINUX:Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition. Sheer presents in-depth, real-world coverage of every key aspect of system administration, with any leading distribution. He even provides detailed cross-references to LPI and RHCE certification topics, making this book an exceptionally useful resource for exam preparation. Sheer presents in-depth, real-world coverage of every key aspect of system administration: user management, security, package management, kernel configuration, working with key Linux tools, filesystem organization, device configuration, and much more. The book covers Linux configuration files in extraordinary detail, and presents comprehensive tutorials on networking and Internet services -- including TCP/IP, routing, mail, Samba, and DNS name server configuration. Unlike many competitive guides, it also contains coverage of shell scripting and C programming, giving working sysadmins powerful tools for streamlining their work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #510949 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-11
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 672 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The key difference between Microsoft Windows and Unix is that Windows is meant to be easy to learn, while Unix is meant to compensate for a steep learning curve by providing extraordinary flexibility to knowledgeable users. Linux: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition is the best book on the market in terms of flattening that learning curve. The author, Paul Sheer, uses this book as the text for a class he teaches, and its instructional value is unquestionable. Rather than attempt to make analogies for the way things are done in Windows or in Mac OS, or try to satisfy readers' requirements with mere recipes, Sheer tries to inculcate his readers into the Linux way of thinking. The idea is that work gets done differently in Linux, and you have to get a few concepts clear in order to work effectively in the environment.

Take, for example, Sheer's discussion of the /etc/passwd file, which is at the core of user authentication. He provides a listing of a typical /etc/passwd file, then explains what each element on each line is for. This leads smoothly into a discussion of /etc/shadow, the shadow password file, and its capacity for hiding passwords behind a one-way hash algorithm.

Sheer's prose is unfailingly clear and detailed, which is good because he's chosen to omit graphics altogether (which means, incidentally, that this book focuses on the command shell--bash, to be precise--and even the chapter on X Windows lacks screen shots). Aside from a few weird typographical choices--a tiny picture of a penguin invariably follows the word "Linux" in body text--this is a faultless book. The CD-ROM contains a comprehensive HTML copy of the paper book--every last paragraph and table--appears on the disk. --David Wall

Topics covered: how to be a competent Linux user, familiar with the command line, key utilities like sed, and important related skills like C programming, shell scripting and regular expression creation. There's coverage of server software--notably httpd, sendmail and exim, and coverage of the Postgres SQL server.

From the Back Cover

The only Linux sysadmin guide that's been tested and proven by 50,000+ Web users!

• The proven Linux sysadmin's guide—read by 50,000+ Web users worldwide!
• The only comprehensive system administration reference that's portable across all Linux distributions
• Networking, security, shell scripting, kernel, TCP/IP, DNS, Web, mail, Samba, and much more
• CD-ROM includes a complete HTML version of the book—the perfect portable reference!

Ready to truly master Linux system administration? Rely on the book that's been tested and proven by more than 50,000 Web users and Linux trainers worldwide: Paul Sheer's LINUX: Rute Users Tutorial and Exposition.

Sheer presents in-depth, real-world coverage of every key aspect of system administration: user management, security, networking, Internet services, package management, C programming, kernel compilation, hardware configuration, and much more. Unlike many competitive guides, it also contains extensive coverage of shell scripting and UNIX access controls. Real-life examples give working sysadmins a powerful resource for streamlining their work. It even contains detailed cross-references to LPI and RHCE certification topics, making it an exceptionally useful resource for exam preparation.

• Linux configuration files-in extraordinary detail
• Comprehensive networking coverage: TCP/IP, routing, Apache, Exim, Sendmail, Samba, name server configuration, and more
• Linux commands, regular expressions, processes, and environment variables
• Key Linux environments: from vi to X to postgreSQL
• Linux filesystem permission model and organization
• Linux device configuration: audio, Ethernet, PCI, SCSI, serial devices, CD-RW, and more

No matter what kind of Linux systems you're managing, no matter which distributions you use, LINUX: Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition presents the techniques you need to succeed.

About the Author

PAUL SHEER owns Paul Sheer Consulting IT Services, a firm specializing in Linux consulting, programming, and training; Web database integration; cryptography; embedded systems; and related technologies. The electronic version of hisLINUX:Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition has become one of the Web's most popular resources for mastering Linux administration. Sheer is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Customer Reviews

Essential reference work
I bought this book after viewing the HTML version online (it was recommended by several people in the Linux Format forums) - it's just SO useful to have all of this information in one place. The style is clear and concise, with just the right amount of detail for me.
And the added bonus is that you get the HTML version on CD with it - an instant addition to my briefcase.

The Best Book Ever, full stop
The Best book ever, for Linux, full stop.

Dont go any further, just get it and see for yourself!
By recommendation i was reading this book. I have some experience in linux, but i found this book amasing - it cleared out all the problems and questions i had before.
At the same time it is written in trivial enough language for complete begginers.

It has got perfect combinaton of whatever you want to do...
SQL, C programming, networks, routing etc. Has good introduction into hardware and a touch of a introduction to hardware, sufficient enough.

Just go and get this book if you have not found a perfect Linux (or Unix) book.

excellent book
One of the best IT books I read: one can start from zero and get a very good knowledge of Linux.