4 items found in Linux.

Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

Ellen Siever, Stephen Figgins et al

O'Reilly, 2003

This is a desktop reference to all the main Linux commands, listed in alphabetical order, plus guides to the bash shell, emacs, vi, and other common Linux utilities. Excellent if you know what you're looking for, but you need to be familiar with Linux for it to be of any value. Definitely not one to try to learn how to run a Linux system from.

The fourth edition has been updated to include commands related to CDs and music, as well as GRUB, which has become the default bootloader on several Linux distributions. There's also coverage of vim, the more user-friendly version of the vi text editor, and of new options to the iptables firewall command, DNSSEC and ssh.

Running Linux (4th Edition)

Matt Welsh, Matthias Dalheimer et al

O'Reilly, 2002

Good overall introduction to Linux written in straightforward language. Takes a neutral approach to the various distributions (distros) of Linux. As well as covering the philosophy of Linux and the Open Source movement, it explains basic commands and concepts, such as setting file ownership and permissions, essential system manageemnt, and other administrative tasks. Down-to-earth, sensible approach.

Note: this review is based on the 3rd edition.

Linux for Windows Administrators

Mark Minasi, Dan York et al

Sybex, 2002

This is an update of "Linux for Windows NT/2000 Administrators", a superb guide to setting up and running Linux, but without all the "geekspeak". Don't be put off by the title if you're not a fully-fledged Windows administrator. What this book does is explain Linux in a manner that is far less intimidating to Windows users than many others. Mark Minasi is a well-known authority on Windows, and with the help of a couple of Linux experts, he describes in plain language how to set up and run all the most common aspects of a Linux system.

It's refreshingly straightforward, takes the fear out of Linux, and by the end of the book you should be able to network a Linux machine with a Windows one and swap files without difficulty. Includes sections on the Apache server, Sendmail, and Samba.

Note: this review is based on the previous version.

Exim: The Mail Transfer Agent

Philip Hazel

O'Reilly, 2001

Even experienced network administrators tend to pale when faced with the need to configure Sendmail, the standard mail transfer agent on many Linux and Unix servers. Exim, by contrast, is very easy to set up and administer, thanks mainly to its use of plain language. If Sendmail's complex and cryptic rules baffle you, you should seriously consider installing Exim in its place; and you can't get a more authoritative guide to it than this. It's written by the creator of Exim.

Unfortunately, after a good start, Philip Hazel tends to get bogged down in details, often making it difficult to find information. But it's all in here, and essential reading for anyone using Exim. Since the book's publication, Exim has undergone a major version upgrade to v4, some aspects of which are incompatible with the version covered here. A new book is planned (by a different publisher), but no details are yet available.