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Subtitled "What every superuser should know", this is a good techie overview of Linux. This is not the book you hand to Grandma (unless Grandma is a system admin), but it is a very well done Linux guide/introduction.
The first couple of chapters are old hat to any Unix user, being just basic overviews of how Unix in gneral works, but Brian quickly gets into the real meat of Linux with chapter 3 "How Linux Boots" and goes on from there with coverage of networking, printing and everything else you'd expect. If that were all there was, I'd be impressed and would recommend this book, but there is more. There are two excellent chapters on programming tools and compiling source code. These include troubleshooting compilation problems, an often ignored aspect of our Open Source world. A third related chapter covers kernel compilation specifically and again goes beyond the usual treatment.
Throughout the book, Brian gives useful hints and suggestions. He has obviously used and administered real Linux systems and has good experience and advice to share.
I like Brian's writing style and the definite techie orientation. If you are a tech person investigating Linux, this is a good book to read.

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---November 19, 2004
Tue Apr 18 10:02:18 2006: Subject: how can i get the book anonymous
how can i get the kit for the linux?
i know its a good book.
bj
Tue Apr 18 10:50:59 2006: Subject: TonyLawrence
What do you mean "get the kit"?
You can order the book from the "Order (or just read more about) How Linux Works from Amazon.com" link above.
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