Operating-in-the-red

I wrote this book to help real people learn to use Red Hat's Linux products in real situations; I have tried to write with current Windows or Mac OS users in mind. There's minimum of fluff or unnecessary technical jargon; instead, I try to give clear, concise instructions in step-by-step format for performing common tasks in Linux:

- Installing Linux (while preserving Windows)
- Internet, email and Web browsing
- Desktop publishing, word processing and spreadsheets
- Managing files, folders and your desktop
- Wallpaper, screen savers, colors and other preferences
- How to use the command line without being intimidated by it

For advanced users, there are also step-by-step sections on:

- Sharing Linux files with Windows computers over the network
- Using your computer as an Internet Web server
- Basic security and computers with more than one user
- Basic scripting in Linux
- Thin-client (network) computing

Finally, there's also a chapter on backing up your data and recovering from disasters.

Whenever possible, I try to give the exact steps needed for you to perform a specific task -- the exact words that you need to type, the exact icon that you need to click, the exact menu item that you need to choose, and so on -- in order to make Linux as painless as possible for users who are more familiar with Windows or Mac OS. I've also included as many illustrations as Sams would let me include -- in some chapters, nearly two a page, clearly labeled -- so that you can compare the steps that you need to perform to what you see on your own screen.

My intent was to write a book that family and friends could use to learn Linux -- both the basics and a few of the more powerful tools as well. I hope you enjoy it!

This book and the accompanying CD's were a fantastic way to get started with Linux. I recently started using Linux 3-4 months ago. I tried to install Mandrake 9.1 initially, but had problems with the KDE desktop. I then installed RH on my Dell Inspiron 2600 laptop, and everythign installed the first time. I have to admit that I did not opt for the M$/Linux dual-boot option, but the book does explain what you need to do to make it happen. After installation the book offers chapters to first get you used to using Linux in console mode, and then chapters that teach you how to use the desktop to do the same types of things. Overall, I thought the book provided a decent start to how to perform basic functions (via console/desktop) needed to make Linux work smoothly. If you want something more comprehensive try "Red Hat Linux 9.0 Bible", or "Red Hat Linux 9.0 Unleashed".

This book garners 5 stars from me because it covers all of the basic topics that a home user would ever face. Unlike other dollar-per-pound books on Linux, this book was actually done by a skilled communitor who has written books before. The fact that it has a section on programming and another on networking was a real plus. As usual, the "Dummies" series are actually quite good. I highly recommend this book over the individual "Red Hat Linux X for Dummies" since it goes in depth on a number of topics. What really sold me was the whole section in the book devoted to the kernel. This kind of information is essential to those of us who modify our systems to any great extent. I hope you like it, too!

I wrote this book because sometimes all you need is a good reference guide to get you started with Linux. I organize everything neatly into 9 mini reference guides and I cover Fedora Core, the latest incarnation of Red Hat Linux. Anything you want is pretty much covered in one of the minibooks - - all in plain English. Of course, if you are new to Linux, the first minibook is the one you turn to - - it shows you how to set up Fedora Core from the DVD bundled with the book. (By the way, because it's a DVD, you get everything -- both binary and source - - for Fedora Core.) After you install Fedora Core, you can jump to any minibook that interests you - - just look at the book's spine or the convenient tab marks on each page.

What you'll like most about this book is that you don't have to read it sequentially chapter by chapter, or, for that matter, even the sections in a chapter. You can pretty much turn to the topic you want and quickly get the answer to your pressing questions about Fedora Core, be it about using the OpenOffice.org word processor or setting up the Apache Web server.

Here's what I cover in the 880+ page book:

Book I: Red Hat Basics: Install, configure, and troubleshoot Fedora Core, then take it for a test drive.

Book II: Workstations and Applications: Explore GNOME and KDE, use the shell, check out the file system, explore the applications, and learn the editor.

Book III: OpenOffice.org: Learn to use the OpenOffice.org office suite.

Book IV: Networking: Connect to the Internet (dial-up, DSL, or cable modem), configure TCP/IP network, set up wireless Ethernets.

Book V: Internet: Use Internet services such as e mail, Web surfing, reading newsgroups, and FTP.

Book VI: Administration: Learn the basics of system administration, manage user accounts, install applications, use USB devices, rebuild the kernel.

Book VII: Security: Learn the techniques to secure the host and the network and do security audits.

Book VIII: Internet Servers: Manage Internet services such as the Apache Web server, the vsftpd FTP server, mail and news servers, DNS, NFS, and Samba.

Book IX: Programming: Learn the basics of programming in C, shell, and Perl.

Hope you find the book useful!

This book is the most simplistic and basic introduction to Linux available. Proffitt opted to write a book that steps you through the process of installing and configuring the software with explanations. As a result, this book is basically a step-by-step instruction manual on how to install and configure Red Hat Linux (version 7.0, which is included on CDROM).

No advanced or intermediate topics are covered. After finishing this book, you definitely won't be a guru, but you will have installation headaches behind you so you can start really exploring Linux.

This is a pretty good book for the beginning computer user. Much of the information can be found without too much difficulty out on the net, so if you feel like saving a few bucks go there. If you don't feel like messing with searching around buy the book

This was surpising painless on my Windows 98 machine. I used Partition Magic to prepare my disk to dual boot. The GUI lead me through this effortless installation on Linux. I avoided Linux for so long because of the talk of the installation. I bought this because I had to learn Unix but intalling Unix on Intel machine can be a [pain] because of driver issues. Linux has more drivers to support PC devices. Go to Partition Magic website to get inside on installing for dual boot. MOst people say to install Windows first then Linux in dual boot situation.

One of the big problems getting started with Linux is actually getting your hands on the software. Sure you can spend half a lifetime downloading the stuff, but why bother? This book (like many others, to be sure) includes the 2-CD "Publisher's Edition" of Red Hat Linux v9. (The full version is 3 CD's and includes a lot of other add-on packages, but believe me, all the essential stuff is here, along with plenty of other goodies to keep you busy for quite a while!).

The book itself is broken down into 24 chapters, representing one hour of study for each chapter. You may be able to *read* it in an hour, but to really understand it will take many more hours of self-study. Ideally, you'll read the chapter, then go back and review it while you're at you machine.

Each chapter does a reasonably good job of presenting the material. The book starts with the installation process, most of which is automated, so you get up and running pretty quickly. It then moves through basic text-console operations (using help, configuring the network, the help system and basic scripting). By Chapter 10 we're into the GUI (basic desktop configuration, using some of the built-in productivity programs and system tools, etc). By Chapter 17, we're getting into the 2nd level stuff (advanced configuration, security, job scheduling), with the last few chapters dedicated to very specific functions (Installing Software, Network File Services, Web and FTP Servers, and Troubleshooting). Each chapter concludes with a concise summary, a short Q&A section, then a brief Quiz (hey SAMS! Why not move the quiz answers to the back of the book in the next edition?)

Hsiao's writing style is comfortable and easy to read. He keeps it simple, without too much jargon, and presents the material clearly. Occasional typos and even a few inaccurate pictures (Figure 2.10 is a shot of the "Network Configuration" screen, when it's supposed to be about Disk Partitioning!) might be frustrating for some, but the diligent reader should be able to work through them without getting lost. I especailly liked the later chapters where much of the same material is covered twice: once for GUI users and again for command-line jockies (the preferred method if you're installing a server as opposed to a desktop machine).

If you're already comfortable with command line operating systems (DOS, NetWare, etc), you'll probably have an easier time moving to Linux that those who grew up in the Windows world. But in either case, this book will do a good job of easing you gently into it, giving you enough know-how to get the basics done, and empowering you to explore deeper. If you're already familiar with Linux, this book probably won't tell you much you don't already know. But for the rest of us, its a very good intro into this exciting and powerful alternative to Windows.

At [a little money], one gets a fully operational OS and a manual on how to use it effectively. While there are siginificant differences between Red Hat 8 and 9 (differences which the book overlooks), the 24 hour teaching format does enough to help one get the essentials of this OS. I would definitely recommend getting this book and the accompanying CDs to any Linux newbie.

I'm a newbie to linux. Have no prior knowledge. But used windows for a long time. OUtside with the GUI in RH9. It looks the same but underneath is different. I printed out many PDF's on redhat but found that the book was a better way to go and really helped you from installing to set up networks to applications to everything in between. I highly recommend for newbies. But for little people with a bigger SCOPE of linux should buy the book i'm currently reading "Bible for RH9". More knowledge and shows the true colors of RH9

This book is very hard to read - it needs a good editor to clean it up. The grammar is horrible - many sentences have words missing or words used incorrectly making it a hard read for anybody. Since this is a computer book and literary expectations are usually low enough I should instead focus on the content. There are many better books on configuring Linux. I'm sure the author has competent Linux skills but like the poor writing, the presentation of those skills is lacking. This book is a blackeye for any publisher that would allow something like this to escape editing.

The book offers some moderate help for Linux admins, but really fails to do either of the following well: 1) Explain terms and commands in an easy to understand method 2) Take advanced routines and make them work--the ip proxy example doesn't work with my version of RH.

This book is great - answers many questions on setting up a Linux internal (home) network. Its up-to-date and includes the authors own network example. A definite plus!

This is not a good "Starter Kit" for first time installers because it does not go into enough detail. The information about how to actually set up partitions is especially lacking and VERY important. Page 16 clearly states "In most cases the information in this hour should be sufficient to get you through the installation, but it does not go into very great detail. If you run into any problems or if you want more background information, be sure to read the Red Hat installation and reference guides.".

I bought this book because:
1. I found the Red Hat documentation lacking for first timers.
2. Sam's is usually pretty good.
3. I know I need a "starter kit' to reduce the learning curve.

This book would be greatly improved if it just added a few more pages to give step by step instructions on how to partition:
By operating system:
1. single boot
2. dual boot one drive
3. dual boot two drives

I will probably buy PartitionMagic to set up the partitions I want.

I hope the rest of the book is better. I am currently getting errors installing anaconda from the installation disk. Off to Red Hat....

Having an extensive programming background, I decided to learn Linux because my company is trying to move all their servers over from Windows machines. I got this book with the intention of learning some of the ins and outs of Linux. Well, this book is simply not good. It covers far too many topics without covering anything in depth. It gives some decent reference sources for more information, but it reads more like a Linux for Dummies book. For anyone who is able to do things as simple as set up their email, this book will frustrate you to no end in that it covers so much, it covers nothing. I don't know what is a good Linux book, but I don't think it is one that has you learn the system in 24 hours.

This book is written in a way that is easy to understand, but really does not go into much detail. The directions are sometimes incorrect and/or incomplete, e.g. the installation section does not explain how to create a boot disk nor does it direct you to the back cover where the directions are as well as a few path names being incorrect.