Message from Dean - May 8th 2007
I am currently testing out a new version of the APF Bridge Component - If you notice any errors within this demo store please drop me a line.
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.432
EAN: 9781593270353
Edition: 1
Format: Illustrated
ISBN: 1593270356
Label: No Starch Press
Manufacturer: No Starch Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 368
Publication Date: May 14, 2004
Publisher: No Starch Press
Studio: No Starch Press
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
How Linux Works describes the inside of the Linux system for systems administrators, whether you maintain an extensive network in the office or one Linux box at home. Some books try to give you copy-and-paste instructions for how to deal with every single system issue that may arise, but How Linux Works actually shows you how the Linux system functions so that you can come up with your own solutions. After a guided tour of filesystems, the boot sequence, system management basics, and networking, author Brian Ward delves into open-ended topics such as development tools, custom kernels, and buying hardware, all from an administrator's point of view. With a mixture of background theory and real-world examples, this book shows both "how" to administer Linux, and "why" each particular technique works, so that you will know how to make Linux work for you.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I have used Windows for many years and I know computers good enought to make money repairing them. I also do programming. But I have never worked in Linux. This book got me started very well. It contains the information you need to get started with Linux, and it tries to teach you how stuff works, not just what to click / what keys to press. And you can learn Linux from the terminal (command line) with this book, which is great. My first Linux is Ubuntu (the book does not focus on a specific distro), and I only work from the terminal, not with the gui.
Rating:  -
I was misled by the many glowing reviews into buying this book. This book is n't really about how linux works. Its more like a reference or manual - with very barebones descriptions followed by instruction. It doesn't go into depth at all about the 'how' or the 'why' as the title claims. In fact its just a regurgitation of the standard linux docs and HOWTOs (some of which were written by this author), the only advantage being that here you have them collected here between a spine. But their are websites that do this for you and do it for free to boot. The intermediate and advanced lessons at Linux.org/lessons cover everything in this book and much more in a better organized fashion. I would go there instead of buying this book.
Rating:  -
As a Linux user, How Linux Works is, I think, a "nice to have" technical book but certainly not an essential one.
I began using Ubuntu Linux just less than one year ago as my primary operating system. In addition to myriad online resources, I have about nine different Linux books stacked up near my desk.
However, only some of those books remain at or near the top of the pile. That is to say that one year later, a few of the books I've bought remain useful but most of them don't.
How Linux Works went to the bottom of the pile very quickly after I bought it and has remained there pretty much continuously since then. In fact, I only recently pulled it out of the stack to see if, now that I know a bit more about Linux, there might be anything interesting or useful to me. There wasn't.
So my take is that How Linux Works isn't a bad book, but it's one of the demonstrably least useful books I've ever owned...
Rating: -
This book was perfect for me. I use GNU/Linux at home and work, and I wanted to learn more about a wide range of topics (bootup, networking, kernel, etc.). For each section, "How Linux Works" gives a concise explanation of how things work, and covers a few commands and command-line options.
Brian Ward does a great job of choosing what to exclude, to keep the book technically useful but still readable. It's a very efficient way to move from beginner toward intermediate-level understanding.
I will use this book as a starting point for experimenting and learning more about GNU/Linux. I can get much more from man pages now that I know more commands, for example.
The title is a bit misleading. It covers much more than the Linux kernel, and would more aptly be named "How GNU/Linux Works." I also disagree that it's "what every superuser should know" - the discussion is aimed at intermediate-level users.
Rating: -
This would be a great learning tool for those who have had experience which some flavor of Unix and for those who have never seen Unix. I have experience with a proprietary Unix but wanted more specific details about Linux architecture and administration. It is a great review of basic unix concepts, processes, & commands with the added information that is Linux specific. The book uses a very organized approach with each chapter building on top of the previous one. Plus each topic is structured like a tutorial - so it is covered in a way that those who do not know unix - learn it. I am only half way through the book and have found it very beneficial. And my college age son who has only dealt with the Windows environment - is going to read it to get the basics about Unix and the details he needs for Linux usage.
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