A new edition of this title is available, ISBN-10: 0137142951 ISBN-13: 9780137142958
“Since I’m in an educational environment, I found the content of Sobell’s book to be right on target and very helpful for anyone managing Linux in the enterprise. His style of writing is very clear. He builds up to the chapter exercises, which I find to be relevant to real-world scenarios a user or admin would encounter. An IT/IS student would find this book a valuable complement to their education. The vast amount of information is extremely well balanced and Sobell manages to present the content without complicated asides and meandering prose. This is a ‘must have’ for anyone managing Linux systems in a networked environment or anyone running a Linux server. I would also highly recommend it to an experienced computer user who is moving to the Linux platform.”
—Mary Norbury, IT Director, Barbara Davis Center/University of Colorado at Denver, from a review posted on slashdot.org
“I had the chance to use your UNIX books when I when was in college years ago at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA. I have to say that your books are among the best! They’re quality books that teach the theoretical aspects and applications of the operating system.”—Benton Chan, IS Engineer
“The book has more than lived up to my expectations from the many reviews I read, even though it targets FC2. I have found something very rare with your book: It doesn’t read like the standard a technical text, it reads more like a story. It’s a pleasure to read and hard to put down. Did I say that?! :-)”—David Hopkins, Business Process Architect
“Thanks for your work and for the book you wrote. There are really few books that can help people to become more efficient administrators of different workstations. We hope (in Russia) that you will continue bringing us a new level of understanding of Linux/UNIX systems.”—Anton Petukhov
“Mark Sobell has written a book as approachable as it is authoritative.”—Jeffrey Bianchine, Advocate, Author, Journalist
“Excellent reference book, well suited for the sysadmin of a Linux cluster, or the owner of a PC contemplating installing a recent stable Linux. Don’t be put off by the daunting heft of the book. Sobell has striven to be as inclusive as possible, in trying to anticipate your system administration needs.”—Wes Boudville, Inventor
“A Practical Guide to Red Hat® Linux® is a brilliant book. Thank you Mark Sobell.”—C. Pozrikidis, University of California at San Diego
“This book presents the best overview of the Linux operating system that I have found. . . . It should be very helpful and understandable no matter what the reader’s background is: traditional UNIX user, new Linux devotee, or even Windows user. Each topic is presented in a clear, complete fashion and very few assumptions are made about what the reader knows. . . . The book is extremely useful as a reference, as it contains a 70-page glossary of terms and is very well indexed. It is organized in such a way that the reader can focus on simple tasks without having to wade through more advanced topics until they are ready.”—Cam Marshall, Marshall Information Service LLC, Member of Front Range UNIX Users Group FRUUG, Boulder, Colorado
“Conclusively, this is THE book to get if you are a new Linux user and you just got into RH/Fedora world. There’s no other book that discusses so many different topics and in such depth.”—Eugenia Loli-Queru, Editor in Chief, OSNews.com
The Best Just Became BETTER—Again! Completely Revised to Meet All Your Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Needs! Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are advanced operating systems. You need a book that’s just as advanced. This book explains Linux clearly and effectively—with a focus on features you care about, from system security and Internet server setup to Windows file/printer sharing. Best-selling author Mark Sobell starts at the beginning and walks you through everything that matters, from installing Linux using the included DVD to working with GNOME, KDE, Samba, sendmail, Apache, DNS, NIS, and iptables.
This edition contains extensive coverage, including full chapters on using Linux from the command line and GUI; even more thorough system administration and security guidance; and up-to-the-minute, step-by-step instructions for setting up networks and every major type of Internet server. Along the way, you learn the “hows” and the “whys.” Mark Sobell knows every Linux nook and cranny, has taught hundreds of thousands of readers, and never forgets what it’s like to be new to Linux. Whether you are a user, an administrator, or a programmer, this book gives you all you need—and more.Don’t settle for yesterday’s Linux book...get the ONLY book that meets today’s challenges and tomorrow’s!
Compared with the other Linux books out there, A Practical Guide to Red Hat® Linux®, Third Edition, delivers...
- Complete coverage of Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Deeper coverage of the command line and the GNOME and KDE GUIs, including GUI customization
- More practical coverage of file sharing with Samba, NFS, and FTP
- More detailed, usable coverage of Internet server configuration including Apache, sendmail, NFS, and DNS/BIND
- More state-of-the-art security techniques, including SELinux (Security Enhanced Linux), ACLs (Access Control Lists), firewall setup using the Red Hat GUI and using iptables, and a full chapter on OpenSSH
- More and better coverage of “meat-and-potatoes” system/network administration tasks
- A more practical introduction to writing bash shell scripts
- Complete instructions on how to keep your Linux system up-to-date using yum
- And much more...including a 500+ term glossary and a comprehensive index to help you find what you need fast!
Includes DVD! Get the full version of Red Hat’s Fedora Core 5 release!
Bestselling author Mark Sobell is back with the instruction readers need to build powerful Linux servers. This book features much more detailed coverage of the key Linux servers than the previous edition and the full Fedora Core 2 release on three CDs, the first to contain the hot new 2.6 Linux Kernel.
The best just became BETTER! Completely revised to meet all your Red Hat Linux needs!
Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are advanced operating systems. You need a book that's just as advanced. This book explains Linux clearly and effectively--with a focus on the features you care about, including system security, Internet server setup, and sharing files and printers with Windows systems. Best-selling Linux author Mark Sobell starts at the beginning and walks you through everything that matters, from installing Fedora Core using the included CDs to GNOME, KDE, Samba 3, sendmail, Apache, DNS, NIS, and iptables. Along the way, you learn the "hows" and the "whys." Whether you are a user, an administrator, or a programmer, this book gives you all you need and more. Mark Sobell knows every Linux nook and cranny, has taught hundreds of thousands of readers, and never forgets what it's like to be new to Linux.
Don't settle for yesterday's Linux book...get the ONLY book that meets today's challenges and tomorrow's!
Compared with the other Linux books out there, A Practical Guide to Red Hat® Linux®, Second Edition, delivers...
- The full Fedora Core operating system on 4 CDs (not the truncated "Publisher's Edition") AND complete coverage of Fedora Core and the 2.6 Linux kernel, PLUS coverage of Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Deeper coverage of GNOME and KDE, including customization
- More practical coverage of file sharing with Samba, NFS, and FTP
- Easier-to-follow coverage of Internet server configuration including Apache, sendmail, NFS, and DNS
- More up-to-date coverage of security, including SELinux (Security Enhanced Linux), OpenSSH, and firewall setup using iptables
- Better coverage of "meat-and-potatoes" system/network administration tasks
- A more practical introduction to writing bash shell scripts
- More complete coverage of configuring local and network printers using CUPS
- And much more...including a 500+ word glossary and a comprehensive index to help you find what you need fast!
Includes 4 CDs!
Get the full version of Red Hat's Fedora Core 2 release!
Preface.
1. Welcome to Linux.
The GNU-Linux Connection.
The Linux 2.6 Kernel.
The Heritage of Linux: UNIX.
What Is So Good About Linux?
Overview of Linux.
Additional Features of Linux.
Conventions Used in This Book.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
I. INSTALLING RED HAT LINUX.
2. Installation Overview.
More Information.
Planning the Installation.
How the Installation Works.
The Medium: Where Is the Source Data?
Downloading, Burning, and Installing a CD Set (FEDORA).
Rescue CD.
Collecting Information About the System.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
3. Step-by-Step Installation.
Installing Red Hat Linux.
Installation Tasks.
The X Window System.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
II. Getting Started with Red Hat Linux.
4. Introduction to Red Hat Linux.
Curbing Your Power: Superuser/root/Administrator Access.
A Tour of the Red Hat Linux Desktop.
Getting the Facts: Where to Find Documentation.
More About Logging In.
Controlling Windows II.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
5. The Linux Utilities.
Special Characters.
Basic Utilities.
Working with Files.
(Pipe): Communicates Between Processes.
Four More Utilities.
Compressing and Archiving a File.
Locating Commands.
Obtaining User and System Information.
Communicating with Other Users.
Email.
Tutorial: Creating and Editing a File with vim (vi).
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
6. The Linux Filesystem.
The Hierarchical Filesystem.
Directory and Ordinary Files.
Working with Directories.
Access Permissions.
Links.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
7. The Shell I.
The Command Line.
Standard Input and Standard Output.
Redirection.
Pipes.
Running a Program in the Background.
Filename Generation/Pathname Expansion.
Builtins.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
III. DIGGING INTO RED HAT LINUX.
8. Linux GUIs: X, GNOME, and KDE.
X Window System.
Using GNOME.
Using KDE.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
9. The Shell II: The Bourne Again Shell.
Background.
Shell Basics.
Separating and Grouping Commands.
Redirecting Standard Error.
noclobber: Avoids Overwriting Files.
Manipulating the Directory Stack.
Processes.
Parameters and Variables.
History.
Editing the Command Line.
Alias.
Command Line Expansion.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
10. Networking and the Internet.
Types of Networks and How They Work.
Communicate over a Network.
Network Utilities.
Distributed Computing.
Usenet.
WWW: World Wide Web.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
IV. SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION.
11. System Administration: Core Concepts.
System Administrator and Superuser.
Rescue Mode.
SELinux (FEDORA).
System Operation.
Useful Utilities.
Setting Up a Server.
nsswitch.conf: Which Service to Look at First.
PAM.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
12. Files, Directories, and Filesystems.
Important Files and Directories.
File Types.
Filesystems.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
13. Downloading and Installing Software.
system-config-packages: Adds and Removes Software Packages.
rpm: Red Hat Package Manager.
Installing Non-rpm Software.
Keeping Software Up-to-Date.
Keeping the System Up-to-Date.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
14. Printing with CUPS.
Introduction.
JumpStart I: Configuring a Local Printer Using system-config-printer.
JumpStart II: Configuring a Remote Printer Using CUPS.
Traditional UNIX Printing.
Configuring Printers Using CUPS.
The GNOME Print Manager.
The KDE Printing Manager.
Integration with Windows.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
15. Rebuilding the Linux Kernel.
Preparing the Source Code.
Read the Documentation.
Configuring and Compiling the Linux Kernel.
Installing the Kernel and Associated Files.
Rebooting.
Boot Loader.
dmesg: Display Kernel Messages.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
16. Administration Tasks.
Configuring User and Group Accounts.
Backing Up Files.
Scheduling Tasks.
System Reports.
Keeping Users Informed.
Creating Problems.
Solving Problems.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
17. Configuring a LAN.
Setting Up the Hardware.
Configuring the Systems.
Setting Up Servers.
More Information.
Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
V. Using Clients and Setting Up Servers.
18. OpenSSH: Secure Network Communication.
Introduction.
About OpenSSH.
OpenSSH Clients.
sshd: OpenSSH Server.
Troubleshooting.
Tunneling/Port Forwarding.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
19. FTP: Transferring Files Across a Network.
Introduction.
More Information.
FTP Client.
FTP Server (vsftpd).
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
20. sendmail: Setting Up Mail Clients, Servers, and More.
Introduction.
JumpStart I: Configuring sendmail on a Client.
JumpStart II: Configuring sendmail on a Server.
How sendmail Works.
Configuring sendmail.
In Addition to sendmail.
Authenticated Relaying.
Alternatives to sendmail.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
21. NIS: Network Information Service.
Introduction to NIS.
How NIS Works.
NIS Client Setup.
NIS Server Setup.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
22. NFS: Sharing Filesystems.
Introduction.
More Information.
NFS Client.
NFS Server.
automount: Mounting Directory Hierarchies Automatically.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
23. Samba: Integrating Linux and Windows.
Which Version of Samba?
Introduction.
About Samba.
JumpStart: system-config-samba: Configuring a Samba Server.
swat: Configuring a Samba Server.
Manually Configuring a Samba Server.
Accessing Linux Shares from Windows.
Accessing Windows Shares from Linux.
Troubleshooting.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
24. DNS/BIND: Tracking Domain Names and Addresses.
Introduction to DNS.
About DNS.
JumpStart I: Setting Up a DNS Cache.
JumpStart II: system-config-bind: Setting Up a Domain.
Setting Up BIND.
Troubleshooting.
A Full-functioned Nameserver.
A Slave Server.
A Split Horizon Server.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
25. iptables: Setting Up a Firewall.
How iptables Works.
About iptables.
JumpStart: Using system-config-securitylevel to Build a Firewall.
Anatomy of an iptables Command.
Building a Set of Rules.
A Rule Set Generated by system-config-securitylevel.
Sharing an Internet Connection Using NAT.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
26. Apache (httpd): Setting Up a Web Server.
Introduction.
About Apache.
JumpStart I: Getting Apache Up and Running.
JumpStart II: Setting Up Apache with system-config-httpd.
Filesystem Layout.
Configuration Directives.
The Red Hat httpd.conf File.
Redirects.
Multiviews.
Server Generated Directory Listings (Indexing).
VirtualHosts.
Troubleshooting.
Modules.
webalizer: Analyzing Web Traffic.
MRTG: Monitoring Traffic Loads.
Error Codes.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
VI. PROGRAMMING.
27. Programming Tools.
Programming in C.
Using Shared Libraries.
make: Keeps a Set of Programs Current.
Debugging C Programs.
Threads.
System Calls.
Source Code Management.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
28. Programming the Bourne Again Shell.
Control Structures.
Expanding Null or Unset Variables.
String Pattern Matching.
Filename Generation.
Builtins.
Functions.
Chapter Summary.
Exercises.
Advanced Exercises.
VII. APPENDIXES.
A. Regular Expressions.
Characters.
Delimiters.
Simple Strings.
Special Characters.
Rules.
Bracketing Expressions.
The Replacement String.
Extended Regular Expressions.
Appendix Summary.
B. Help.
Solving a Problem.
Finding Linux-Related Information.
Specifying a Terminal.
C. Security.
Encryption.
File Security.
Email Security.
Network Security.
Host Security.
Security Resources.
Appendix Summary.
D. The Free Software Definition.
E. The Linux 2.6 Kernel.
Native Posix Thread Library (NPTL).
IPSecurity (IPSec).
Asynchronous I/O (AIO).
O(1) Scheduler.
OProfile.
kksymoops.
Reverse Map Virtual Memory (rmap VM).
HugeTLBFS (Translation Look-Aside Buffer File System).
Remap_file_pages.
2.6 Network Stack Features (IGMPv3, IPv6, and Others).
Internet Protocol Virtual Server (IPVS).
Access Control Lists (ACLs).
4GB-4GB Memory Split: Physical Address Extension (PAE).
Scheduler Support for HyperThreaded CPUs.
Block I/O (BIO) Block Layer.
Support for > 2TB Filesystem.
New I/O Elevators.
Interactive Scheduler Response Tuning.
Glossary.
Index.