Unix Systems Books

The Best series of books to learn Network programming from. The BEST in the world. Nothing comes close. Richard Steven rocks always !

The coding examples weren't so hot in my opinion but this book
provided exactly what I needed to jump on the UNIX network programming bandwagon and remains a reference tool.

This is one of two must-have UNIX books ("UNIX Network Programming" and "Advanced Programming for the UNIX Environment"). After I had been using UNIX for a long time and was getting into more advanced UNIX programming about a decade ago, these two books were recommended. I checked around and made comparisons. Sure enough, I had to agree. I bought both of them and use them a lot, even when doing Windows programming.

As an example, I had to reference them again this weekend. I am using Visual Basic and C++ under Windows to connect some UDP/IP communications between applications. Once again, these books were indispensable (even after looking at online help, Google, Microsoft Knowledge Base and Experts-Exchange). Any Internet professional should have both of these books on their shelf.

If I want a dog, I won't buy a cat.
The good thing of a cat is, it won't bark.

Though book is preety straight forward.
It rarely talks about tricks,code is highly redundant in the sense that everywhere error checking is being done.
Which makes it highly boring is that if you are dealing with some kind of N/W installation or S/W trobuleshooting.
Talks much more on code,

This book is simply outstanding. It gives a thorough coverage of all the topics you need to secure your Linux system. The book also gives a number of practical case studies, and covers common hacking techniques. This is important since one cannot defend against attacks if you are not aware of how those attacks are executed.

If you are a Linux administrator, you simply must have this book. Its that simple. Not reading it would, in my opinion, constitute professional negligence for any Linux administrator.

Bob Toxen came out with a valuable book which is easy to comprehend, and can be implemented immediately into production systems. His examples are clear and direct to the point, which makes reading and understanding a breeze.

Whether you've been working with internet security or just starting, this book is a must have!

Real World Linux Security (2nd ed.) far exceeded my already-high
expectations, having known the author and his expertise for a
long time. Computer security is one of my secondary fields of
expertise, as is Linux, yet I learned a lot from this book that
I had previously overlooked -- and it helped me repair a system
that crackers had attacked.

Bob writes in a very readable way that manages to be simultaneously
entertaining and informative, a very rare combination.

He clearly realizes that a lot of readers will be in a hurry,
looking for advice when there's already trouble brewing, so
he starts with a very terse overview, going immediately to
chapter 2 "Quick Fixes for Common Problems. Chapters 4 and 5
cover the most commonly attacked subsystems and how they're
attacked.

That's already book-length; over 250 pages. It goes on
to Advanced Security Issues, Security Policies, Case Studies
(wherein I'm mentioned :-) scanning and monitoring your
system, regaining control, repairing damage, and much much
more than I can mention in the max 1000 words here.

Extremely extensive, and both the table of contents and index
are well done, something important to me for quick reference.

Too much of this book that is supposed to be about Linux Security is instead about paperwork, or general computer security, as opposed to linux/unix security. There are many books out there that do a far better job helping you create user policies and all that paperwork that the folks in HR want to have for legal purposes. SANS has a wealth of this stuff, and it's better to just read/copy it from online if you need that stuff. Instead, I'd prefered that this book had more Linux security 'grit'.

I'm not displeased with what is here, but the amount of the book that covers topics that are not useful or on point is dissapointing.

This book is at the top of my list when it comes to Linux security books. It
has more information on securing Linux than any other I've read. And when I
say Linux, I mean Linux not the plethora of applications and servers that run
on Linux. Granted, it touches on some of the more "standard" servers, like
Apache, Sendmail, and Samba. But the majority of the book is dedicated to
securing Linux, servers, and applications in general. So, if you are looking
for a book to tell you how to lock-down ProFTPD, this isn't it. Because of
this limited scope, unlike other Linux security books that try to cover
everything imaginable, it manages to cover the topic thoroughly.

The book starts off with "quick fixes" and then moves on to more advanced
security issues. This is done so that you can get your system relatively
secure as soon as possible, and deal with securing some of the more obscure
and complex things in a progressive nature. It deals with just about

everything from making your users choose hard to crack passwords, to defining
a written security policy, to collecting information about break-ins and
getting law enforcement involved. This is a real well rounded and robust
book.

Two things make this an awesome addition to any Linux user or administrator's
collection. First, the author knows Linux inside and out. I was quite
surprised to see security solutions that include kernel modifications as an
option. In addition to his knowledge of Linux, the author has a very jovial
writing style that you seldom find in books of a technical nature. I felt no
need to force myself to read this book, because the author's writing style
was engaging kept my attention. Second, the author (and Prentice Hall)
included a CD with the book that contains software that the author wrote or
modified (to extend its functionality and/or usefulness). The CD itself is
worth the price of the book alone.

This book is a good buy and I would recommend picking up a copy of this book
if you are running Linux in a business or home environment.

I have been using vi/vim for about six years, but had never gotten to the next level. This was mainly because I had kept my usage limited to a small subset of vi (which is even smaller for vim). And it's not just me - I have seen many people who use vi this way. The other reason is the fact that vi has a steep learning curve. And even when you learn something new, you have to use it often, as otherwise there is a good chance that you will forget it. I knew how powerful vi can be as a text editor, but somehow never used it to its full potential. Sometimes I used to search on the internet for vi/vim tips and stuff, and finally realized that all this learning will be much more effective if I have a book that has all the information in one place. I guess most people will think twice before buying a book on a text editor (at least, I did), whereas they won't hesitate if it was a book on a programming language. But an editor like vi, which is quite difficult to master, does need a book. Once you learn it, you will be amazed to see how powerful it is.

About the book, it is perhaps the best resource for someone at the beginner/intermediate level to learn about vi. There are not many books around on the subject, but this book does a great job. It is divided into two parts. The first part teaches vi and the second part talks about a few vi clones (including vim). The book (especially the first part) is organized in a very nice way. Things are presented in a certain order. Each chapter/section builds on the previous chapter/section. The second part deals with different clones of vi, like nvi, elvis, vim and vile. Of these, I use only vim, which is basically is superset of vi. The chapter on vim does a good job of discussing the essential features of vim in some details, although its not complete by any means. With vim having such a huge number of features, it demands a separate book for itself.

All in all, this is a great book. It is a worthwhile investment to make. You will end up doing things in minimum time and with just a few keystrokes. As another reviewer has said, vi is addicting. Use it and you will see for yourself!

Although this is the 6th edition of this book, while I was reading it, I still felt like I was reading the first edition, due to the clunky prose and the treatment of the material.

I know the authors feel compelled to write a book that describes the features of vi that are common on all platforms, but they end up producing a manual that appeals to the lowest common denominator. If you are still editing files on an old Unix machine using minicom and a dial-up link, this book is just right for you. If you are a modern vi user, trying to edit a large Linux project and need to learn some of the more powerful features of vim, you may be better off asking the office vi guru.

The community at large would be better served by a book dedicated to vim that does not have the problems of "Vi iMproved (VIM)" by Steve Oualline.

This book is a fine exposition of the vi editor with a perfect balance between density of information and friendliness of explanation.

The material is divided in two parts:
* Presentation of the vi proper.
* Presentation of the vi clones.

The value of the book resides in the first part (7 chapters). It explains vi so well that it is hard not to understand and like this well-designed editor.

************************************************************

Vi is an editor of many qualities: portability, price ($0!) and speed. When it comes to speed, file loading is quick, saving is quick, searching is quick, scrolling is quick - everything is quick with this guy!

Everything but... learning. The vi editor has had a bad reputation as being hard to learn and master. The modal behavior scares most people away and the wide range of commands may seem like hard to conquer. This could have been the situation *before* the amazing "Learning the vi Editor" by Lamb & Robbins existed - but now, when the book reaches the 6th edition, there's no excuse.

As "Learning the vi Editor" nicely explains, vi is a layer on top of the ex editor. Ex is a so-called "line-editor", used to edit files in a line-oriented manner. The two modes of vi are nothing else than an expression of this duality. In the so-called 'edit mode', ex is in control. In the so-called 'command mode', vi-proper is in control while redirecting the ':' commands to the underlying ex. Simple, isn't it?

The book exposes this philosophy behind vi with clarity, rigor and friendliness. Once you read this book you realize that, in fact, vi is a simple and perfectly logical editor. It has simple command sintax, simple command semantics and simple command composition rules.

************************************************************

All this information - and much more - can be found in the first part of "Learning the vi Editor". The second part is dedicated to various vi clones. Here the reader has the liberty to choose depending on which clone he/she feels most comfortable with.

Books which remove confusion and bring light to seemingly arcane areas are rare. "Learning the vi Editor" by Lamb & Robbins is one of them.

If your operating system is down, you don't have access to the "fancier" editors available that actually have interfaces that make sense to normal people. At this moment, particularly if you are in a system administrator position, you must know vi in order to access and modify files. It is so easy to pick up vi the wrong way - usually by word of mouth from someone who has learned vi the wrong way too. This book is the best I've found that is dedicated to properly teaching you the features of the vi editor and how to use them. O'Reilly has experimented with several book formats over the last ten years. This book is what I like to call "classic O'Reilly". It is the same format that most of their other books on Unix tools are generally written in, and if you have their books on sed and awk or Unix Power Tools, you know what I'm talking about.

If you have learned the wrong way, or if you are a bonified beginner, start at the beginning of part one. Don't skip anything. Even if you think you already know something, at least read through the section to make sure you know the best way of doing it. By the end of the first seven chapters you should be a pretty skilled user of vi. The book makes frequent use of practice exercises, answers common questions, and gives advice on what to do when you encounter common problems. By the time you finish you'll even be writing ex scripts and modifying C/C++ code in the vi editor without accidentally inserting all kinds of control characters that will drive programmers crazy once "the real editor" is back on line.

Part two starts at chapter eight and concerns itself with all of the various extensions to vi that are available via the four most popular vi clones available when this book was published. You do get some enhancements such as multi-window editing and even GUI interfaces by using them, but the cost is an increase in the confusion factor that this book tries to clear up as much as possible. If you are not planning on using a vi clone, you may want to just file this section of the book away in case the subject ever comes up.

Part 3 consists of several useful appendices. Four of the appendices are still useful, but the fifth, on vi and the Internet, is a bit dated. I highly recommend this book if the vi editor is in your future, and if you have system administrator duties, believe me it is. You might also want to invest in the very handy "vi Editor Pocket Reference" by the same author. I have mixed feelings about that one. Everything is there in a concise format, but until you get used to it, information can be hard to find.

This book is well written and laid out. Whether or not you are a beginner or advanced user coming to vi, this is a valuable tool for getting the most out of vi.

vi is by no means an easy or intuitive editor, but with a little practice, it can greatly improve your efficiency. The book does a great job of taking you through a logical progression of how to start using the product.

Also, the support for the derivatives of vi is a huge plus. The vim chapter is excellent and I learned several tips and trick that I now use on a daily basis.

As usual, O'Reilly hits another one out of the park.

You can't go wrong having this book. It has already helped me solve a couple of problems I was having with Ubuntu Linux. I am not an administrator but a home user and this book has already come in handy. It's not a bad addition to any Linux library.

It is a great handbook. It covers all the major Linux flavors on the market. The book is easy to follow with ton of information. I recommend it.

This book is a good handbook. I am using it as part of a course of Operating Systems and C++ programing. It cover very good the main aspects that an student need to know about Linux Administrations, and is a good start point to search in a deep for specific documentation about any particular Linux topic. Similar than the Unix administration Handbook, this book explain the main aspects in the most popular Linux flavors.

The authors have a complete and consistent way to cover each topic in the different chapters.

This book is extremely well written and packed full of useful tidbits. It is not a collection of "HOWTOS", but rather an informative guide to Linux administration. It provides easy to understand explanations of the various aspects of the job. This is a must have book for any entry level to junior Linux sysadmin.

This book was a gift for my son in CA who works for Yahoo. He actually had the book on his Wish List at the top! He received it for his December birthday, and loves it. I wouldn't be surprised if he has it on the plane he and his wife are in, heading for a week in Thailand. It was Greek to me, but he loves it!

Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming

The book give a solution to one of the most biggest problem of a Linux junior Sys Admin:
How to automate tasks and decrease the amount of time that "waste" for
Regular operations.
Although from first look, the book content look like a "Boring Staff", after reading
It, the reader would improve his theoretical and practical capabilities -
And may help to itself to focus it the real job.
The book give a lots of useful examples that provide a good background
To the theoretical fields.
The only disadvantage from my point of view is that this book don't
Cover Perl and Python (and Optional PHP).
Although one book may not cover all, I hope that the author will write
A second volume that will cover this nice script languages.

This book is exactly what the title states - a practical guide to Linux commands, editors and shell programming. It doesn't teach you how to make all the server software run on your machine. But it does give an excellent and detailed explanation of the commands in the Bash and TC shells, and explains how to write shell scripts. The details the author goes into with the two most common editors (VI and EMACS) was just about right for me. He also has a 250 page reference section on each command in Linux. It's been several years since I used Unix, so this was a great refresher session for me, and it makes a good reference manual when I'm writing new scripts.

The claim that this is a "practical guide to Linux commands . . ." is an overstatement. The coverage of commands is relatively minimal. This volume doesn't really get into any depth or go beyond basic commands. The Command Reference (Part V of the book) is incomplete. It definitely is not a guide to using Linux.

Several editors and a bit of programming are covered , though again the coverage is cursory.

Overall, this is probably an okay reference for experienced Linux users. For people like me who don't use Linux often or in-depth, it is frankly not of very much use.

Jerry

I found this book to be just ok - it covers the basics of Linux and many important/frequently used commands but I am remotely satisfied with this book because the author focuses on stuff that many users probably will find less useful.

The learning curve is quite steep if you're relatively new to Linux - the author is describing very basic stuff like GNU, Linux file systems, simple shell commands and such, and then suddenly rushes into complicated shell programming and scripts.

Few examples from this book that I know I will never use but who knows, other users may find that:

-This book is great if you're into emacs and vi(m) since it dedicates over 100 pages on these two text editors but I prefer using nano so for me these chapters were more or less wasted.
-This book is great if you're into shell programming.

Why spend 100+ pages on vim and emacs when at least some pages could've been dedicated to a Security Section that this book doesn't have?
Perhaps emacs and vim are important because programming requires a good set of text editors..?

The Appendix is great though - there's an extensive collection of commands that can be useful for all newbies and intermediate users.

Someone will probably flame me for this review, saying I should've read the book's title before purchasing it. Yes, you are right - I should've.
But then again, if this book clearly was written for intermediate users, why mention GNU, basics of Linux and its file systems and so forth to begin with?

This is a book that I have been looking for for a long time. I have been looking for a book that takes me into the command line world of Linux but in a methodical way describing all the little options, tips, tricks but also the principles that make Linux shell so powerful.

Book begins with a brief history of Linux and very informative, relevant overview of the system architecture.
It proceeds with the in depth, hands on walkthrogugh the environment, shells, and command line utilities.
There is a very useful and every-day practical exercise at the end of the each chapter.

Book continues with in depth chapters on Linux filesystem, the shell, editors (emacs and vi) and the programming environment including (g)awk and sed.

Book concludes with excellend command reference section (300 pages) and Appendix on regular expressions (superb),
getting help with Linux and keeping the system up to date (using yum and bit torrent).

I could go on at length to describe what this book is but trust me, a promotion for the book that you see on Amazon is accurate. This book is as good as it sounds. It is reviewed by 42 reviewers on Amazon and average score is 4.5 stars out of 5. I give it 5.

Excellent program - I just decided that I would not be able to use Linux while in school

This book is a great book to start-up on your Unix commands. The examples re-iterate their meaning and I think this book is a great start to the world of Unix.

The X Win discussion though I thought could have been at the end of the book instead of the beginning.

As someone who has only worked with Windows, the thought of needing to learn UNIX was daunting at first. I knew the power of the command prompt from the days of DOS, and needed somewhere to get a strong foothold. This book is an excellent place for newbies of UNIX to begin. It takes what any and every user will need and explains just enough to get simple jobs done. It leaves each topic explaining that there is much more, but that is beyond the scope of this book. O'Reilly set out to make a beginner's guide, and that is what you should expect. Advanced users will be bored, but that isn't who this book is aimed at. Doubled with "UNIX in a Nutshell", I have been able to find just what I need to get off to a good start. Highly Recommended!!!!

I found this book nominally useful. I have found better references that give an easier way to learn UNIX and aren't such a drag to read. It is OK if you need a cross reference, but to understand and learn the system keep looking. I suggest UNIX Power Tools by Power, Peek, O'Reilly & Loukides.

I didn't know anything about Unix at all. After reading the reviews here, I decided on this book. It's for beginners like me. After finishing the book and practicing the exercises, I believe that I'm ready to go to the next level. And I didn't need any over-priced DVDs to go with it (and neither do you!)

If I could only have one UNIX reference book this one would be it. I literally use it all the time.

This is the first book to go to for unix syntax. It contains everything you need on Unix commands. It's the Unix Bible as far as I'm concerned.

I like easy to read book and I also had assumed that learning UNIX is not necessarily has to be a struggle. This book stood up to my expectations almost perfectly: it is very well written and clearly expressed work. It does not overwhelm with technical details and does not press too much. I also followed an advise in someone review and purchased "UNIX Essentials" DVD that is complete unix course recorded. These two nicely complement one another. You watch it and you read it. If you didn't catch it from the first try you watch it again and read it again. In two months I found myself confident to that extend that gave advises to our system administrator and he accepted them because there were subjects that he wasn't completely sure. What I can say, in three month I passed my first interview and got a job! Sure it is a way to start there much of more advanced reading that will take over you with a time however these two provide you with the BASIS!
I can't overstate how much I have learned from them. Don't be naive, though. You will have to learn and memorize many things. The fact of owning neither book nor DVD will not make you knowledgeable, but if you will work it trough, there is a chance you will surprise many people around!

It is nice book! It is well written and it covers many useful subjects. This book offers as much for a beginner as it is possible to convey from the printed page. I pared this book with "UNIX Essentials" DVD that I have found here on Amazon and what is a nice couple they made! I learned in first two weeks that much that consulted our system administrator on some subjects! While the book provides more of conception the DVD course contributed to my workflow, they even have sent diplomas to me!
Try this book and work it through, it is a sure way to get some grip on UNIX.

Let me just start out by saying that I have taught Solaris in the past to several international companies and highly respectable universities. I always provide each student with a copy of this book because I put that much value into it.

There is no other Solaris book out there that covers the most often-used Solaris commands with such intricate detail and organization as this book does. The only drawback to this book is that the author stopped at Solaris 7. Considering that right now Solaris is up to version 9, I so very much wish that Mr. Robbins continued this book into Solaris 8 and 9.

The beautiful part about Solaris, however, is that even Solaris 8 and 9 contain most if not all of the commands that are listed in this book, so it still becomes an absolute necessity for any Solaris administrator. The complete chapter on vi also will be a welcome sight to many as well the separate chapters on the different operating system shells.

I must warn that this is NOT a book for those who are looking to get started in Solaris. This is purely a reference manual. In effect, this book is Solaris on-line help (man pages) in a beautifully organized compendium of the essential Solaris commands.

If you are a Solaris administrator, regardless of whether you're a novice or an "expert", you need to have this book at your desk at all times. It's completely indispenable.

This book combined with the LINUX bible are a must have for anyone just beginning to learn LINUX. They will walk you through the whole transition from VISTA (viruses, intruders, spyware, Trojans, and adware) or any other MS products.

Very easy reading, although I thought the history was a bit too long. Everything explained not just in Linux/Ubuntu but also the comparison phrasing from windows.

Good first book for new to computer and Linux types. Lots of history, purpose, flavors and what they do. Touches on most subjects well enough to get you started and help you focus on what you will need help on next. As a long term computer/system user I've ordered more specific books already. Looking online will get you most of what's here, but this concentrates it.
Also you will find lots of info online and most of it is excellent.
Good book to recommend to decision making users/managers to help them decide Windows isn't the only choice. Has a ver 7.04 CD.

The book is very basic. If you like hardcopies yet don't wish to print pages from Ubuntu's site then perhaps you'll be satisfied. The chapters on Ubuntu's founding are well-written and honoring to their contribution to the computing world. But, as with setup details and troubleshooting help, all can be found on the site.

Simply a great book for the new to Linux based operating system user. Ubuntu is a fine operating system on par if not better in most respects to Windows XP or Vista. Best of all it's free. There are several versions of Ubuntu out now and the book is a usefull guide for all. It is really great for the one that comes on the disk that is free in the back of the book. If you want a new twist in computing get this book.

...this is a great start/introduction. The "Dummies" and "Visually" books were too simple for my needs but this one explained everything from an NT standpoint.

I normally don't write reviews, but this book was the best Linux book for beginners that I've ever read. Dont let the cheesy title fool you. I'm well past the beginner level at this point, but this is the book that started me off. I would highly recommend this book for someone trying to learn Linux.

This was one of the first books I picked up when I decided to take the plunge into Linux. Being an MCSE and Windows administrator, I drastically improved my understanding of how Linux is similar, and differs from Windows. If you're a Windows guy or gal who wants to make sense of Linux, I highly recommend you pick up this book!

The overall content of the book is adequate for those new to Linux but is a bit dated (Written for OS versions well over two years ago) With new book available I would recomend buying Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide, a great book. This book focuses entirely too much on Windows rather than Linux which is what it is supposed to be about.

This book is excellent. I am a long time Windows NT/2000 programmer / administrator. This book helps in you learn linux in windoze terms.

He starts off with a very nice and informative history on Linux and unix. Then does a fairly decent job of describing open source and how linux can grow and flourish in this environment. I mean, as former M$ guy, I couldnt quite figure out how Linux could thrive and continue to make forward progress in the mehem that seemed to be open source, where any one ant anytime could modify the source and start their own distribution. He answers that question quite nicely.

He then gives a detailed overview of all Linuxes and which one might be best for you.

Bottom line--
This is an excellent started book, that will give any NT admin the basics of learning Linux. The only flaw? The material is dated, Redhat 7.2 is out and he discusses Redhat 6.2, the same with all the other linux distros he talkes about, they are all older versions. None of which has mattered so far, I just wish it was over the newer stuff, maybe he will come out with an updated version? Too, this is only a beginner Linux book, get this with the intention of getting a solid learning foundation in Linux, then you can look elsewhere for a comprehensive book on Linux. I suggest Wrox, they are the best learning books I have ever read.

Pros--
1) Concise
2) Covers all major versions
3) Does not overload you with Linux only speak
4) Explains linux in NT terms
5) Comes with Mandrake distro
6) Extremely converstional writing style very easy to read

Cons--
1) Covers dated material
2) A bit thin on setting up servers, could go into a bit more detail, and does not offer any trouble shooting tips when doing so
3) Ugly blue cover (heh, my opinion only :o)) )

I'm still studyng for the exam an this book if full of tips and information i will centaintly use, clear content and practical examples, it's a must if you are planning to get the LPI Certification.

This book is directed to people who wants to take the LPI certification. So, if you just want to learn linux, don't buy it.
Anyway, good book. Recomended.

I found this book is invaluable to learn all the ins and outs of Linux and administration. There may be better books to teach you how to take the LPI test but this book will last you thru your system admin career.

I have just finnished exams 101 (730 points/800) and 102 (740 points/800).
Theese seems to be quite good scores, according to the LPI website, and i owe it much to LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell, 2nd edition.
The book is well written, with lots of relevant information if you want to pass the LPI level 1 exams. And even better, its a very nice book to use as reference in system administration tasks.

However, like someone has pointed out earlier. It doesn`t quite cover 100% of the exams. More like 85%, so if you want 700+ scores, i advice you to seek additinal literature on the web. There is plenty.

But this book is a great foundation and i am using it now on 201 and 202.

Folks,

The description from Amazon and the Editorial reviews are a cut/paste job, and they probably refer to the FIRST edition. I don't have much to say about the book (just received it), except I thought this might be useful:

As of June 2007, this book includes preparation for BOTH LPIC-1 AND LPIC-2 exams, i.e. exams 101, 102, 201, and 202.

So it's better than the description. I'm giving it 5 stars because you have to rate the book if you want the review published, and no O'Reilly product has ever disappointed me.

Enjoy :)