Unix Systems Books

Clearly stated and well written book. Good potential textbook.

Whitehead's book is well suited for a new linux sysadmin, who wants an easy introduction to her main tasks on the machine. The text is straightforward and accompanied by well chosen illustrations. The book centres on using KDE as the desktop UI, instead of Gnome. Perhaps it could also have given more equal coverage to the latter?

If you are perhaps coming from a Microsoft computer background, then the types of tasks should be familiar. Like setting up the machine with an IP address on a network. Or getting the linux OpenOffice running. {It's the analog of the Microsoft Office suite.)

However, experienced linux sysadmins should avoid this book. For you, it will be redundant.

I haven't used UNIX to any extent for nearly 20 years. I was forced to administer our UNIX based internet/intranet site when our UNIX geek/guru quit. I used to HATE UNIX. Hansen's book was very helpful in getting up and running again in a UNIX environment. This book helped me to, almost, like UNIX again. I'd highly recommend it to novice UNIX users or users who need to update their skills. Mr. Pat Vitone

I was very impressed with RedHat's complete and understandable approach to the installation and configuation of their Linux distribution.

I find this book to be a valuable resource... I've been using SAMBA for over two years now, and after I read the book I learned some facts that I had never seen before which were the cause of problems. After reading the book and using the information in it, the problems went away. I recommend this book to any new SAMBA user or any admin interested in SAMBA. I also feel it would be a valuable reference for the more experienced SAMBA users as well...

In the world of graphics one does not want to be stuck with just a command line. Break out of the restraint with KDE. I personally have used CDE for many years. However the opportunity came to use KDE and it is easy to fall in love with.
This book is like the 101 of KDE telling all the little secrets of how it works and how to get started. It even comes with a CD of goodies to get you up and running in the 24 hours implied in the title.
The subject of KDE is too large for an in-depth review so I will just cover the 24 hours.
Hour 1 Understanding the KDE Project
Hour 2 Installing KDE from Scratch
Hour 3 Starting and Exiting KDE
Hour 4 Reviewing the KDE Setup
Hour 5 Exploring the Desktop
Hour 6 Managing the KDE Environment
Hour 7 Configuring KDE Options
Hour 8 Using KDE Themes
Hour 9 Managing Files in KDE
Hour 10 Learning More KGE File Management
Hour 11 System Administration for KDE
Hour 12 Using KDE Utilities
Hour 13 Managing Network Connections in KDE
Hour 14 Managing Printing in KDE
Hour 15 Accessing the internet from KDE
Hour 16 Using Command Line in KDE
Hour 17 Using Graphics Utilities in KDE
Hour 18 Using KDE Text Utilities
Hour 19 Using KDE Business Tools
Hour 20 Using KDE for Entertainment
Hour 21 Finding and Installing Additional KDE Applications
Hour 22 Integrating Non-KDE Applications into KDE
Hour 23 Getting Started with KDE Development
Hour 24 Developing for KDE

Also a good section comparing KDE to GNOME.
All in all this is a good starting place short of taking a formal course.

This is the second book of the author's set; Book 1, "The SAS Workbook" contains the problems and context for the solutions presented here in Book 2, "Solutions" (the two-volume set is available at Amazon). I don't know why anyone would purchase the Solutions book only instead of the set (perhaps a copy of the SAS Workbook" is available).

These are challenging problems, probably most appropriate for the intermediate to intermediate-advanced SAS programmer. The answer book is limited to solutions, with little or no discussion of pitfalls, alternatives, or the logic behind the answers. Therefore, if you do not immediately understand the solution, you will need to work backwards, pick it apart, or use some other technique (like asking someone). This somewhat limits its audience to those who are more experienced. I hope either Cody or someone else will have a more instructive answer book in the future. Still, at this time, with so few books like this available, this is a great way to test and expand your knowledge. (Although you may also wish to examine the shorter but cheaper "test" book by Robert Virgile, also available from Amazon.)

The four sections of the "Workbook" are "Data Step Programming," "Procedures," "SAS Programming Techniques," and "Statistics Problems." Each of these sections has several brief topics; for example, Data Step Programming includes combining data sets, using IF-THEN/ELSE and other logical operators, numerical functions, dates, arrays, and working with longitudinal data.

Why two separate books? Cody explains that the "solution is obvious once you see it" and "the learning potential of the book is lost." He therefore "removed the temptation for students to flip to the back of the book." (Come now, aren't we more disciplined than that?). A more persuasive argument is that "teachers may...feel more comfortable in assigning problems without the solutions too close at hand." Recommendation: Buy the set, especially if you are an intermediate to advanced user.

This book is a bit of a dry read, and is now dated, but it contains a wealth of information that anyone who uses Jumpstart to build Solaris systems. The concepts are great for customizing Jumpstart, especially if you are already using JASS, and helps explain the different variables available to the sysadmin.

I found this to be a very useful book when first learning SCCS. This book shows the reader how to get the most out of the source control software that comes free with many Unix systems. Many projects could save a lot of money by implementing the ideas in this book instead of purchasing an expensive commercial source control system.

A good book for beginning a network with SUSE but not very much info on networking to anything other than Linux and Unix. Perhaps that was intentional. Be that as it may, it truly did help me set up a small Linux network in short order. It guided me through DNS problems I was having and cut through DHCP in Linux like butter! Chapters on Gateways and Security are really helpful. If a large Linux network is needed, this book would be just as helpful, because all the info still applies. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy this book because the down to earth style of writing, clear explainations of Linux terms and usage of the command interface. I would have given it 5 stars, but I was hoping for a little more info on networking with Windows products. I highly recommend this book to those who have chosen SUSE as their brand of Linux who are interested in networking Linux machines.