The Linux Problem Solver

(No Starch Press, 2000, 283 pages, ISBN 1-886411-35-2)
This book is all about Linux systems adminstration on the only sensible level- that of the shell and filesystem. If you ever wondered what all of those files in /etc do, this is a good place to start.

I cover some of the most common systems administration tasks - networking, remote file distribution and sharing, printing, backups, and user environments. I try not to beat around the bush; one could write loads on every single option for every program relating to each of these topics, but I feel this is counterproductive (especially since the manual pages usually go into gory detail anyway). I just hit you with what you need to know.

Embedded in the text are a number of common problems and their fixes. The placement of the problem boxes reflects where you're likely to encounter them.

Table of Contents:

  1. About This Book (introduction)
  2. Network Installation (and upkeep)
  3. NFS, NIS, and rdist
  4. MS-Windows and AppleTalk Networks; Web Proxy Server
  5. Printing
  6. Installing Software from Source Code
  7. Kernel Upgrades
  8. Backups and Crash Recovery
  9. User Environments
CDROM. The CDROM contains a bootable rescue/utility image, capable of miniroot (with a few small utilties) and extended miniroot (with extra tools on the CDROM that won't fit on a miniroot). It also contains supporting files for the text.

Errata.

Brian Ward -