From Book News, Inc.
For users who aren't satisfied with getting through a cookbook installation, this guide describes the inner workings of a Linux system beginning with the file system and boot process and covering advanced topics such as networking, firewalls, development tools, device management, shell scripts, and sharing printers with Samba. Though a determined beginner could learn a lot from this book, it is really intended for superusers and system administrators who want to improve their understanding of Linux and who are ready to start building their own kernel. The final chapter is a very helpful guide to buying Linux-compatible hardware.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

eWeek, June 2004
"the book covers all the basics, starting with the shell and ending with a great chapter about buying hardware."

SA Computer Magazine, September 2004
"does a great job of taking the reader through the more advanced parts of Linux ... a very informative read"

blogcritics.org, August 2004
"If I were to recommend a single user's manual for a Linux desktop, I would pick How Linux Works."

OpenSource-Book-Reviews.com http://www.opensource-book-reviews.com/book_reviews/by_publisher/No_Starch_Press/
5 stars, "One of the best basic books on learning Linux, written with the power user in mind."

Book Description
How Linux Works describes the inside of the Linux system for systems administrators, whether they 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.

Book Info
Discusses how Linux internals work, explaining how it boots, how networking works, how to customize the kernel, and what hardware to buy. Softcover.

About the Author
Brian Ward has been working with Linux since 1993, when he scraped together enough pennies for a secondhand 386. He has a Ph.D. in computer science from The University of Chicago, and currently works in San Francisco as a consultant and instructor. He is author of the Linux Kernel-HOWTO, The Book of VMware (No Starch Press), and The Linux Problem Solver (No Starch Press).

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Unlike, say, Windows, Linux practically begs you to understand it. Nothing￯﾿ﾽs hidden, and -- let￯﾿ﾽs face it -- if you don￯﾿ﾽt understand something about the underpinnings, you￯﾿ﾽll struggle. That￯﾿ﾽs why you should read How Linux Works.

This isn￯﾿ﾽt just a laundry list of features and commands, sprinkled with handwaving about how easy Linux is. It￯﾿ﾽs a primer on first principles. How the filesystem is organized (so you can actually find stuff). How Linux boots (so you can figure things out if there￯﾿ﾽs trouble). How to compile programs from source or build your own kernel (because one day you just might have to). What those essential system files do. What your user environment is. Seems like some folks were born knowing this stuff. If you weren￯﾿ﾽt, this book￯﾿ﾽs for you. Bill Camarda

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2003 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Whether you're a systems administrator or a home user, you need to understand how Linux internals work before you can really master Linux -- how it boots, how networking works, how to customize the kernel, and even what hardware to buy.

How Linux Works contains the kind of information normally handed down from wizards -- knowledge that comes from years of experience doing things the hard way. But instead of seeking the right incantation to make your system work, you can read How Linux Works to see how to administer Linux and why each particular technique works.

With its combination of background theory and real-world examples, How Linux Works will show you how to run your system instead of having your system run you.

SYNOPSIS