UNIX System Administration Handbook (3rd Edition)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 896 pages
• Published by: Prentice Hall PTR
• Edition: 3rd Edition September 8, 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0130206016
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0130206015
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 1.3 inches
• Weighs: 2.7 pounds

Product Review
The third edition of Unix System Administration Handbook stands as a fantastic Unix book, perhaps one that's destined for legend. It's arguably the best general Unix book around. Don't delay in getting it, and don't spend too much time flinching at the price; it's worth it. If you work with Unix--in any of its flavors--you'll use this book, and frequently.

How, then, to begin the song of praises for the book? Let's start with its comprehensiveness. The authors--a whole passel of them, but miraculously consistent in style--deal with every subject that's central to the Unix universe. Their diligence extends even to detailed coverage of subjects (like the Domain Name System (DNS)) that many authorial squads omit. System administrators need to understand it all--it's good to see everything covered in one book. Of course, you still will need more focused texts for really complicated situations, but the coverage here will carry you a long way.

Although you probably will want to read this book cover to cover eventually, you might first look at the index, which typically will guide you to a couple of sections. First, an overview of the subject that interests you will explain what the service or feature is meant to do, what it isn't meant to do, and how (in fairly general terms) it does its job. You'll find four sections--one each on the relevant configuration facts of the four emphasized Unix variants. These sections aren't presented as explicit sequences of steps (which invariably leave the reader asking, "But, what if " anyway), but as narratives that are interspersed with commands and configuration file listings. The approach works well, and it's made even better by the syntax summaries and conceptual diagrams that pop up now and then. --David Wall

Topics covered: Administration of Unix systems, with specific reference to Solaris 2.7, HP-UX 11.00, Red Hat Linux 6.2, and FreeBSD 3.4. Administration is a broad subject, and the authors touch on most of its aspects, including user and file operations (basic and advanced), hardware configuration, and kernel tweaking. Networking coverage includes basic connectivity, routing, server software, DNS, and security.

Book Description
This major revision of the best-selling and single most comprehensive guide to UNIX system administration is ideal as both an introductory tutorial for those new to system administration AND a day-to-day reference for “power administrators.” Practical and hands-on in approach, it covers every aspect of system administration from basic topics to UNIX esoterica and provides explicit instructions for dealing with the six most popular versions of UNIX. Covers topics such as The Filesystem; Controlling Processes; Serial Devices; Periodic Processes; Backups; Syslog and Log Files; Configuring the Kernel; TCP/IP and Routing; The Domain Name System; The Network File System; Sharing System Files; SLIP and PPP; The Internet; Security; Printing and Imaging; Disk Space Management; Accounting; and UUCP. Includes CD ROM with source code, sample programs, and other tools and utilities helpful to UNIX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION For system administrators and users of the UNIX operating system. ISBN of first edition: 0-13-933441-6. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
If you have the slightest interest in Unix system administration, you NEED this book... it will either equip you for the job or make you consider a new line of work. The changes in the IT industry over the last five years are reflected in the third edition of this book, as it now focuses only on Solaris, HP-UX, FreeBSD, and RedHat Linux. While this is a good cross-section of all *nixes, users of SunOS, OSF/1, or IRIX looking for platform-specific examples should probably stick with the second edition (and it comes with a CD). Other significant changes to the book include expanded coverage of networking (for example, TCP/IP and Routing are now two separate chapters) and a new chapter on "hosting the satanic banquet" of a mixed Windows/Unix environment (which I find invaluable). Also, topics of diminishing importance (such as Usenet) no longer have their own chapters, but are still covered in appropriate detail. I can not praise this book highly enough, and Linus Torvalds agrees with me. What more convincing do you need? ;-) Comment | | (Report this)