Now Brian and Tom's Linux Book is available as a 12 M single download tarball. Get the book here, then type tar zxf /path/to/downloaded/filename to extract the whole mess onto your hard drive, under a single btlb directory.

The Preface

PLEASE READ : Why this is FREE! :: Bits of the original preface :: The technology of writing :: Acknowledgements

Part 1 - Linux and Installation

01 - Open Source, Linux, Distributions and OpenLinux

Linux - seeing the big picture :: Understanding the Linux advantage :: Looking into the future of Linux :: Examining Linux distributions :: Deciding on OpenLinux

02 - Before You Install

Setting your goals :: Hardware considerations :: Software decisions :: Planning your installation

03 - Installation

-- Large Chapter Warning -- With all graphics, Chapter 3 is about 1.8 Meg!

Making space - partitioning and tools :: Choosing a method of installation :: Reviewing installation types :: A walk through the Lizard graphical installer :: First boot

04 - Updating OpenLinux

Preparing for the Upgrade: Concepts :: Using the Upgrade Script :: Recovering from an Upgrade :: Security Issues :: Our Recommendation

05 - Installation Troubleshooting

The Troubleshooting Process :: Questions Prior To Installation :: Installation Difficulties :: The Post-Installation Blues :: Uncategorized Challenges :: Other Troubleshooting Resources

06 - Changing System Configurations

Configuring the machine to a specific task :: The difference between installation types :: Building a special purpose machine :: Adding and removing software :: Configuration tools

07 - Kernel Management

Building a new kernel: the quick start guide :: What is the Linux kernel? :: Reasons to upgrade :: Setting up the sources :: Kernel configuration :: Compiling the Linux kernel :: Installing and Testing the new kernel

Part II - The OpenLinux GUI

08 - Welcome to KDE

Introducing KDE :: Exploring the desktop :: Configuring KDE :: Variations on a theme

09 - KDE Menus

Introducing KDE's menus :: Exploring the menus :: The foundations of KDE's menus :: Using the KDE Menu Editor

10 - KDE Applications

KDE File Manager :: KWrite :: KMail :: KDevelop :: KIllustrator

11 - Office Suites for Linux

Working with Office Suites :: Applixware Office 5.0 :: Corel WordPerfect Office 2000 for Linux :: Sun StarOffice 5.2 :: Suite Success (and Failure)

12 - The Future of OpenLinux

Installing Caldera's Linux Technology Preview :: Highlighting the Linux 2.4 kernel :: Introducing KDE 2.0 :: The Gnome alternative

13 - GUI System Management

System Administration without the CLI :: COAS :: Webmin

14 - GUI Tips, Tricks and Techniques

OpenLinux and the wheel mouse :: KDE 2.0 and eDesktop 2.4 :: KDE 2.0 highlights :: Adding other window managers :: Some GUI philosophy

Part III - Basic Linux: Knowing the Command Line

15 - Consoles and Terminals

Terminals and Consoles :: Virtual Consoles :: Virtual Terminals and Konsole :: Introducing the shell :: Running Bash

16 - Text Editors

Vim :: Emacs :: Joe

17 - User Commands

Help and System Information Commands :: Directory, File, Link, and Permission Commands :: Process and Scheduling Commands :: Communication and Networking Commands :: Text Processing Commands :: Filter Commands :: Printing Commands :: Mail from the Command Line

18 - Scripting

Shell Scripts :: Bash Built-in Commands for Scripting :: Pipes and Redirection Revisited :: Execution :: Scripts and Cron :: awk and sed :: Perl :: Tcl/Tk

19 - System Administration on the Command Line

Superuser Mode :: Configuration Files :: Disks and Filesystems :: Startup and Shutdown :: User Management :: Services :: Backup :: Adding Software :: Time

20 - The Zen of Administration

The role of the system administrator :: Developing the appropriate mindset :: The challenges of system administration :: Ethics and responsibility :: The never-do's of system administration :: Knowing your network :: File system planning :: Installing software

Part IV - System Security

21 - Understanding System Security

Implementing Security :: Securing servers versus workstations :: Using firewalls :: Evaluating your security systems

22 - Security and Privacy Software

Security and Privacy on OpenLinux :: PortSentry :: Tripwire :: Aide :: GPG :: PGP :: SSH :: OpenSSH

Part V - Working with Linux Servers

23 - Serving Inside the Firewall

Running DHCP services :: Setting up a print server :: A brief intro to Samba :: Working with NFS :: A glance at NIS

24 - Serving to the Internet

Understanding DNS :: Managing e-mail :: Providing FTP :: Apache Introduced :: Running News Servers

25 - Using Sendmail: An Introduction

Examining a message :: Getting started with Sendmail :: Using runtime files: aliases, sendmail.cw, and more :: Running Sendmail :: Configuring Sendmail with Webmin :: Exploring alternatives to Sendmail :: Finding Sendmail resources

26 - Serving Web Pages with Apache

Introducing Apache :: Building Apache from source :: Addressing security and authentication issues :: Virtual hosting with Apache :: Logging and monitoring Apache :: Consulting Apache resources

27 - Running Samba - Windows Spoken Here

Introducing Samba :: Bringing a Samba server online :: Configuring Samba with SWAT :: Compiling Samba from source :: Exploring advanced configuration options :: Using client-side Samba from Linux :: Using Samba's command-line utilities

TABLE OF CONTENTS