Essential System Administration, Second Edition

By Æleen Frisch
September 1995
Pages: 784
ISBN 10: 1-56592-127-5 | ISBN 13: 9781565921276
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Book description

Covering all major versions of Unix, this second edition of Essential System Administration provides a compact, manageable introduction to the tasks faced by everyone responsible for a Unix system. Whether you use a standalone Unix system, routinely provide administrative support for a larger shared system, or just want an understanding of basic administrative functions, this book is for you. Offers extensive sections on networking, electronic mail, security, and kernel configuration.
Full Description

Essential System Administration takes an in-depth look at the fundamentals of Unix system administration in a real-world, heterogeneous environment. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced administrator, you'll quickly be able to apply its principles and advice to your everyday problems. The book approaches Unix system administration from the perspective of your job -- the routine tasks and troubleshooting that make up your day. Whether you're dealing with frustrated users, convincing an uncomprehending management that you need new hardware, rebuilding the kernel, or simply adding new users, you'll find help in this book. You'll also learn about back up and restore and how to set up printers, secure your system, and perform many other system administration tasks. But the book is not for full-time system administrators alone. Linux users and others who administer their own systems will benefit from its practical, hands-on approach. This second edition has been updated for all major Unix platforms, including SunOS 4.1, Solaris 2.4, AIX 4.1, Linux 1.1, Digital Unix, OSF/1, SCO Unix Version 3, HP/UX Versions 9 and 10, and IRIX Version 6. The entire book has been thoroughly reviewed and tested on all of the platforms covered. In addition, networking, electronic mail, security, and kernel configuration topics have been expanded substantially. Topics covered include:
  • Starting up and shutting down your system
  • Adding new users
  • Managing processes
  • System security
  • Organizing and planning file systems
  • Planning and performing backups
  • Setting up pointers
  • TCP/IP networking
  • Setting up email
  • Adding terminals and disk drives
  • Setting up and using the accounting system

Browse within this book

Cover | Table of Contents | Index | Sample Chapter | Colophon


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Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  December 08 2001
Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
Submitted by Tom Ng   [Respond | View]

The great book for system administrator and power user. It is easy to read and understand.


Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  September 21 2000
Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
Submitted by Larry Barkey   [Respond | View]

Finding myself about to embark on another SA-type assignment, I was wondering if "the bible" had been updated. No ... but ... Flipping through the pages, I found myself discovering topics which, say four years ago, I ignored due to ignorance. Today, armed with knowledge gained elsewhere, I am astounded by the practical tips, the appeal to intellect, and a general sense of wonder/concern of how anyone could possibly know all this.

I would include it on my top five books if stranded on a desert island -- assuming of course I have a computer running UNIX (and a container full of batteries) on said island.


Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  August 24 2000
Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
Submitted by Jake Brown   [Respond | View]

I have two copies of this book, one at the office and one at home. It is the most usefull book I have. Very clear, even for a newbie to Unix. I do wish a more updated version would come out, as Liux and Solaris have changed quite a bit in the past couple of years. Despite that, I use this book hourly!

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Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  June 15 2000
Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
Submitted by Michael P. Soulier   [Respond | View]

I bought this book because I wanted to know how a UNIX system _really_ works. It didn't let me down. This book teaches from a superset of knowledge about the various commercial UNIXs, as well as Linux knowledge. Anyone wanting portable knowledge of how a UNIX system functions should read this book. Any UNIX user should at least read a chapter or two. One of the best I've bought.


Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  March 28 2000
Submitted by Chris Kemp   [Respond | View]



I think this book is perhaps one of the best overall UNIX books in print. Not only does it cover the idiosyncracies of a number of *NIXes, it clearly explains both basic and advanced subjects ranging from user management to subnetting. It can be used as a crash course in UNIX for beginners or a handy reference guide for current admins.

I highly recommend this one to both beginners and gurus. Well worth the money.


Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  November 05 1999
Submitted by Michael Kalus   [Respond | View]






Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  October 21 1999
Submitted by Adam Steffes   [Respond | View]



The best $40 I spent on my FreeBSD PC.


Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  May 15 1999
Submitted by Jose Manuel Blanco   [Respond | View]



I think this is really an indispensable book
for any unix system administrator.It gives a lot
of well structured and useful information for
the main flavors of unix, but what I really loves
is that it EXPLAINS the basis, the essentials.

It has been a great help on my job, and I've
been surprised to read the advices and comments
about system administrator virtues, and to check
they coincides a lot with my own thoughts on the
matter.
It is one of the best O'Reilly books I've purchased.


Essential System Administration, 2nd Edition Review,  September 24 1998
Submitted by Kevin M Lanaghan   [Respond | View]



A very useful book to have even if you're not a Sys Admin.

Media reviews "...the most direct and comprehensive explanation of LVMs that I've read. Essential System Administration is an extraordinary book that every system administrator needs, for installation, configuration, troubleshooting, or just understanding the processes that are involved." --Elizabeth Zinkann, Sys Admin, June 2001

"Best general UNIX system administration book I have seen. This is a wealth of experience on tap, and that is hard to beat." --Docfilter, Dec 2000

"The best general UNIX system administration book I have seen. . . extremely helpful this is a hands-on, HOWTO book, with concise, clear instructions for most UNIX flavors. It covers the core tasks in a no B.S., real-world way. . . this is a wealth of experience on tap, and that is hard to beat." -- J. Gentry, swcp.com, Feb 2000

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