Abstract
This book is designed to serve two audiences: newcomers to Linux who want a solid introduction, and experienced professionals in need of a reliable reference. It begins with the fundamentals and progresses through the most essential Linux commands. If you’re an IT manager evaluating Linux as a potential client or server operating system for your organization, Chapter 25, “Cost/Benefit Analysis,” offers valuable insights to support your decision-making.
My journey with Unix began 15 years ago, and since then I’ve authored three books on the subject: UNIX: From User to System Administrator, UNIX: An Introduction, and UNIX Commands by Example: A Desktop Reference for Solaris, UnixWare, and SCO UNIX. Over the past four years, I’ve also written two books focused on Linux: Linux Installation and Configuration and Introduction to Red Hat Linux 7.0.
I was first introduced to Unix in 1985, when it was known as Microsoft XENIX (a Unix clone). At the time, the hardware consisted of a PC with a 4.77 MHz Intel CPU, 640 KB of RAM, and a 10 MB hard disk. Over the years, I’ve worked extensively with both BSD and System V–based systems, including SCO XENIX, SCO UNIX, ISC UNIX, Novell UnixWare, Solaris 1.x and 2.x, IBM AIX, NCR Unix V.4, and, of course, Linux.
In early 1997, I began working on an intranet and web development project for Telenor Marlink, a Norwegian company. The development environment was initially based on Sunsoft Solaris 2.5, but a colleague, Knut Ranheim, encouraged us to adopt Linux and PC hardware for our workstations. That experience sparked my lasting enthusiasm for the open source model and Linux.
Today, I work as a project leader on various Linux software initiatives. In my spare time, I serve as a contributing editor for the Norwegian publication Open Source Linux Magazine.
David Elboth