[Books Directory]: 10 free Linux Administration Books

10 free GNU/Linux Administration Books

Linux based distributions have a lot of different administration options and privilege options, Books listed here will help you with administrations privilege for different distributions debian, fedora, redhat, ubuntu, gentoo, opensuse, mandriva, …..

Also other books for security administrations, and files system directory hierarchy, software help you to secure you system, securing VPN servers,…

## so here we go…

1. Linux Administration Made Easy

This documentation will attempt to summarize the installation and configuration, as well as the day-to-day administrative and maintenance procedures that should be followed to keep a Linux-based server or desktop system up and running. It is geared to an audience of both corporate as well as home users. It is not intended to be a full overview of Unix operations, as there are several good texts available as well as on-line documentation which can be referred to in cases where more detailed information is required.

2. The Linux System Administrator’s Guide

The Linux System Administrator’s Guide, describes the system administration aspects of using Linux. It is intended for people who know next to nothing about system administration (those saying “what is it?”), but who have already mastered at least the basics of normal usage. This manual doesn’t tell you how to install Linux; that is described in the Installation and Getting Started document. See below for more information about Linux manuals.

3. Filesystem Hierarchy Standard

The filesystem standard has been designed to be used by Unix distribution developers, package developers, and system implementors. However, it is primarily intended to be a reference and is not a tutorial on how to manage a Unix filesystem or directory hierarchy.

4. Linux Administrator’s Security Guide

There are numerous definitions for “computer security”, and most of them are correct. Essentially computer security means enforcement of usage policies, this must be done since people and software have flaws that can result in accidents, but also because someone may want to steal your information, use your resources inappropriately or simply deny you the use of your resources.

5. Debian GNU/Linux System Administrator’s Manual (Obsolete Documentation)

This manual assumes the reader is familiar with using a Unix system and/or understands Debian User Reference Manual. Additional reading for System Administrator is Debian GNU/Linux Network Administrator’s Manual. Both of these are available from the Debian Documentation Project. Another useful book is “Linux System Administrator’s Guide” by Lars Wirzenius, available from Linux Documentation Project, http://metalab.unc.edu/LDP/ .

6. Forensic Discovery

The target audience of the book is anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of how computer systems work, as well as anyone who is likely to become involved with the technical aspects of computer intrusion or system analysis. These are not only system administrators, incident responders, other computer security professionals, or forensic analysts, but also anyone who is concerned about the impact of computer forensics on privacy.

7. Best Practices for Managing Linux and UNIX Servers

Call it the Linux fallacy. It’s the conventional wisdom that says Linux/UNIX gives you lots of power and reliability in exchange for far more complex and costly systems management. But in fact Linux/UNIX shouldn’t be a tradeoff–as long as you also implement a set of proven best practices.

8. GNU/Linux Advanced Administration

The GNU/Linux systems have reached an important level of maturity, allowing to integrate them in almost any kind of work environment, from a desktop PC to the sever facilities of a big company.

9. COIT13146 Systems Administration

In the course Systems Administration.  It is an attempt to give you an overview of the course and more importantly of computing, Linux and Systems Administration.

Many students commented that they felt lost in the detail of Linux without having an overall picture of how it fits together.  Hopefully this chapter will go some way towards solving this problem, and will provide some sort of small map and compass so you have an idea of where you are and where you are going.

10. GNU/Linux Desktop Survival Guide

The aim of this book is to get you up to speed with GNU/Linux and to deliver a fun and productive environment. It guides you through the many different regions of a GNU/Linux system with a focus on getting your desktop environment to do what you want it to do. It is comprehensive with basic support for the user who installs and maintains the system themselves (whether in the home, office, club, or school). It provides insights and step-by-step procedures that deal with specific tasks in setting your system up and maintaining it. The book covers many of the core features of a GNU/Linux system and you will gain the knowledge to enjoy and use one of the most comprehensive and useful developments in the history of computing.

Review : Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 released, before we begin this review check the release announcement and “release notes, Downloaad“.

we already reviewed ubuntu 10.04 LTS Alpha 3 and Beta 1 , check the release notes for both older versions to know the improvement accomplished on last release.

so here we go,

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 review

Installed on virtual machine “sun virtualbox” application with this Hardware specifications:

  • single core processor 2.1 GHz
  • 512 MB of ram
  • 12 MB of video memory

# Installation Process

boot it first time as live session it was working good, after the installation it was working super fast really good.

after the installation it boot super fast, really impressed with booting time about 9 second booting time at first time booting, usually any operating system after the installation it boot really quick but after the installing any extra application you their will be some lagging time to boot up.

Their is not a big difference between Beta 1 and Beta 2 themes, both of them looks the same but at bug report their a lot of reported bugs on radiance theme fixed on ubuntu 10.04 beta2

same main installed packages for applications.

Yahoo still the default search engine on firefox instead of Google search engine. with firefox version 3.6.3, it’s up to you can change the search engine later firefox options.

using last version of Gnome so far ” Gnome 2.30″ , Linux kernel v 2.6.32

security issues fixed, improvement on ubuntu one, ubuntu enterprise cloud, new default open source driver for nvidia hardware

I really like the new version of nautilus comes with Gnome 2.30 if you are not familiar with nautilus and gnome 2.30 visit this link

really like the splitting view on windows, split view come really handy on to open to directory side by side with difference icon view really good.

To activate split mode on opened windows press F3 or go to view menu and select it.

also you can drag and drop folders and files split view.

same new features included with ubuntu 10.04 beta 2 with menus and right click menu for copying files to and moving to.

Pros :

Awesome booting time

Gnome 2.30 desktop really good with a lot of new features.

Ambiance and Radiance looks really good themes

Cons :

none, with me so far working really good I don’t have any problems, also thinking to install it as default distribution.

and we waiting for ubuntu 10.04 LTS final version April 29th 2010  :)

Give it a try, as usual please report any bugs you got,

here to know how to report any bugs you got to ubuntu community and Bugsquad

peace out  :)

Element 1.1 Review

Element 1.1 just released today march 28, 2010

Element is an Ubuntu-based distribution for home theatre or media-centre personal computers featuring a ten-foot user interface and designed to be connected to a HDTV for a digital media and Internet experience within the comforts of a living room or entertainment area. Element comes pre-loaded with dozens of applications that will allow listening to, viewing, and managing music, videos, photos, and Internet media.

Check the release notes and announcement

Download

LinuxNov Review for Element 1.1

Used it on virtual machine “virtual box” as a live session with this hardware specifications

  • single core processor  2.1 Ghz
  • 1 GB of Ram
  • 12 MB of video memory
  • with extended hard driver space in case installed it

Booting time was really good, I didn’t expect a quick booting time for live session, I believe it will be much better if you installed on machine not on virtual machine.

A lot of people are really big fans with media centers applications, this one it awesome it’s using xbmc my favorite media center application, it’s really customizable with a lot of themes and extra plugin follow these links for plugins and scripts for xbmc 1 2 .

xbmc website Follow this link

xbmc skins Follow this link

Versions of most important packages:

linux 2.6.31, glibc 2.10.1, gcc 4.4.1, python 2.6.4, pidgin 2.6.5, gtk+ 2.18.3,  xfce 4.6.1, xbmc 9.11, firefox 3.5.8, transmission 1.83, decibel-audio-player 1.01, vlc 1.0.2, brasero 2.28.2, element-app-finder 1.0

Using Desktop environment Xfce 4.6.1  awesome modifications for the desktop. for easy access for main applications on the distribution itself such as ” firefox, Home directory, VLC, Xbmc, …”

Pros :

It’s Awesome distributions specially for multimedia files, watching many movies with different extensions using xbmc and vlc, and for sure it’s customizable to download extra packages or multimedia applications, “maybe you will need to install extra codecs”

Really liked the Xfce desktop environment with this customizations “ middle dock for main applications”

Awesome booting Time

Cons :

Many windows don’t fit on the screen, maybe cause I am using it on virtual machine with 800X600 resolution

Not all applications are up to date.

Screenshots time :

Please leave your feedback, and enjoy it.

Ubuntu 10.04 beta 1 Review

Hello guys,

Already reviewed ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 here, as you will see in this post a big difference between ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 and beta 1 version, New default theme that mentioned on ubuntu fresh look post ….

Release notes & Download Release announcement

Hardware specification:

this is the hardware specification used to run this version of ubuntu 10.04

  • 1 core processor 2.1 Ghz
  • 1 GB of ram
  • 12 Mb of video memory

with this hardware spec it was working great guys, so i believe if you have a decent machine it will work better.

Installation process :

Installed on Virtual machine “sun virtualbox”

First Boot after completing the installation

“Close, minimize, maximize” button in the left side of the title bar

More option added to right click menu for sharing to ubuntu one, moving to and copy to even it’s  a file or folder

Pitivi default video editor

New look for Ubuntu software center

Yahoo is the default search engine for firefox 3.6, but it’s up to you can change it later to any other search engine

Terminal background color looks really good specially with this theme, also it’s up to you can change it later.

New menu to control your chat account what ever it’s ” pidgin or empathy” , controlling Gwibber, and ubuntu one

Gwibber works really good here , I faced many problem with using it on ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 version. but it’s working great now even it’s a development version till now.

Sound preference with better control access menu.

Overall after the installation:

It was working really good, much better than the older version “alpha 3″

Ubuntu 10.04 beta 2 will release at 8th of April, and the final version will release 29th of  April.

with first installation on virtualbox with 16 mb of video memory it was working a little bit slower.


Please guys leave your feedback, try to install it in your machine and report any bugs you faced so the development community able to fix many bugs for next release.

Thanks guys,

Common Problems with Linux First use

Hello guys,

This is your first time you use any linux Distribution “Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, ….”
Some users have a lot of problems when they just starting to use any distributions, beginning with hardware problems, Drivers, Booting, dual Booting, Grub, package dependencies, NTFS mounting for removable hard driver, Graphics card “Nvidia, ATI”, resolutions,………………

so here will mention quickest resources it might help you out with those problems.

1. Display Resolution.

This is really common problem with most old machines, first time you use this distribution even it’s a live session or installed version, maybe you will find you display resolution is 640X400
with this resolution will be really difficult to use.

How to fix it?

  • Installing your graphics card driver. “Nvidia, ATI
  • Modifying “xorg.conf” this helps if you want to use dual screens, CRT Display, LCD, for editing resolution
EX.   Section "Monitor"
	Identifier "Monitor0"
	VendorName ""
	ModelName ""
	HorizSync 30 - 70
	VertRefresh 50 - 160
        Modeline "1024x768_75.00"   82.00  1024 1088 -hsync +vsync
     EndSection

2. Grub , Dual boot

this is one of the most common problem happen after installing Linux distribution specially with users already using windows operating system or other operating system on the same machine.

usually using grub version 0.97 , but with the new release grub version 1.97 beta faced a lot of problem, then stable version 1.98 working really good with new features for customization. much more multi booting option.

Problems

  • Dual Boot, disappear older operating system already installed after installing new distribution
  • Modifying menu timer for auto select
  • visual customization for the grub

How to fix it?

Grub documentations and wiki are really useful. and really easy to use  Here

3. Mounting point, NTFS, FAT, Removable media, Fstab

“Understanding Fstab” post Thanks to bodhi.zazen

This is really useful post, I believe it cover all point about Mounting point, removable media, mounting for NTFS, FAT.

That’s it for now.

:)