The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Linux Resources - for the bookshelf Major Keary |
Knoppix Pocket Reference
Titles in O'Reilly's Pocket Reference series are physically small books (typically 110 mm x 178 mm, and less than 100 pages) that contain useful information in a compact format. They are not intended for novices, but assume a working knowledge of the particular subject matter.
The Knoppix Pocket Reference is about using Knoppix as a tool for repairing Linux and — especially — Windows systems. It is command-line oriented; if you have never used the command line there is a good novice-level explanation in David Brickner's Test Driving Linux [O'Reilly, ISBN 0-596-00754-X]. Every Windows user should have a copy of Knoppix on hand, and to get the best from Knoppix as a toolkit this reference is an essential resource — and it is worth the effort to learn basic command line use.
It focuses on troubleshooting, repair, disinfection of both Linux and Windows systems, and explains cheat codes ("options, passed to Knoppix at boot time, that can change many of Knoppix's settings"). For example, simple command-line input at bootup enables the Knoppix CD to be run from either RAM or a hard drive, thus freeing up the CD drive for other uses.
There are several utilities in the Knoppix toolbox and the pocket reference is about how to use them. For Windows systems it explains how to
edit the Registry, scan for viruses, back up important files prior to a reformat and reinstallation, and how to write to FAT, FAT32, and NFTS. Linux can read NFTS, but is normally unable to write to it; there is a utility, Captive NFTS, that enables write-toNFTS and its use is explained (but don't expect a point-and-click solution) in the reference.
A useful section discusses creating drive images, and how to make an image of a damaged drive, using utilities that come with Knoppix.
Every 'software mechanic' who attends Linux or Windows emergencies should have this invaluable reference with the Knoppix CD. Ordinary users who want to develop their understanding of Linux, and be able to deal with problems (Windows or Linux), should add the Pocket Reference to their respective libraries.
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Kyle Rankin: Knoppix Pocket Reference ISBN 0-596-10075-2 Published by O'Reilly, 84 pp., RRP $17.95 incl. GST |
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Degunking Linux
Books in the Degunking series from Paraglyph Press are of a consistent standard:
they are practical, easy to understand, are relevant to all levels of user, and
bring together information that is not usually found — if found at all — in the
one place. Degunking Linux has been written "with a typical desktop computer
user in mind", but is also relevant to anyone responsible for Linux systems in
networked environments. The book's discussion of degunking strategies provides
an insight into the workings of Linux that readers won't find in other texts.
There may be some who hold the view that Linux does not attract or generate
gunk: it does, but certainly not to the degree that makes some other operating
system gum up. Linux, like any other OS, can become bloated with unnecessary
software; it's infinite capacity for customisation "can be a great strength,
[but] can also lead to confusion and, realistically, gunk".
The author points out that the plethora of distros makes it difficult to deal
with all situations in the one book. He "focuses most strongly on
Debian, Fedora, Mandrake, Red Hat, and SuSE". Users of derivative distros, such
as Gentoo and Xandros, should find the book quite relevant even if some of the
features don't work in the way he describes.
Apart from being a manual for
degunking Linux this is a valuable reference for users who want to set up and
configure their respective Linux systems. It is also a useful resource for those
setting up a Linux system for the first time; however, the book assumes some
familiarity with using Linux.
A selection of chapter headings indicates the book's scope: Degunking User
Files; User setting for Common Applications; Cleaning Out Unused Packages;
Managing Processes; Network Degunking; and Find Drivers for Your Hardware.
Each chapter has its own degunking checklist, which summarises the chapter
contents and serves as a reminder of relevant maintenance operations.
The book is not simply a list of fixes for particular problems. The author
provides, in clear language, an understanding of how things work. Novice users
should study Degunking Linux — its lucid explanations go well beyond dealing
with gunk. Anyone who runs a Linux help desk will find it a useful resource, and
it has much to offer trainers. For example, a section, Why Do Programs Crash?,
delivers a succinct account of the things that can cause crashes and how to deal
with them.
Degunking Linux deserves a place on every Linux user's bookshelf, and in
libraries. Apart from being an excellent reference it is a good read and lends
itself to browsing.
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Roderick Smith: Degunking Linux ISBN 1-933097-04-3 Published by Paraglyph Press, 332 pp., RRP AU$39.95 incl. GST |
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Linux: A Guide To Xandros
Xandros is a Debian-based Linux distribution that is highly regarded for what is
sometimes called its 'Windows compatibility'. Windows users who want to run
Linux will find the Xandros user interface can be configured to emulate the
various incarnations of Windows: the web page look, or the classic format. An
advantage that Xandros has over most other distros is that it comes with a hard-
copy user guide. That advantage has now been raised with the publication of
Rickford Grant's Linux Made Easy.
This title, which is from the No Starch Press stable, is a remarkably good
introduction for Linux novices and a useful resource for those who are already
using Xandros. It does not delve into use of the command line, although there is
a chapter that provides a good introduction and shows users how to do some
useful things on the command line.
A companion CD contains the open circulation edition of Xandros, which has
everything an ordinary user needs. Of note is the inclusion of Firefox and
Thunderbird instead of the heavyweight Mozilla. The author provides details of
how to find, download, and install software from repositories on the Xandros and
Debian sites. Getting additional software used to be a complex business, but has
been greatly simplified in modern distributions — especially those based on Red
Hat and Debian.
The book covers two principal areas: installation, configuration, and use of
Xandros; and how to use the bundled applications, which include OpenOffice, The
GIMP, Firefox, Thunderbird, multimedia applications, and CD/DVD burning. The
author uses a 'project' style in which tasks, such as installing fonts, are
presented as tutorials with step-by-step guides. The projects represent
solutions to a wide range of how-do-l-do_... questions. My impression is that
the projects cover the needs of ordinary
desktop users. In between projects are discussions that provide an understanding
of how the various services work under Linux; the language is clear with good
technical depth.
An example is the discussion of DVD encryption, which — thanks to the Free Trade
Agreement — effectively imposes a not-so-free trade restriction on what we can
do. The god news is that users can install support for encrypted DVDs.
For Windows users who want to explore Linux for everyday use this is the most
practical text I have seen. The author is an exceptional technical communicator
who uses a hands-on project-based style to quietly walk his readers through all
the processes required to install, configure, and use Xandros.
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Rickford Grant: Linux Made Easy ISBN 1-59327-057-7 Published by No Starch Press, 463 pp. + CD, RRP $65.00 incl. GST |
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Reprinted from the October 2005 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
