Using Linux: Special Edition

• Expanded coverage of the two most requested topics-installation and hardware troubleshooting
• Two CD-ROMs contain the Caldera Lite Desktop application suite, Slackware and the Red Hat versions of Linux, an electronic version of Running a Perfect Apache Web Site, plus, a variety of add-on tools, utilities, and more

The text focuses on Red Hat Linux, though it's similar to the other two versions on the CD-ROM and you can easily transfer lessons to the others. The authors begin by explaining how to install Linux and how to configure it properly for your hardware environment. Then, they talk about key commands--file management and the like--before spilling the beans on how to run programs.

The information on how to get DOS and Windows programs to run under Linux with dosemu and other jury-rigs is notable. There's even a list of programs (popular and less so) that have been made to run under Linux; each entry comes complete with the e-mail address of a person who claims to have done it.

From there, the book moves on to explain X Windows, time-sharing servers, vi, Internet tools, and the mechanics of using Linux as an Internet server (though there are other whole books that cover the subject in more depth). Overall, this book distinguishes itself by showing you how to do unusual things with Linux. Get this book if you want to see your new operating system do some unusual tricks.