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Debian System: Concepts and Techniques Paperback – 29 Sep 2005

by Martin Krafft (Author)

4 customer reviews

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The Debian System: Concepts and Techniques
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The Debian GNU/Linux operating system approaches Linux system administration differently than other popular Linux distributions, favoring text-based configuration mechanisms over graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Debian may appear simplistic and even slightly outdated, but it is actually very robust, scalable, and secure. Debian's open development cycle and strict quality control by the developers help Debian to constantly gain popularity, despite its reputation as an operating system just for professionals and hardcore computer hobbyists.

The Debian System introduces the concepts and techniques of the Debian operating system, explaining their usage and pitfalls, and illustrating the thinking behind each of the approaches. The book's goal is to give the reader enough insight into the workings of the Debian project and operating system so that they will understand the solutions that have evolved as part of the Debian system over the past decade. While targeted at the well-versed UNIX/Linux administrator, the book can also serve as an excellent resource alongside a standard Linux reference to quickly orient the reader to Debian's unique philosophy and structure. Co-published with Open Source Press, an independent publisher based in Munich that specializes in the field of free and open source software.

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Product details

Paperback: 608 pages
Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (29 Sept. 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593270690
ISBN-13: 978-1593270698
Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 3.8 x 23.5 cm
Average Customer Review: 4 customer reviews
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 355,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #104 in Books > Computers & Internet > Mac OS
- #126 in Books > Computers & Internet > Software & Graphics > Internet Applications > Web-server Software > UNIX & Linux Operating Systems > Linux Distributions
- #944 in Books > Computers & Internet > Digital Lifestyle > Online Shopping > Amazon

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Product description

From the Author

Please see debiansystem.info for more information about this title.

About the Author

Martin Krafft has been a faithful supporter of Debian since 1997, working as a developer and a PR person, and fielding user questions on mailing lists. He has experience administering mid-sized networks and providing user support, and is responsible for numerous university servers and a 40-node cluster of Debian machines. Krafft is currently working on his Ph.D. at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the University of Zurich.

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A. J. Trickett

I wish I'd bought this book a year ago.

14 August 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

If you have to administer a Debian GNU/Linux system then this is the book you need. It explains why things are the way they are, how they are, and how you should use the system.

Although English is not the native language of the author, the text is easy to follow, well written and things are well explained.

This is a book a really do wish I'd bought a year ago, rather than waiting until now. The book is based on the current Sarge release of Debian, but does make reference to the upcoming Etch relase. The web site that goes with the book also provides full errata and diffs to the Etch release.

If you use a debian Linux such as Ubuntu, Linspire, Mepis then this may also be well worth buying too.

Every purchase includes a donation to towards the Debian.

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Stuart Ellis

The Next Step for Debian and Ubuntu Administrators

20 December 2008

Format: Paperback

Unusually, the audience for this book is not new users, but is specifically those developers and administrators that already work with Linux, and need to understand how to deploy and manage Debian (or Debian-based systems).

If you are such a person, this book is probably essential. Although Debian has a myriad of tools and conveniences to help administrators, they are unobtrusive, and many are only documented in the man pages and text files that accompany them. Unless you already understand the Debian way of doing things, you will miss a great deal. Long-time Debian users will have absorbed some of this knowledge, but, as far as I know, this is the only book that actually explains "the Debian way".

Although it was written for a previous release of Debian, the information remains valid, so you should not be put off on that account - it remains a unique and very valuable resource.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

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Stijn Huyghe

Three Stars

16 July 2015

Format: Paperback

Well written, must read to know more about the
Debian Linux distribution.

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Mr. James P. Bailey

It is the Debian System

17 January 2008

Format: Paperback

Debian is more than just distribution it a system of doing things. It maybe the "most free" of the GNU/Linux distributions but in order to understand and get the most out of it you must understand the rules, regulations and reasons behind that system. This book more than anything else I have read helps me to do that.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

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Amazon.com: 24 reviews

21 people found this helpful.

Good information, but not without its own set of problems...

ByVCFon 28 September 2006 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The book provides a great deal of detailed information that is difficult to find other places. For that reason alone, it belongs on any Debian administrators bookshelf. However, it has some problems in the way the author orders things: He'll often list steps out of order, a cooking parody might read like this:

1. Add ingredient A to the mixture.

2. Add ingredient B.

3. Before you add ingredient B, be sure to let the mixture sit for 10 minutes!

4. By the way, ingredient B should be added before ingredient A for best results.

Here is are two short exerps as examples:

"When init is invoked by the kernel, it reads /etc/inittab and processes the file top to bottom, according to the rules described in inittab (5). Before anything else, init calls /etc/init.d/rcS..."

"...Before iterating through the files, the /etc/default/rcS file is sourced; the file parameterizes some aspects of the boot process. The files in /etc/rcS.d are actually just symlinks to corresponding files in /etc/init.d"

This kind of writing makes it very unclear what the actual process order is, to readers not already familiar with it.

In places he also states, in a 'by the way' style, critical information you could have used half a chapter ago. In other places he'll give you just enough information on a topic to get yourself into trouble only to inform you that "we'll cover this in a later chapter." While some of this is to be expected, it happens quite frequently.

The book packs a great deal of useful information, if you have the patience to break it down and re-construct it into a more logical order or are already familiar with the topics being covered. Due to these shortcomings, the book reads extremely slowly; Don't expect to whip through it in a week.

14 people found this helpful.

The best up-to-date and useful Debian book presently available

ByAmazon Customeron 17 February 2006 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book has so far proven 80% good for me as an intermediate experienced Debian user, I work with Debian GNU w/Linux servers on a daily basis, I started in the Potato/Woody times, so there was a few new things in Sarge I didnt know that this book gave me some aha's about. Although, at this time (02/2006) the book is aging as it was published before Sarge became stable, I hope they will make another release focusing on the newer stuff going forward.

I believe this book is the perfect book for anyone switching from another GNU w/Linux distro to Debian GNU w/Linux (Very little Hurd info), for me it is the most valuable on things like working with X and the advanced details of the packing system and how to Debianize (or GNU'ify) your own software.

It also introduces you very well to the Debian community and development process.

Personally I would like to see a bit less beginner stuff, little less "how to install" stuff, and more on the corporate side of things like managing multiple systems and automating stuff without breaking other stuff. I think it would be a good idea to split it in two or three, the beginners/basics stuff, perhaps one devoted to using X (and the X apps) on Debian, and one on the more advanced topics...

Cheap solution for some brush up learning of old information.

ByAmazon Customeron 9 January 2017 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Not bad for a dated linux book. Most things debian build from information in this book, pretty darn good bargain. Came with a debian linux installation disc, unopened containing debian linux version sarge. Perfect condition though. The book was spotless and looked brand new.

70 people found this helpful.

A debian book as robust as debian itself

ByPonderungaon 29 September 2005 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Forget about debian being hard to install. Pick up a copy of this book, and be on your way to enjoying an operating system that is well built, and orders of magnitude more stable than Windows. In fact, I had zero installation issues with debian -- which compared favorably even with my attempts to install Fedora, another popular and well-regarded Linux distribution.

I liked this book because, finally, an author has had the presence of mind to write a book that did not regurgitate Unix commands like 'ls' and 'vi' for the gazillionth time. The focus is on debian, and only on those parts that make debian unique -- the culture of the "debian project", the notoriety for its alleged difficulty of installation (which I have not experienced), the speed and timeliness of its releases (not!), and homage to that supreme program -- apt-get and its close relatives.

Those new to Linux may do well to first read a general Unix/Linux book before delving into this one. They will also be well served by first playing around with Knoppix (...) which is a debian derivative that does not require a hard-disk install. This is especially useful if you are not (yet) prepared to wipe your hard disk clean of Windows.

If you're not a rank beginner, buy this book, and install Debian 3.1 which is on the accompanying DVD. People wanting a more polished and up-to-date debian might want to try its close cousin, Ubuntu (...). While individual packages might vary somewhat, the concepts presented in this book are applicable across debian and its progeny (including Knoppix and Ubuntu).

In summary, raise the quality of your Linux reading a few notches by purchasing this book, and raise the quality of your personal computer usage by installing debian or its derivatives.

Disappointed

ByEngineeron 2 October 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Had I known how dated this book is, I wouldn't have bought it. The binding is so dried out that I have to be careful when I handle it.

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Debian System: Concepts and Techniques Paperback – 29 Sep 2005

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