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Linux in a Nutshell 4th ed Edition Ellen Siever Digital
Instant Download
Author(s): Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber, Stephen Figgins
ISBN(s): 9780596004828, 0596004826
Edition: 4th ed
File Details: PDF, 13.10 MB
Year: 2003
Language: english
• Table of Contents
• Index
• Reviews
• Reader Reviews
• Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

Publisher: O'Reilly
Pub Date: June 2003
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Pages: 944
Slots: 1

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
• Table of Contents
• Index
• Reviews
• Reader Reviews
• Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

Publisher: O'Reilly
Pub Date: June 2003
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Pages: 944
Slots: 1

Copyright
Comprehensive
Preface but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux Other
utilize every
Resources
day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
Conventions
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
We'd Like to Hear from You
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction
Section 1.1. The Excitement of Linux
Section 1.2. Distribution and Support
Section 1.3. Commands on Linux
Section 1.4. What This Book Offers
Section 1.5. Sources and Licenses
Section 1.6. Beginner's Guide

Chapter 2. System and Network Administration Overview

Section 2.1. Common Commands
Section 2.2. Overview of Networking
Section 2.3. Overview of TCP/IP
Section 2.4. Overview of Firewalls and Masquerading
Section 2.5. Overview of NFS
Section 2.6. Overview of NIS
Section 2.7. Administering NIS
Section 2.8. RPC and XDR

Chapter 3. Linux Commands

Section 3.1. Alphabetical Summary of Commands

Chapter 4. Boot Methods

Section 4.1. The Boot Process
Section 4.2. LILO: The Linux Loader
Section 4.3. GRUB: The Grand Unified Bootloader
 Section 4.4. GRUB Commands
Section 4.5. Loadlin: Booting from MS-DOS
Section 4.6. Dual-Booting Linux and Windows NT/2000/XP
Section 4.7. Boot-Time Kernel Options
Section 4.8. initrd: Using a RAM Disk

Chapter 5. Red Hat and Debian Package Managers

Section 5.1. The Red Hat Package Manager
• TableThe
Section 5.2. of Debian
Contents
Package Manager
• Index
• Chapter 6. Reviews
The Linux Shells: An Overview
• Reader
Section 6.1. Reviews
Purpose of the Shell
• Errata
Section 6.2. Shell Flavors
Linux in aSection
Nutshell,
6.3.4th EditionFeatures
Common
ByStephen Figgins
Section , Ellen
6.4. SieverFeatures
Differing , Aaron Weber

ChapterO'Reilly
Publisher: 7. bash: The Bourne-Again Shell
Section
Pub Date: 7.1.
June Invoking the Shell
2003
Section
ISBN: 7.2. Syntax
0-596-00482-6
Section
Pages: 9447.3. Variables
Section
Slots: 1 7.4. Arithmetic Expressions
Section 7.5. Command History
Section 7.6. Job Control
Section 7.7. Built-in Commands
Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize
Chapter 8. every
tcsh: Anday. It covers
Extended C Shell all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for8.1.
Section the Overview
most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
of Features
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh,
Section 8.2. Invoking the Shell regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered
Section 8.3. Syntax
in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Section 8.4. Variables
Section 8.5. Expressions
Section 8.6. Command History
Section 8.7. Command-Line Manipulation
Section 8.8. Job Control
Section 8.9. Built-in Commands

Chapter 9. Pattern Matching

Section 9.1. Filenames Versus Patterns
Section 9.2. Metacharacters, Listed by Linux Program
Section 9.3. Metacharacters
Section 9.4. Examples of Searching

Chapter 10. The Emacs Editor

Section 10.1. Emacs Concepts
Section 10.2. Typical Problems
Section 10.3. Notes on the Tables
Section 10.4. Summary of Commands by Group
Section 10.5. Summary of Commands by Key
Section 10.6. Summary of Commands by Name

Chapter 11. The vi Editor

Section 11.1. Review of vi Operations
Section 11.2. vi Command-Line Options
Section 11.3. ex Command-Line Options
Section 11.4. Movement Commands
 Section 11.5. Edit Commands
Section 11.6. Saving and Exiting
Section 11.7. Accessing Multiple Files
Section 11.8. Window Commands
Section 11.9. Interacting with the Shell
Section 11.10. Macros
Section 11.11. Miscellaneous Commands
Section 11.12. Alphabetical List of Keys in Command Mode
• Table of
Section 11.13. Contents
Syntax of ex Commands
• Index Alphabetical Summary of ex Commands
Section 11.14.
• Reviews
Section 11.15. vi Configuration
• Reader Reviews
• Chapter 12.Errata
The sed Editor
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
Section 12.1. Command-Line Syntax
ByStephen Figgins
Section , Ellen
12.2. Siever
Syntax of, Aaron Weber
sed Commands
Section 12.3. Group Summary of sed Commands
Publisher: O'Reilly
Section 12.4. Alphabetical Summary of sed Commands
Pub Date: June 2003
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Chapter 13. The gawk Scripting Language
Pages: 94413.1. Command-Line Syntax
Section
Slots: 1 13.2. Patterns and Procedures
Section
Section 13.3. gawk System Variables
Section 13.4. PROCINFO Array
Section 13.5. Operators
Comprehensive butVariable
Section 13.6. concise,
andLinux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
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utilize13.7.
every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
Group Listing of gawk Commands
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
Section 13.8. Alphabetical Summary of Commands
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Chapter 14. RCS
Section 14.1. Overview of RCS Commands
Section 14.2. Basic RCS Operations
Section 14.3. General RCS Specifications
Section 14.4. Alphabetical Summary of RCS Commands

Chapter 15. CVS

Section 15.1. Basic Concepts
Section 15.2. CVS Command Format
Section 15.3. Common Global Options
Section 15.4. Gotchas
Section 15.5. CVS Administrator Reference
Section 15.6. CVS User Reference

Chapter 16. Graphical Desktop Overview

Section 16.1. Desktop Environments and Window Managers
Section 16.2. Desktop Differences: Development

Chapter 17. GNOME

Section 17.1. Desktop Overview
Section 17.2. The Panel
Section 17.3. The GNOME Menu and the Menu Panel Menus
Section 17.4. The GNOME Control Center
Section 17.5. History and Changes in GNOME 2

Chapter 18. KDE

Section 18.1. Desktop Overview
 Section 18.2. The Panel
Section 18.3. The KDE Control Center

Chapter 19. An Alternative Window Manager: fvwm2

Section 19.1. Running fvwm2
Section 19.2. Implementing Window Manager Customizations
Section 19.3. Adding Keyboard Shortcuts
Section 19.4. Customizing Menus
• Table The
Section 19.5. of Contents
WinList: Switching the Focus
• Index
• Colophon Reviews
• Index Reader Reviews
• Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

Publisher: O'Reilly
Pub Date: June 2003
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Pages: 944
Slots: 1

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Copyright © 2003, 2000, 1999, 1997 O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.

Printed in the United States of America.

Published by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472.

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Errata of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are
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Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition those designations appear in this book, and O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. was
aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial caps. The association
ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber
between the image of an Arabian horse and the topic of Linux is a trademark of O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.

While everyO'Reilly
Publisher: precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no
responsibility for
Pub Date: June errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained
2003
herein.ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Pages: 944
Slots: 1

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Preface
This is a book about Linux, a freely available clone of the Unix operating system whose uses range from
embedded systems and personal data assistants (PDAs) to corporate servers, web servers, and massive
clusters that perform some of the world's most difficult computations.
• Table of Contents
•
Whether you areIndex
using Linux for personal software projects, for a small office or home office (the so-called
•
SOHO Reviews to provide services to a small group of colleagues, or to administer a site responsible for
environment),
•
millions of emailReader
and Reviews
web connections each day, you need quick access to information on a wide range of
tools.
• This book covers all aspects of administering and making effective use of Linux systems. Among its
Errata
topics
Linux inare booting,
a Nutshell, 4thpackage
Edition management, and the configuration of the GNOME and KDE desktops. But
foremost in Linux in a Nutshell
ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever are
, Aaron the immeasurable utilities and commands that make Linux one of the most
Weber
powerful and flexible systems available.
Publisher: O'Reilly
In addition to the tools and features written specifically for it, Linux has inherited many from the Free
Pub Date:
Software June 2003
Foundation's GNU project, the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), the X Window System
(XFree86),
ISBN: and contributions from major corporations as well as the companies that created the major Linux
0-596-00482-6
distributions.
Pages: 944More recent projects extend Linux in exciting ways, some through changes to the kernel and
some through
Slots: 1 libraries and applications that radically change the user's experience; the GNOME and KDE
desktops are the most prominent examples.

This book is a quick reference for the basic commands and features of the Linux operating system. As with
other books in O'Reilly's "In a Nutshell" series, this book is geared toward users who know what they want to
Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
do and have some idea how to do it, but can't always remember the correct command or option.
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Other Resources
This book doesn't tell you how to install and come up to speed on a Linux system. For that, you will probably
want O'Reilly's Learning Red Hat Linux , which contains a Linux distribution on CD-ROM and provides help with
installation and configuration. Alternatively, Running Linux is an in-depth guide suitable for all major
distributions.
• For networking
Table of Contentsinformation, check out the Linux Network Administrator's Guide . In addition to
these
• and other Linux
Index titles, O'Reilly's wide range of Unix, X, Perl, and Java titles may also be of interest to
the
• Linux user.Reviews
• Reader Reviews
• Errata
Online Documentation
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

The Internet is full of information about Linux. One of the best resources is the Linux Documentation Project
athttp://www.tldp.org
Publisher: O'Reilly (or one of the dozens of mirror sites around the world), which has numerous short
guides called HOWTOs,
Pub Date: June 2003 along with some full manuals. For online information about the GNU utilities covered in
this book, consult http://www.gnu.org (also widely mirrored). The Free Software Foundation, which is in
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
charge of the GNU project, publishes its documentation in a number of hard-copy and online books about
Pages: 944
various tools.
Slots: 1
Each distribution maintains its own web site, and contains documentation for the software it provides as well
as guides to maintaining your system under that distribution.

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of LinuxSites
Web utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
As befits a hotare
environments phenomenon,
all covered Linux
in thisisclear,
the central subject
to-the-point of several
volume, web
along sites
with and
core a frequent topic
command-line of
utilities.
discussion on others. Some sites offer original content; others just have links to articles posted elsewhere and
threaded discussions (which can be a useful service). Among the sites frequented by Linux users are:

http://www.lwn.net

Linux Weekly News, a site with weekly in-depth articles and frequent news updates
http://www.linuxgazette.com

Linux Gazette, a site published monthly by Linux Journal with articles and tips in many languages
http://linuxsecurity.com

Linux Security, a collection of security-related news

http://slashdot.org

Slashdot, a famous discussion list

http://linuxinsider.com

Linux Insider, a news feed

http://linuxtoday.com

Linux Today, another news feed

http://newsforge.com

NewsForge, a more general computing-related news feed

Linux Journal and Linux Magazine

Linux Journal and Linux Magazine are monthly magazines for the Linux community, written and published by
a number of Linux activists. With both print editions and web sites, they offer articles ranging from novice
questions and answers to kernel programming internals. Linux Journal , at http://www.linuxjournal.com, is the
older magazine and is published by S.S.C. Incorporated, http://www.ssc.com.Linux Magazine is at
http://www.linuxmagazine.com.

Usenet Newsgroups
Most people can receive Usenet news at work or through their ISPs. While this communications technology
has
• lost ground in the
Table past several years to web-based threaded discussions, it is still a valuable source of
of Contents
help
• and community
Index connections on many topics. The following Linux-related newsgroups are popular:
• Reviews
comp.os.linux.announce
• Reader Reviews
• Errata
A moderated newsgroup containing announcements of new software, distributions, bug reports, and
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
goings-on in the Linux community. All Linux users should read this group. Submissions may be mailed
ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber
[email protected].
comp.os.linux.help
Publisher: O'Reilly
General questions and answers about installing or using Linux.
Pub Date: June 2003
comp.os.linux.admin
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Pages: 944
Discussionsrelating to systems administration under Linux.
comp.os.linux.development
Slots: 1

Discussions about developing the Linux kernel and the system itself.
comp.os.linux.networking
Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
Discussions
of Linux relating
utilize every tocovers
day. It networking with Linux.
all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
comp.os.linux.security
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
Help with firewalls, securing servers, and other security issues.
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
comp.os.linux.x

Help on getting the X graphical window system to work. This list used to see some of the highest traffic
of any Linux group back when distributions had more trouble setting up graphics automatically. This is
no longer the case, thanks to the increasing sophistication of autodetection and configuration software.

There are also several newsgroups devoted to Linux in languages other than English, such as fr.comp.os.linux
in French and de.comp.os.linux in German.

Online Linux Support

There are many ways of obtaining help online, where volunteers from around the world offer expertise and
services to assist users with questions and problems.

Thefreenode IRC service is an Internet relay chat network devoted to so-called "peer-directed" projects,
particularly those involving free software. Some of its channels are designed to provide online Linux support
services.

Internet relay chat is a network service that allows you to talk interactively on the Internet to other users. IRC
networks support multiple channels where different groups of people type their thoughts. Whatever you type
in a channel is seen by all other users of that channel.

There are a number of active channels on the freenode IRC network where you will find users 24 hours a day,
7 days a week who are willing and able to help you solve any Linux problems you may have, or just chat. You
can use this service by installing an IRC client (some distributions install them by default), connecting to
server name irc.freenode.org:6667 , and joining a channel focusing on Linux, such as:
 #linpeople General help and discussion.
#debian Help for Debian distribution.
#gentoo Help for Gentoo distribution.
#redhat Help for Red Hat distribution.
#suse Help for SuSE distribution.
• Table of Contents
•
And Index
so on. Please be sure to read up on the rules of chat etiquette before chatting. In particular, the
•
participants in Reviews
these groups tend to expect people to read documentation and do some experimentation
before
• asking for helpReviews
Reader with a problem.
• Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

Linux
ByStephenUser
Figgins,Groups
Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

Many Linux O'Reilly

Publisher: User Groups around the world offer direct support to users. Typically, Linux User Groups engage
in such activities
Pub Date: as installation days, talks and seminars, demonstration nights, and purely social events.
June 2003
Linux User
ISBN: Groups are a great way of meeting other Linux users in your area. There are a number of
0-596-00482-6
published
Pages:lists
944 of Linux User Groups. Some of the better-known ones are:
Slots: 1

Groups of Linux Users Everywhere: http://www.ssc.com/glue/groups

LUGregistry:http://www.linux.org/users
Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Conventions
This desktop quick reference follows certain typographic conventions:

Bold
• Table of Contents
•
is used for commands, programs, and options. All terms shown in bold are typed literally.
Index
Italic
• Reviews
• Reader Reviews
is used to show arguments and variables that should be replaced with user-supplied values. Italic is also
• Errata
used to indicate filenames and directories and to highlight comments in examples.
Linux in a Nutshell,
Constant Width4th Edition
ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber
is used to show the contents of files or the output from commands.
Constant Width Bold
Publisher: O'Reilly
Pub Date: June 2003
is used in examples to show commands or other text that should be typed literally by the user.
ISBN:
Constant 0-596-00482-6
Width Italic
Pages: 944
is used
Slots: 1 in examples to show text that should be replaced with user-supplied values.
%,$

are used in some examples as the tcsh shell prompt (%) and as the Bourne or bash shell prompt ($).
[]
Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
surround optional elements in a description of syntax. (The brackets themselves should never be
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
typed.) Note that many commands show the argument [files]. If a filename is omitted, standard input
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
(e.g., the keyboard) is assumed. End with an end-of-file character.
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
EOF

indicates the end-of-file character (normally Ctrl-D).

|

is used in syntax descriptions to separate items for which only one alternative may be chosen at a time.

This icon indicates a note, which is an important aside to its nearby text.

This icon indicates a warning.

A final word about syntax. In many cases, the space between an option and its argument can be omitted. In
other cases, the spacing (or lack of spacing) must be followed strictly. For example, -wn (no intervening
space) might be interpreted differently from -wn. It's important to notice the spacing used in option syntax.
We'd Like to Hear from You
We have tested and verified all of the information in this book to the best of our ability, but you may find that
features have changed (or even that we have made mistakes!). Please let us know about any errors you find,
as well as your suggestions for future editions, by writing:
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There is a web page for this book, which lists errata, examples, or any additional information. You can access
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To Pages: 944
comment or ask technical questions about this book, send email to:
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For more information about books, conferences, Resource Centers, and the O'Reilly Network, see the O'Reilly
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Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
http://www.oreilly.com
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Acknowledgments
This fourth edition of Linux in a Nutshell is the result of the cooperative efforts of many people. Thanks to
Andy Oram for his editorial skills, as well as for pitching in to check existing chapters and update and write
new material as needed.
• Table of Contents
For
• technical review,
Index thanks go to Matt Welsh of Running Linux and Installation and Getting Started Guide
fame,
• Michael K. Johnson of Red Hat Software, Robert J. Chassell, Phil Hughes of Linux Journal , Laurie Lynne
Reviews
Tucker,
•
Arnold Robbins, Julian T. J. Midgley, Matthias Kalle Dalheimer, Terry Dawson, Doug Moreen, Ron
Reader Reviews
Passerini, and Mark Stone.
• Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

Publisher: O'Reilly
Pub Date: June 2003
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Pages: 944
Slots: 1

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
Chapter 1. Introduction
It is hard to chart the rise of Linux over its twelve years of existence without risking the appearance of
exaggeration and hyperbole. During the past five years alone, Linux has grown from a student/hacker
playground to an upstart challenger in the server market to a well-respected system taking its rightful place in
• Table of Contents
educational and corporate networks. Many serious analysts claim that its trajectory has just begun, and that it
•
will eventually Index
become the world's most widespread operating system.
• Reviews
•
Linux was firstReader Reviews
developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland. From his current location in
Silicon
• Valley, Errata
Linus continues to centrally coordinate improvements. The Linux kernel continues to develop
under
Linux inthe dedicated
a Nutshell, cultivation of a host of other programmers and hackers all over the world, joined by
4th Edition
members
ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever,teams
of programming at major computer companies, all connected through the Internet.
Aaron Weber

By "kernel," we mean the core of the operating system itself, not the applications (such as the compiler,
Publisher: O'Reilly
shells, and so forth) that run on it. Today, the term "Linux" is often used to mean a software environment
withPub Date: June
a Linux 2003 along with a large set of applications and other software components. In this larger
kernel
meaning, many
ISBN: people prefer the term GNU/Linux, which acknowledges the central role played by tools from
0-596-00482-6
the Free Software
Pages: 944 Foundation's GNU project in the development of the kernel.
Slots: 1
Linux systems cannot be technically referred to as a "version of Unix," as they have not undergone the
required tests and licensing.[1] However, Linux offers all the common programming interfaces of standard
Unix systems, and as you can see from this book, all the common Unix utilities have been reimplemented on
Linux. It is a powerful, robust, fully usable system for those who like Unix.
Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilizeanevery
[1] Before day.system
operating It covers all called
can be substantial
"Unix," user,
it mustprogramming, administration,
be branded by The Open Group. and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS,historical
The CVS, vi, impact
Emacs, ofbash,
Linuxtcsh,
goesregular
beyond expressions,
its role as apackage
challengemanagement, bootloaders,
to all versions and as
of Unix as well desktop
Microsoft
environments
Windows, are all covered
particularly in this
on servers. clear,success
Linux's to-the-point volume,
has also along
inspired with core
countless command-line
other utilities.
free software or open
source (defined at http://opensource.org) projects, including Samba, GNOME, and a mind-boggling collection
of innovative projects that you can browse at numerous sites like SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net). As
both a platform for other developers and a development model, Linux gave a tremendous boost to the GNU
project, and has also become a popular platform for Java development. In short, Linux is a central participant
in the most exciting and productive free software movement ever seen.

If you haven't obtained Linux yet, or have it but don't know exactly how to get started using it, see Other
Resources in the preface.
1.1 The Excitement of Linux
Linux is, first of all, free software: anyone can download the source from the Internet or buy it on a low-cost
CD-ROM. But Linux is becoming well known because it's more than free software—it's unusually good
software. You can get more from your hardware with Linux and be assured of fewer crashes; even its security
is
• better than many
Table ofcommercial
Contents alternatives.
• Index
Linux
• first appeared
Reviewsin organizations as ad hoc installations by hackers running modest web servers or
development
•
systems at universities and research institutions, but now extends deeply into corporations
Reader Reviews
around the world. People deploying Linux for mission-critical systems tend to talk about its ample practical
• Errata
advantages, such as the ability to deliver a lot of bang for the buck and the ease of deploying other powerful
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
tools on Linux such as Apache, Samba, and Java environments. They also cite Linux's ability to grow and
ByStephen
sprout newFiggins , Ellen of
features Siever, Aaronto
interest Weber
large numbers of users. But these advantages can be traced back to the
concept of software freedom, which is the root of the broad wave of innovation driving Linux.
Publisher: O'Reilly
Asfree software,
Pub Date: Linux revives the grand creativity and the community of sharing that Unix was long known
June 2003
for. The unprecedented
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
flexibility and openness of Unix—which newcomers usually found confusing and
frustrating, but eventually found they couldn't live without—continually inspired extensions, new tools like
Pages: 944
Perl, and experiments in computer science that sometimes ended up in mainstream commercial computer
Slots: 1
systems.

Many programmers fondly remember the days when AT&T provided universities with Unix source code at no
charge, and the University of Berkeley started distributing its version in any manner that allowed people to
Comprehensive
get it. For these but concise,
older Linux
hackers, in abrings
Linux Nutshell
backis the
an essential desktoptogether—all
spirit of working reference forthe
themore
commands that users
so because the
of Linux utilize
Internet is nowevery day. It covers
so widespread. And all
forsubstantial
the many who user,are
programming,
too young toadministration,
remember the andfirst networking
round of open
commands
systems or for the prior
whose most experience
common Linux distributions.
has been constrictedIt's by
several
tryingquick references
to explore rolledproprietary
and adapt into one: sed, gawk,
operating
RCS, CVS,now
systems, vi, Emacs, bash,
is the time to tcsh, regular
discover expressions,
the wonders package
of freely management,
distributable sourcebootloaders, and desktop
code and infinitely adaptable
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
interfaces.

The economic power behind Linux's popularity is its support for an enormous range of hardware. People who
are accustomed to MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows are often amazed at how much faster their hardware
appears to work with Linux—it makes efficient use of its resources.

For the first several years, users were attracted to Linux for a variety of financial and political reasons, but
soon they discovered an unexpected benefit: Linux works better than many commercial systems. With the
Samba file and print server, for instance, Linux serves a large number of end-user PCs without crashing. With
the Apache web server, it provides more of the useful features web administrators want than competing
products do. Embedded versions of the Linux kernel are in growing use because, although they are larger
than the most stripped-down operating systems, they deliver a range of powerful features within a
remarkably small footprint.

Opinions still differ on how suitable Linux is as a general-purpose desktop system. But the tremendous
advances in usability and stability of the desktop software and its applications are undisputed. Soon (if not
today), one will find Linux in many offices and other end-user environments. Meanwhile, the strides made by
Linux in everyday computing tasks are reflected in the new audio and CD-related commands found in this
edition.
1.2 Distribution and Support
While it is convenient to download one or two new programs over the Internet and fairly feasible to download
something as large as the Linux kernel, getting an entire working system over the Internet is difficult without
a high-speed Internet connection. Over the years, therefore, commercial and noncommercial packages called
distributions
• have
Tableemerged. The first distribution consisted of approximately 50 diskettes, at least one of
of Contents
which
• would usually
Index turn out to be bad and have to be replaced. When CD-ROM drives became widespread,
Linux
• really took off.
Reviews
• Reader Reviews
After getting Linux, the average user is concerned next with support. While Usenet newsgroups offer very
• Errata
quick responses and meet the needs of many intrepid users, you can also buy support from the vendors of the
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
major distributions and a number of independent experts. Linux is supported at least as well as commercial
ByStephen Figgins
software. When,Ellen Siever
you buy Aaron Weber from a vendor, you typically are entitled to a period of free support as
a ,distribution
well.
Publisher: O'Reilly
Intel's
Pub x86
Date: family and other compatible chips are still by far the most common hardware running Linux, but
June 2003
Linux isISBN:
also0-596-00482-6
now commercially available on a number of other hardware systems, notably the PowerPC, the
64-bit Intel Itanium processor, Sun Microsystems' SPARC, and the Alpha (created by Digital Equipment
Pages: 944
Corporation).
Slots: 1

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
1.3 Commands on Linux
Linux commands are not the same as standard Unix ones. They're better! This is because most of them are
provided by the GNU project run by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). GNU means "GNU's Not Unix"—the
first word of the phrase is expanded with infinite recursion.
• Table of Contents
Benefiting
• from years of experience with standard Unix utilities and advances in computer science,
Index
programmers
• on the GNU project have managed to create versions of standard tools that have more features,
Reviews
run
•
faster and more efficiently, and lack the bugs and inconsistencies that persist in the original standard
Reader Reviews
versions.
• Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
While GNU provided the programming utilities and standard commands like grep, many of the system and
ByStephenadministration
network Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron
tools Weber came from the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). In addition, some
on Linux
people wrote tools that specifically allow Linux to deal with special issues such as filesystems. This book
documents
Publisher: all the standard Unix commands that are commonly available on most Linux distributions.
O'Reilly
Pub Date: June 2003
The third type of software most commonly run on Linux is the X Window System, ported by the XFree86
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
project to standard Intel chips. While this book cannot cover the wide range of utilities that run on X, we
Pages: 944
briefly cover some of the useful customizations you can make to your KDE, GNOME, or fvwm2 desktop.
Slots: 1

Comprehensive but concise, Linux in a Nutshell is an essential desktop reference for the commands that users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
commands for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
1.4 What This Book Offers
Originally based on the classic O'Reilly & Associates quick reference, Unix in a Nutshell , this book has been
expanded to include much information that is specific to Linux. These enhancements include chapters on:

• Table of Contents
•
Package managers
Index
(which make it easy to install, update, and remove related software files)
• Reviews
The KDE and GNOME desktops and the fvwm2 window manager
• Reader Reviews
• Errata
Boot parameters
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
The Figgins
ByStephen CVS version control
, Ellen Siever system
, Aaron Weber

The book also contains dozens of Linux-specific commands, along with tried-and-true Unix commands that
Publisher: O'Reilly
have been supporting users for decades (though they continue to sprout new options).
Pub Date: June 2003
This book
ISBN:does not cover the graphical tools contained in most distributions of Linux. Many of these, to be
0-596-00482-6
sure, are quite
Pages: 944 useful and can form the basis of everyday work. Examples of these tools include OpenOffice
(the open source
Slots: 1 version of the StarOffice suite distributed by Sun Microsystems), Evolution (a mail, calendar,
and office productivity tool from Ximian), Mozilla (the open source cousin of the Netscape web browser), and
the GIMP (a graphic image manipulation program and the inspiration for the GNOME project). But they are
not Linux-specific, and their graphical models do not fit well into the format of this book.
Comprehensive
While you can dobut concise,
a lot Linux work
of valuable in a Nutshell
with theisgraphical
an essential desktop reference
applications, forLinux
the core of the commands that users
use is the text
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
manipulation and administration done from the command line, within scripts, or using text editors such as vi
commands
and Emacs.for the is
Linux most
still common
mostly a Linux distributions.
command-driven It's several
system, quick
and this references
book continuesrolled into one:
to focus sed,
on this gawk,
level of
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and
usage. In your day-to-day work, you'll likely find yourself moving back and forth between graphical programs desktop
environments
and are alllisted
the commands covered in this
in this book.clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.

Every distribution of Linux is slightly different, but you'll find that the commands we document are the ones
you use most of the time, and that they work the same on all distributions. Basic commands, programming
utilities, system administration, and network administration are all covered. However, some areas were so big
that we had to leave them out. The many applications that depend on the X Window System didn't make the
cut. Nor did the many useful programming languages like Java, Perl, and Python with which users can vastly
expand the capabilities of their systems. XML isn't covered here either. These subjects would stretch the book
out of its binding.

Linux in a Nutshell doesn't teach you Linux—it is, after all, a quick reference—but novices as well as highly
experienced users will find it of great value. When you have some idea of what command you want but aren't
sure just how it works or what combinations of options give you the exact output required, this book is the
place to turn. It can also be an eye-opener, making you aware of options that you never knew about before.

Once you're over the hurdle of installing Linux, the first thing you need to do is get to know the common
utilities run from the shell prompt. If you know absolutely nothing about Unix, we recommend you read a
basic guide (introductory chapters in the O'Reilly books Learning Red Hat Linux and Running Linux can get
you started.) This chapter and Chapter 2 offer a context for understanding different kinds of commands
(including commands for programming, system administration, and network administration). Chapter 3 is the
central focus of the book, containing about one half its bulk.

The small chapters immediately following Chapter 3 help you get your system set up. Since most users do not
want to completely abandon other operating systems (whether a Microsoft Windows system, OS/2, or some
Unix flavor), Linux often resides on the same computer as other systems. Users can then boot the system
they need for a particular job. Chapter 5 describes the commonly used booting options on Intel systems,
including LILO (Linux Loader), GRUB (the GRand Unified Bootloader), and Loadlin. Chapter 5 covers the Red
Hat package manager (rpm)—which is supported by many distributions, including Red Hat, SuSE, Mandrake,
and Caldera—and the Debian package manager. Package managers are useful for installing and updating
software; they make sure you have all the files you need in the proper versions.
All commands are interpreted by the shell . The shell is simply a program that accepts commands from the
user and executes them. Different shells sometimes use slightly different syntax to mean the same thing.
Under Linux, two popular shells are bash and tcsh (which on Linux has supplanted the older csh), and they
differ in subtle ways. (One of the nice things about Linux and other Unix systems is that you have a variety of
shells to choose from, each with strengths and weaknesses.) We offer an introduction to shells in Chapter 6,
thorough coverage of bash in Chapter 7, and a guide to tcsh in Chapter 8. You may decide to read these
after you've used Linux for a while, because they mostly cover powerful, advanced features that you'll want
when you're a steady user.

• get any realTable

To workofdone,
Contents
you'll have to learn some big, comprehensive utilities, notably an editor and some
scripting
• tools.Index
Two major editors are used on Linux: vi and Emacs. Emacs is covered in Chapter 10 and vi in
Chapter
• 11.Chapter
Reviews12 and Chapter 13 cover two classic Unix tools for manipulating text files on a line-by-
line
• basis: sedReader
and gawk
Reviews(the GNU version of the traditional awk). O'Reilly offers separate books about these
topics
• that youErrata
may find valuable, as they are not completely intuitive upon first use. (Emacs does have an
excellent built-in 4th
Linux in a Nutshell, tutorial,
Editionthough; to invoke it, press Ctrl-H followed by t for "tutorial.")

ByStephen Figgins, Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber

CVS (Concurrent Versions System) and RCS (Revision Control System) manage files so you can retrieve old
versions and maintain different versions simultaneously. Originally used by programmers who have
Publisher: O'Reilly
complicated requirements for building and maintaining applications, these tools have turned out to be valuable
for anyone
Pub Date: who maintains files of any type, particularly when coordinating a team of people. CVS has become
June 2003
a distribution channel for thousands of free software projects. Chapter 14 presents RCS commands, and
ISBN: 0-596-00482-6
Chapter 15 944
Pages: presents CVS commands.
Slots: 1
Graphical desktops are covered in four chapters. Chapter 16 is a brief overview to the major options on Linux
systems. It is followed by Chapter 17 on the GNOME desktop, Chapter 18 on the KDE desktop, and Chapter
19 on the fvwm2 window manager.

Comprehensive
Our but concise,
goal in producing Linux
this book in provide
is to a Nutshell is an essential
convenience, and desktop reference
that means forthe
keeping thebook
commands that small.
(relatively) users
of Linux utilize every day. It covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking
It certainly doesn't have everything the manual pages have; but you'll find that it has what you need 95% of
commands
the time. for the most common Linux distributions. It's several quick references rolled into one: sed, gawk,
RCS, CVS, vi, Emacs, bash, tcsh, regular expressions, package management, bootloaders, and desktop
environments are all covered in this clear, to-the-point volume, along with core command-line utilities.
1.5 Sources and Licenses
Some distributions contain the source code for Linux; it is also easily available for download at
http://www.kernel.org and elsewhere. Source code is similarly available for all the utilities on Linux (unless
your vendor offers a commercial application or library as a special enhancement). You may never bother
looking
• at the source
Table of code, but it's key to Linux's strength. Under the Linux license, the source code has to be
Contents
provided
• by the vendor,
Index and it permits those who are competent at such things to fix bugs, provide advice
about
• the system's functioning,
Reviews and submit improvements that benefit everyone. The license is the GNU
project's
• well-known General
Reader Reviews Public License, also known as the GPL or "copyleft," invented and popularized by
the
• Free Software Foundation.
Errata
Linux in a Nutshell, 4th Edition
The FSF, founded by Richard Stallman, is a phenomenon that many people might believe to be impossible if it
ByStephen
did Figgins
not exist. , Ellen
(The Siever
same , Aaron
goes forWeber
Linux, in fact—15 years ago, who would have imagined a robust operating
system developed by collaborators over the Internet and made freely redistributable?) One of the most
popular editors
Publisher: on Unix, GNU Emacs, comes from the FSF. So do gcc and g++ (C and C++ compilers), which
O'Reilly
for a while set the
Pub Date: June 2003 standard in the industry for optimization and fast code. One of the largest projects within
GNU isISBN:
the GNOME desktop, which encompasses several useful general-purpose libraries and applications that
0-596-00482-6
use these libraries
Pages: 944
to provide consistent behavior and interoperability.
Slots: 1
Dedicated to the sharing of software, the FSF provides all its code and documentation on the Internet and
allows anyone with a whim for enhancements to alter the source code. One of its projects is the Debian
distribution of Linux.

Comprehensive
To but concise,
prevent hoarding, the FSFLinux in a Nutshell
requires is an essential
that the source code fordesktop reference for
all enhancements the commands
be distributed underthat
theusers
of Linux
same GPLutilize
that every
it uses. day.
ThisItencourages
covers all substantial
individualsuser, programming,
or companies administration,
to make improvements and networking
and share them with
commands
others. The for the
only most
thing commoncannot
someone Linux distributions. It's several and
do is add enhancements quick references
then rolled
try to sell into one:assed, gawk,
the product
RCS, CVS, vi,
commercial Emacs, bash, is,
software—that tcsh, regular expressions,
to withhold package
the source code. Thatmanagement,
would be takingbootloaders,
advantageand desktop
of the FSF and the
environments
users. You canarefindallthe
covered
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clear, to-the-point
covered by volume, alongorwith
that license, core
online atcommand-line utilities.
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html.

As we said earlier, many Linux tools come from BSD instead of GNU. BSD is also free software. The license is
significantly different, but that probably don't concern you as a user. The effect of the difference is that
companies are permitted to incorporate the software into their proprietary products, a practice that is
severely limited by the GNU license.
Other documents randomly have
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