Customizing and Upgrading Linux

This is an interesting book. If you're looking for how to set up any of the standard UNIX type services like DNS or a Samba server, this is not the book for you. But it does cover stuff like installing over a network, configuring XFree86, installation on SCSI, and kernel building, which are topics not always or often covered in other books. All in all, a handy reference for a Linux bookshelf.

As an experienced Unix person but new to Linux, I found this book to be very helpful and relevant to getting Linux up and running, and then updated. Updating the kernel is really a complex task, and was very well explained by the McKinnons. I've tried to follow a couple of other books and found them to be less helpful than the mcKinnons' book.It's well worth the money, and is an essential reference guide for anyone working with Linux -- especially us newcomers.

This book cover details of Linux I have not found discussed in other books. It shows how to upgrade the kernel, as well as how to adapt installations to meet specific needs, which is key for any professional working with Linux.

In both this book and their Installing Linux book the McKinnons' really demonstrate the value of experience. Their classroom-tested approach makes for an accessible read.