Open Source for Windows

Are you an administrator managing a computer network or a power user running a small home/office network? If you are, this book is for you! Author Christian Gross, has done an outstanding job of writing a great book on how to use Open Source on a Microsoft Windows operating system. Gross begins by explaining how to write shell scripts using BASH and its associated text-processing tools. Next, the author explains the Python programming language to write scripts. Then, he focuses on using encryption to secure data and communications between two computers. The author continues by focusing on using tools installed on a local computer that processes information which controls the computer, manages its files, and runs administrative scripts. In addition, the author next focuses on storing data using the Light Weight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) data store and Windows-compatible File Server SAMBA. He also explains the management of a relational database. Next, the author covers how to manage a Web server. Then, he examines how to process e-mail, send, receive, and filter e-mail. Finally, he covers how to install and manage productivity applications, such as an e-mail or Office software package. No one book can teach you everything there is to know about Open Source. But, the author of this excellent book makes an earnest effort to provide you with a set of tools that can be used to complement your current operational routine.

When you hear the term Open Source many people think only of Linux and Linux based programs. While Linux is Open Source software there is plenty of Open Source software available for Windows too. Some of the programs and tools discussed in this book include the following: Cygwin, which allows the use of the bash shell and related powerful scripting language inside Windows, Python and its use as a scripting language, WinPT, the Windows Privacy Tools, OpenPGP Public Key Server, OpenVPN, a virtual private network server and client, XYNTService which allows running console scripts as a service, OpenLDAP, a LDAP server, SAMBA file and print server that shares between Windows and Linux and can act as a Domain Controller, MySQL SQL server, Apache web server, Xmail server, and OpenOffice, an office productivity suite. For each of the packages it includes installation instructions, configuration, and basis instructions on how to use it as well as where to go for additional documentation. These are all very useful programs that can make your Windows administration easier and more efficient. Open Source for Windows Administrators is highly recommended.

I haven't seen a book like this yet.. And I should know, I'm writing a Windows / Linux Integration and co-existence book. This book's focus is taking the myriad of open source applications and making them run on Windows. The idea is a good one: save in software costs by using the free stuff out there. There are some good tidbits of information on all sorts of applications which are already common in the Linux world: OpenVPN, OpenLDAP and OpenPGP to name a few. It could be a hard road for Windows administrators (at first) to go down the Open Source path.. and this book is good guide to get going on that path if you want to explore.