Operating System Book Reviews

Operating Systems form the basis of all administration work, and a lot of development work as well. The Operating System is the interface between the user and system, and is the set of applications most often interacted with. Applications themselves will also interface directly with the operating system tools, so the operating system forms a very obvious interaction junction for nearly all computing tasks.

Unix and Linux based operating system books are, for the main part, reviewed here. Unix style operating systems are perhaps the most flexible, ubiquitous and robust operating systems on the planet today. There are also book reviews for DOS and Windows NT and the Windows Registry.

Operating System Book Reviews

Essential System Administration: Essential System Administration is an excellent book for any administrator who has to deal with a number of different Unix based systems. There are slight nuances to each Unix and this books clearly shows how to deal with all the major Unixes in deployment. Essential System Administration is a 'go to book' when faced with an administration task outside the norm. Essential System administration covers most administration tasks with lots of useful background information.
Absolute BSD: Absolute BSD concentrates on the FreeBSD operating system. The writing style is fun and clear, and if you need a good handle on FreeBSD this book makes getting that a lot simpler. Most of the administration side of the FreeBSD system is examined, and good general tips for administration abound throughout Absolute BSD.
The Definitive Guide to the Xen Hypervisor: The Definitive Guide to the Xen Hypervisor is a good look at the Xen Hypervisor (Virtual Machine), going deep into how the Xen Hypervisor works and how it fundamentally differs from other HyperVisors. The hard back book is excellently bound, something that most people remark upon, and the information contained within is top notch. Xen looks to be amongst the top performing HyperVisors and with an industry move to virtualisation for many tasks, Xen is a cream of the crop choice. Armed with the Definitive Guide to the Xen Hypervisor as your side arm, you will quickly pick up how Xen works.
Running Linux: Running Linux offers an excellent user and administration overview of the Linux operating system. From installation to X Windows configuration, Running Linux covers the common steps taken to get a Linux system up. Basic bits of Linux lore are looked at, making the book a journey of wonderment. And, if Running Linux is diligently read, the reader will pick up on the core elements and philosophy of the Linux Operating System.

UNIX in a Nutshell: UNIX in a Nutshell is a reference of command line applications that are fairly standard across all UNIx and unix like operating systems. Most of the information contained in UNIX in a Nutshell can be found in the manual and info pages installed on a standard UNIX or Linux system, but there are extra chapters on the Emacs, vim and sed editors, awk programming language and regular expressions. And, of course, having the man pages in a printed form tends to make for easier reading.
Linux Cookbook: The Linux Cookbook is a good book for Linux administration recipes. There are lots of useful ideas to be found in the Linux Cookbook, and most are well explored and explained. Linux is becoming fast the de facto Unix style operating system, and this book can be used by administrators, developers and interested users alike to better understand Linux based systems. The writing style is clear and informative. Linux Cookbook; a useful book to have around.
UNIX System Administrator Edition
Knoppix Hacks: Knoppix Hacks is a excellent look at the Live Knoppix Linux distribution. Knoppix is a livecd and it makes for a great topic for an O'Reilly Hacks Book. There are load of tips and tricks to be found Knoppix Hacks, and useful information on remastering Knoppix. If you are interested in creating your own LiveCD distribution, Knoppix Hacks gets you the goal in the back of the net.
Linux Administration Handbook: Linux Administration Handbook is a good book to appreciate Linux from a Unix perspective. The Linux Administration Handbook doesn't delve that deeply into Linux itself, instead keeping to the Unix crossover that Linux and Unix systems share. Linux Administration Handbook is a well written book and there is a wealth of useful information to found within.
Embedded Linux Primer
Red Hat Linux Unleashed
Pluggable Authentication Modules
Windows NT in a Nutshell
inside the Windows 95 Registry
Teach Yourself UNIX: Teach Yourself UNIX is a good book for those looking for a gentle intorduction into the world of UNIX and UNIX-like operating systems, such a Linux. Teach Yourself UNIX explains the basics of most Unix systems, and shows the standard commands or applications that will often be found on a Unix system. There is also a section on C programming and compilation using cc. Teach Yourself UNIX is a useful, though not essentail book, for those doing Unix Administration or Linux Adminisration and especially useful given out to users of Unix systems.
Running MS DOS
Windows NT Desktop Reference
Progency Debian Users Guide
LPIC 1
MCSE the Core Exams in a Nutshell
SuSE Linux 8.2 User Guide
SuSE Linux 8.2 User Guide
Red Hat Linux 6.2 Operating System
SuSE Linux 7.1 Configuration
SuSE Linux 7.1 the Handbook
Red Hat 5.1 Linux Installation Guide
Microsoft MS-DOS Users Guide and Reference