Customer Reviews
Excellent Reference Book 
2008-08-31
I was looking for SUSE Linux book and read dozens of reviews for different books hoping to find the one I needed on my first try. It seemed like most of the reviews I read were written by people new to linux and were focused on how well the books succeeded at providing a simple introduction. This book was universally rejected as being too big, too detailed and difficult to follow for a first time user - so I bought it. I am a Unix/Linux engineer with years of experience with Irix, Tru64, Solaris and RedHat. I have just recently taken on some SLES 10 systems and needed a reference book to speed up understanding the subtle differences of this linux version. An introduction to Linux book wouldn't tell me much that would help with the sorts of problems I'm running into. I needed something that would give in depth information on how to configure various services from the command line. I should be grateful for the other poor reviews. That made it so I could get a good unmarked copy for $.89 plus shipping. This is the perfect reference manual for an advanced user who needs to learn the specifics of SLES.
Great Chapter Titiles & Section Headings. Ignorant editing 
2007-12-18
This book has all the right Chapters and sections.
It's a pretty good refresher -- especially if you don't mind reading poor explanations and worse code recommendations.
I'm not sure what to find most remarkable: a) that editors were involved in this project (and they put their names on it); b) this is the 2nd edition; or c) no one appears to have written a significantly better all-inclusive text.
If you know of a better all-inclusive reference, please post it here.
Loaded With Interesting Information on Linux 2007-12-06
I bought this book for the DVD, but later I found it very interesting. I am not a raw Linux beginner, thus I didn't use it to help me to install Linux or to run it. Nevertheless the book is packed with useful and interesting information, not only about the command line, but also about many other things. The last chapters are on virtualization, which is a hot topic. In particular, it discusses Novell's strategy and products. I agree with some of the other reviewers' criticisms, but I consult this book often. The other book that you should have is "Running Linux" by Matt Welsh et al..
A poorly organized reference book 
2006-08-13
This book simply can not be read cover to cover. If you are looking for a beginners guide to SUSE, don't get this book.
If you are looking for a reference book with a lot of good technical information in it, this book isn't for you either. It has a useless index, and the content is scattered crazily throughout.
I recommend instead Beginning SUSE Linux, From Novice to Professional. This book is written for Suse 9.1, but is great for a beginner. I have been using Suse for 9 months, and still got a great deal of helpful information from this one.
Good luck, and don't give up on Linux, it is great!
Did they get paid by the page? 2006-05-03
I needed an in depth course on SuSE 10 and thought this would be it. Unfortunately, the authors wrote as if they got paid by the page. They would regularly rehash what they had discussed in the last section as if the "last section" wasn't still visible half-way up the page and they would constantly give instructions about neophyte computer skills such as how to pull off a ctrl-D or put a CD into a drive (shinny side down, apparently). But, when more information was definitely called for, such as when they list a shell command with half a dozen options, they would suddenly become quite sketchy. I didn't expect a complete command list for Linux that described every option, but if you rattle off a command with a sizable chunk of the alphabet as options, then maybe a brief description of what you're suggesting someone do on their computer is in order. Another annoyance is the authors' insatiable desire to give everyone a few history lessons along the way. If I need to know the back-story of Linux, the various other Novell products, Linus Torvalds, the Internet, the ISO OSI model or the personal computer, I'll look it up online. I needed an in depth course on SuSE 10. Instead, I got a bloated introduction riddled with inane redundancy, tangential trivia and dubiously helpful instructions while completely lacking in any comprehensive detail. This book was at least four times as long as was needed for their level of instruction.
I would have given the book 1 star, but the DVD with SuSE 10 on it was great once I added a few applications and updates. After playing around with over 15 different distros, I've settled on SuSE. The current version is head and shoulders above anything else I've tried and a new version (OSS 10.1) is due out any time. If you need a great Linux OS, I highly recommend SuSE 10.x, but if you need to learn about it, I would suggest a different book.
Suse 10.0 bible 2006-03-30
- Includes new coverage of Novell Linux Desktop and Open Enterprise Server (Novell's traditional environment running on SUSE), with information on YaST management tools and the OpenExchange e-mail server
- Introduces basic Linux methodologies, including partitions, filesystems, filesystem layout, and more
- Covers the SUSE system, command line programs, implementing online services, and using SUSE business tools in the enterprise setting
- Features a section devoted to end-user needs
- Also covers virtualization, including dosemu, wine, Crossover Office, uml xen and Vmware, expanded coverage of SUSE with sendmail, CUPS, LDAP and more
- Companion DVD includes the SUSE Linux distribution
Leaves much to be desired 2006-03-28
Particularly lengthy book. Repetitive to the point of confusion. And with several contradictions as to its "spirit".
For example, it mentions just in passing the scenario where the computer doesn't have adequate capabilities for running the YaST graphical interface. In that case, SUSE linux will revert to a cumbersome text based installation interface which is considerably more painful than -i presume- YaST. It takes a brief google search to realize the large numbers of users who run into the problem. Yet, the 1000-page book provides no help. In case case you are a novice, you have to be a lucky one in order to be able to install relying on this book. Because the text version is not straightforward for the unlucky novice who gets treated with it. I am one of those.
Yet, when the authors decide to talk about partitions, they assume that everything has been installed successfully and then they start describing partitioning using "fdisk". In that case, they present something that no novice would ever use once successfully installing in the first place. Who is this book's target audience, after all? Those who wouldn't need help installing with the considerably less accomodating text version, or those who will mess with partitions using fdisk?
Furthermore, they devote three lines as to the introduction of the concept of mounting. Very clumsy explanation of the concept, with no examples whatsoever. Yet, they devote a long paragraph to suggest that you shouldn't pick your name or that of your spouse as your password.
And several other inconsistencies of that sort. These inconsistencies make it a rather hard book with nonnegligible holes for a novice, yet an unnecessary long one for the experienced user.
Great for budding admins & home networking geeks 
2006-03-13
This is not a book for complete beginners. The reason is that applications are not covered, and the book is sorely lacking the step-by-step guides to enable multimedia features, nvidia drivers, java, flash, etc - you know, the first things you need to do anyway. So don't buy this to your grandma. This is why I give 4, not 5 stars.
Instead, this is a great book for someone with some Linux experience. The emphasis of the book is on the Command Line, Network services (servers) and some small enterprise needs. With each topic, the authors always first explain how it is done from the command line, and after that, with Yast (SUSE's 'Control Center'). They also explain technical concepts quite well - for example when discussing DHCP, they take several pages to explain what is really happening in the network, then start with configuration examples.
I loved this book, I actually read all of it. After 3 years of Mandrake/Mandriva desktop use, I think this is a perfect book for my SUSE transition. I have learned a load of concepts and tricks from it. And a surprisingly large proportion of the material is applicable to any Linux distribution. With it's price and 800 pages, it's good bang for the buck!
PS. The DVD included is SUSE Professional, not OpenSUSE.
An excellent book for SuSE Linux. 2006-03-12
The book of Justin Davies presents very clearly
the SUSE Linux 10.
It is understable and it guides the reader to learn
to use and exploit the SuSE Linux.
I recommend the book to all
the Amazon customers,
interested in learning SUSE Linux
and to use the excellent distribution of SUSE
Linux that the book has in DVD,
in their business.
Personally, I use both the SUSE Linux and the Fedora
Red-Hat one, in my academic and research work.
Both are of supreme quality and fully compatible at the
binary level. I installed the SUSE distribution
from the offered DVD with the book,
and it runs perfectly!
