Knoppix Hacks: Tips and tools for using Linux Live CD to hack, repair, and enjoy your PC
Knoppix Hacks: Tips and tools for using Linux Live CD to hack, repair, and enjoy your PC
If you think Knoppix is just a Linux demo disk, think again. Klaus Knopper created an entire Linux distribution on a bootable CD (and now a DVD) so he could use his favorite open source tools on any computer. This book contains a collection of tips and techniques to use huge amount of software Knoppix offers, not just to work and play, but also to troubleshoot, repair, upgrade, and disinfect your system without having to install anything.
Knoppix Hacks is just like DISTRIBUTI
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A Fantistic Resource,
Like all the O’Reilly hack books, Knoppix Hacks consists of a collection of recipes for carrying out a variety of tasks. The overwhelming majority of the recipes stand on their own, so you can use them without reading the rest of the book.
The Knoppix version 5.1.1 DVD is included with the book. Since Knoppix is a live-boot DVD, arguably the premier live-boot DVD, you don’t have to modify your system’s hard disk in order to try out most of the ideas in the book. This makes for a great environment for experimentation and learning. You have a sandbox in RAM where you can play with new concepts and commands without messing up your hard disk.
In this reviewer’s opinion, Knoppix Hacks 2nd edition is one of the very best computer books available, and belongs in the library of every technically-inclined PC owner.
Full Disclosure: The publisher, O’Reilly, gives many books to Kernel-Panic Linux Users Group for review. I am a founding member of the group and am currently serving as its treasurer. The review copy of Knoppix Hacks went to another member, and I purchased my own copy. A more complete review and errata is available on my website.
Pros:
This book is well-organized, well-written, and has both depth and breadth. It is an excellent resource for learning Linux. Although many of the recipes cover advanced topics, they are relatively easy to follow in part because they start with the system in a known state — booted from the included Knoppix DVD.
Knoppix Hacks covers everything from familiarizing you with the KDE desktop, to mastering your own customized Knoppix DVD. Two examples: Do you want to learn the basics of Linux system administration? Read Chapter 5, “Put Knoppix in Your Toolbox”. Do you want to use free software for Windows system administration — possibly saving hundreds of dollars? Read Chapter 7, “Rescue Windows”.
There are a lot more pros I could list, but you get the idea.
I found a few cons, but they are very minor:
The included version of Knoppix is not suitable for really old PCs that lack DVD drives. But, the text explains how to download and burn your on copy of the Knoppix CD version.
On the copyright page, my copy shows a printing date of November 2007 and a copyright date of 2008 — that seems odd.
The book contains a few terms and phrases that the editor probably should have changed. In the in forward they say some “forged new ground” instead of “broke new ground”. They talk of “MD5sum” rather than “md5sum”, the command, or “MD5 sum”, the algorithm.
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|Pleasantly Surprised,
I had heard that Knoppix would allow the installation of OS’ without the need to leave the parent process — something I couldn’t figure out. I browsed this book and saw the many intriguing options Knoppix had to offer. After buying (at full retail) I immediately tried the options.
I was able to get my Nvidia card synced up to my SyncMaster at 1680×1050 with depth of 24…AND…it is persistent. For that alone, the book paid for itself.
At the moment, I’m finding, with the help of this book, that Knoppix may be the do-all system I’ve been searching for. Currently, I’m running Ubuntu 7.10 and LinuxMint. What I want is a thin streamlined Linux and I think I’ve found it with the help of this book.
BTW, some of the files pointed to in the book do not exists but can be found on the net.
Highly Recommended!
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|Great Knoppix Resource,
Knoppix is an outstanding programming achievement, allowing users to boot Linux from CD/DVD without installation (WITHOUT installation?!?). Also contained in the Knoppix package is a whole slew of open source tools and other favorite goodies that any Linux programmer might want to use and learn from. Knoppix has so many tasties and fun stuff present that content wasn’t the problem, instead navigating through all this had to offer was the only issue. With ‘Knoppix Hacks: Tips and Tools for Using the Linux Live CD to Hack, Repair, and Enjoy Your PC’ those days of navigating through Knoppix have come to an end. Jam packed with 120 tips and tricks of the trade, you will learn it all. From basic administration to desktop tweaks to file I/O work to playing with Windows, it’s all here. If you are a Linux lover that wants to learn what Knoppix can do for you or you simply are a weekend computer warrior that wants to take it to the next level, this is a great guide, written in the classic spirit of past ‘Hacks’ books by O’Reilly.
***** RECOMMENDED
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