Customizing and Upgrading Linux ^{2nd Ed.}

A fast-paced guide to customizing and performing upgrades to Linux on a network.

In order to fulfill Linux's promise of delivering speed, efficiency, and reliability to a network, you must be able to properly customize and perform upgrades on this operating system. Updated to reflect all the recent changes to the core Linux kernel up through version 2.4, this new edition of the McKinnons' popular book gets you quickly up to speed on everything you need to to know to customize and upgrade your systems. Following the highly successful approach that the McKinnons have refined during their years as professional trainers, this accessible guide takes you step-by-step through the decisions and procedures required to customize Linux and make use of the many available upgrades.

This book shows you how to:

• Install Linux on an IDE or SCSI/RAID system
• Install Linux using NFS
• Configure the video and monitor performance
• Upgrade the kernel using RPM packages

1. Preparing for Installation: Chronicling Your Equipment
• Do Not Be Afraid; Just Do Your Homework
• What Type of System Do You Have?
• Discovering and Chronicling Your System’s Equipment
2. Hard Disk Partition Planning and Preparation
• Swap Space Options
• How Much Swap Space Is Required?
• Hard Disk Partitioning
• Master Boot Record and the Partition Table
• The Boot Process
• Linux and LILO
• Disk Partitioning: A Simple Approach
• Disk Partitioning: A Complex Approach
3. Installing Linux from a CD-ROM
• Initiating a Linux Installation
• Creating the Install Boot Disk from a DOS/Windows System
• Creating the Install Boot Disk from a UNIX System
• Invoking the Linux Installation Program
• Entering Information in the Installation Program
• Installing Linux on an IDE System
• Stepping through the Installation
• Installing Linux on a SCSI System
• Reconfiguring the System
4. Installing Linux by Using NFS
• Quick Review of Configuration
• NFS Configuration Details
• Preparing the NFS Server
• Preparing the NFS Client
• Typical NFS File Sharing
• NFS Solution for Windows
• Set Up the NFS Server
• Set Up the NFS Client
5. Configuring the Video
• Video Signal Generation
• Video-Adapter Memory
• Basic Video-Adapter Bus
• Video Display
• Basic Monitor Design
• Video Frame and Synchronization
• How HSPs and VSPs Are Related
• Monitor Performance and Capabilities
• Monitor Age
• Bandwidth
• Vertical Frequency
• Horizontal Frequency
• Dot Pitch
• Interlacing
• Getting Ready for Video Configuration
• The XF86Config File: Heart of the X Server
• Using SuperProbe to Obtain Video Information
• Using Xconfigurator to Create the Basic XF86Config File
• Example Configuration
• How to Install X from Scratch
6. Configuring Printers
• Basic Commands and Utilities
• Configuring Local Printing
• Technical Printing Details
• Configuring Remote Printing
• Prerequisites
7. Adding, Replacing, and Upgrading RPM Packages
• RPM Definition and Package Management
• RPM Naming Convention
• SRPM versus RPM
• Determining A Package’s Function and Contents
• Applying Maintenance or Updating a Newly Installed System
• Replacing and Upgrading the XFree86 Package
• Using Packages to Install XF86Setup
• Tutorial
8. Upgrading the Kernel by Using RPM Packages
• Why Upgrade or Patch the Kernel?
• A Typical Security Advisory
• Suggested Upgrade Procedure for Red Hat V7.X
• A Quick Guide for RedHat V6.X RPM Upgrade
9. Configuring the Kernel
• Linux Kernel Configuration Menu
• Code Maturity Level Options
• Processor Types and Features
• Loadable Module Support
• General Setup
• Plug and Play Support Option
• Block Devices
• Networking Options
• Network Device Support
• SCSI Support
• Filesystems
• Save and Exit
10. Installing a New Kernel by Building a New Source Tree
• Modules
• The Modules Concept: How They Work
• Finding a New Kernel
• Installing a New Kernel

This was an OK book in 2002, but even then it was nothing to get excited about.