Multitool Linux, Practical Uses for Open Source Software
Authors: Michael Schwarz, Jeremy Anderson, Peter Curtis, Stephen Murphy, Jose Nazario
Overview
It's very easy to use this book. Each chapter is a self-contained guide to an
area where open source software can be used. There's even a convenient
"Difficult-o-Meter" heading to each chapter, to give you an idea of
how involved things are going to get.
Intended Audience
If you've been using open source software, and have only had time to learn
enough about it to get the job done, or if you've trying to figure out a way
to get something done, then this book can save you a lot of time.
Highlights
Each of the chapters starts out with an explanation of the task at hand, and then
introduces the software that the authors have used to get the task done. In most
cases, the simplest way is chosen, and indeed you may already be doing it "their way"
without really having thought about it all that much. Since each chapter introduces
a separate subject, I'll list them here:
- Introduction - overview of open source licensing and the GPL.
- Remote Control - introduces VNC.
- Run a Whole Network with One IP Address - IP masquerading.
- Soup Cans and String - Last-Ditch communication methods.
- Samba - Talking to Windows Networks.
- Undernets - Use Apache and CVS.
- E-Mail as a System Console.
- Build a Secure Web-Mail Service supporting IMAP and SSL.
- Extending Apache.
- Secure your E-Mail with GPG.
- Sniffing for Idiots - introduces network sniffing tools.
- All along the watchtower - tripwire and snort
- Secure Connectivity - OpenSSH guide.
- Tools you should know
- Use your Palm Organizer
- Necessary Evils: Runnning Windows Programs
- Remote CD Burning
- Audio Processing
- Music Production
- Speech Synthesis
- Image Processing
- 3D Graphics Production
- Video Production
Rough Spots
I only have seen the first edition, so the chapters on CD burning, audio processing and
video production could be updated to include the great tools that have been developed over
the past two years, but they are still uesful as they stand.
Fun stuff
If you are still using dial-up to connect to the internet, the chapter on using
E-Mail as a System Console may be sufficiently crazy to actually consider doing.
There's even a convenient Disclaimer in this chapter, quite a good idea when you
think about the implications of letting your machine respond to commands it's getting
over email from anywhere in the world.
Things you still remember long time after
The chapter on Secure Connectivity (
OpenSSH) is a very memorable explanation,
and covers things in such a practical way that you'll find yourself almost
completely fearless when the time comes to tackle unusual secure network connectivity issues.
--
PeterKnaggs - 31 Dec 2004
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