Professional Linux Kernel Architecture (Wrox Programmer to Programmer)

Find an introduction to the architecture, concepts and algorithms of the Linux kernel in Professional Linux Kernel Architecture, a guide to the kernel sources and large number of connections among subsystems. Find an introduction to the relevant structures and functions exported by the kernel to userland, understand the theoretical and conceptual aspects of the Linux kernel and Unix derivatives, and gain a deeper understanding of the kernel. Learn how to reduce the vast amount of information contained in the kernel sources and obtain the skills necessary to understand the kernel sources.

User review
Linux review

Would have preferred if there were a high level overview sections in each chapter.
and then the code details separate.

Each chapter does a smooth transition to low level details. A good read for deep dive into internals.
Still reading,,.

User review
An excellent guide to Linux kernel.
It is an excellent book which will guide you through Linux kernel. It is based on version 2.6.26, but the book is still compatible with more recent versions of kernel. Author uses a good way of writing, so it is an easy and pleasant book to read.

A unique drawback I see in the book is about its index, which I believe is too short.


User review
Haven't found it useful so far
I purchased this book to use as a reference. I work in a group that does device driver development. I've picked up this book twice to look at since purchasing. Both times I've been disappointed. First to find out about calling device driver routines without invoking the big kernel lock. I didn't find the information. I did find info in the other book: `Understanding the Linux Kernel, Third Edition`. Today I wanted to learn about how to do profiling or in other words which threads are taking up the most CPU time. Couldn't find anything in this book, but did find a small amount in the other book.

Seems every section of this book starts with an intro of why the information is important. Frankly I know why it is important to me, and I would prefer all of that text be deleted.

User review
Very good but you need a lot of spare time to read it!
Very good reading, it explain how kernel works with a lot of code source from recent version of kernel. You must have a lot of time to dedicate to this book!

User review
Overbearing and huge
I picked up Mauerer's work on the bookish desire to keep my Kernel book library complete - and contrary to my hopes I was disappointed right from the introduction.

The book is 1337 pages long, which in itself is a negative and the leading reason for the low score - being clear (which the author is) should not come at the expense of being concise. All major areas of kernel architecture are covered, and the author often covers operating systems basics not found in such books, which partly explains (but hardly justifies) the bulk.

The kernel version covered in the book is 2.6.24, which is newer than that covered by Robert Love's book, which remains my recommendation regardless because of its pointedly zeroing in on the relevant bits, instead of exploring every single minutia along the way as Mauerer does here.

The book has merit for a bookworm such as myself, who will refer to it on a chapter basis, but is not the top choice for someone entering the subject anew.

For general use (i.e. where your bookshelf does not include every Linux kernel book ever published), Love's `Linux Kernel Development` (2nd ed) is a much better architectural introduction. If you miss operating system's basics, your first stop should be Tanenbaum's `Operating Systems Design and Implementation` (3rd ed) as well as his `Modern Operating Systems` (3rd ed) before you even think to start poking at the Linux kernel and get overwhelmed by the number of concepts you should have had previous familiarity with. Finally, if you are driven to the Linux kernel by device drivers, as is the most common case, Corbet, Rubini and Kroah-Hartman's `Linux Device Drivers` (3rd ed) definitely belongs on your shelf, although the very recent `Essential Linux Device Drivers` by Vekateswaran mounted the first credible threat to it in a decade, being both thorough and possibly tying Love for the spot as most enjoyable kernel book I have read to date - I would recommend a new device driver developer to go with both, possibly augmented by Love if more architectural knowledge is desired.

The bottom line is that this is a valiant effort, but that the author should have focused more. If you have the time to read thirteen-hundred pages, your time is better invested reading the titles above recommended, picking two or three depending on your exact focus in the subject - you will still be done faster than reading this one!