Knoppix is a portable Linux distribution with a collection of hundreds of programs and utilities--a veritable Swiss Army knife in CD form. This practical and flexible Linux distribution runs on the fly from a single CD with no need to install anything to your hard drive. Knoppix's excellent hardware detection, collection of programs, and ease of use help explain why Knoppix is radically changing the face of Linux. Though Knoppix is the most popular live CD Linux distribution available, until now there have been no books on the topic. A weighty theoretical tome or a book for dummies won't do--the perfect Knoppix book, like Knoppix itself, must be as useful and clever as a Swiss Army knife. Clearly, Knoppix calls for an O'Reilly Hacks book.
`Knoppix Hacks` is a collection of one hundred industrial-strength hacks for new Linux users, power users, and system administers using--or considering using--the Knoppix Live CD. These tips and tools show how to use the enormous amount of software on this CD to troubleshoot, repair, upgrade, disinfect, and generally be productive without Windows. With Knoppix you can:
Test drive a Linux desktop without the need to install Linux
Troubleshoot and repair Linux and Windows systems
Create a thin client network with just one CD
Replace a web server or firewall in an emergency
Perform a security audit on your entire network
Virus scan a Windows computer from the safety of Linux
Customize Knoppix for personal or business use
Easily install the popular Debian GNU/Linux distribution with all of your hardware detected and configured
`Knoppix Hacks` provides ingenious fixes, clever customizations, and time and resource-saving tips.If you want more than the average Knoppix user, this invaluable book is a must-have.
User review
Great tips for the beginner, great reference
Starting as a complete Linux novice, I've used this version of the book and CD to:
- Run Knoppix/Linux as a standalone Operating System
- Connect to the internet w/o a hard-drive installed OS
- Create a dual boot windows/Linux-Debian machine
- Update Debian hard drive using apt-get tool
- Rescue/clone multiple windows hard drives using 'dd'
- Recover crashed windows NTFS drives using 'dd_rescue' and 'dd_rhelp'
- Clone Linux (knoppmyth) hard drives using 'dd'
The book does not tell you much about Linux file systems and how to move files, copy files, extract/create TAR files etc. Recommend Debian Linux Bible to get oriented with Linux commands from the terminal/console.
User review
Non Fiction
Firstly, Knoppix is very cool, and this takes the usefulness and niftyness of that live distribution on a disc and throws a bunch of ideas at you that you can consider using it for.
Some are of the fun stunt variety, but that is what you want in a book like this.
User review
a useful reference
I bought this book to give me a quick boost on Linux and Knoppix as a whole. As with a number of these `Hack` books there is usually a good pearl or Hack to make the book worth while.
This book certainly does that and for someone who need quick tips this book certainly helps. I would consider this a key book for any sys admin's tool kit as it is very useful in support MS OS systems.
User review
FINALLY, Answers to all my Knoppix/Linux questions
First, I have been trying to accomplish several things in the Linux environment that I knew could be made much easier:
- Make `kiosks` for a trade show environment
- Loading Knoppix on the hard drive
- Set up an all Thin Client network for use in public library or k-12 environments
I did all of those things (And many more) the same day I got my Knoppix Hacks book.
Knoppix has proven itself to be an excellent vehicle for promoting the `Usability` of Linux to those who still feel it is beyond the grasp of non-geeks.
The Knoppix Hacks book has proven that advanced knoppix functions are not beyond the geek.
I highly recommend this book to anyone exploring the Linux world and specifically the Knoppix distro. I still have more hacks to try, so I'll be back in a bit ;-)
Robert K. Ruby II
Founder NWSIG
www.aprinciple.org
groups.yahoo.com/group/aprinciple
User review
Great book for data recovery and fixing MBR
I work in data recovery and this book has some great tips. It shows you how recover files from a bad disk. This book also teaches you how to repair the MBR which saved me from reinstalling Windows. Well worth the price.
