By Daniel P. Bovet, Marco Cesati
October 2000
Pages: 702
ISBN 10: 0-596-00002-2 |
ISBN 13: 9780596000028
(Average of 19 Customer Reviews)
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Understanding the Linux Kernel helps readers understand how Linux performs best and how it meets the challenge of different environments. The authors introduce each topic by explaining its importance, and show how kernel operations relate to the utilities that are familiar to Unix programmers and users.
Full Description
- Memory management, including file buffering, process swapping, and Direct Memory Access (DMA)
- The Virtual File System and the Second Extended File System
- Process creation and scheduling
- Signals, interrupts, and the essential interfaces to device drivers
- Timing
- Synchronization in the kernel
- Inter-Process Communication (IPC)
- Program execution
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Book details
First Edition: October 2000
ISBN: 0-596-00002-2
Pages: 702
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 19 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, June 06 2002
The book should be upgraded as the kernel was not 2.2 any longer for quite a while now.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, March 31 2002
I have to reconozise that this book is in my opinion the best book about Kernel Programming. It is a pity that be far networking themes and other themes, for instance, memory management is so far of all the changes that have been
produced in kernel 2.4. I wait that the two excelent coauthors of this book, launch a new release of Understanding.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, March 31 2002
I have to reconozise that this book is in my opinion the best book about Kernel Programming. It is a pity that be far networking themes and other themes, for instance, memory management is so far of all the changes that have been
produced in kernel 2.4. I wait that the two excelent coauthors of this book, launch a new release of Understanding.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, February 08 2002
I have two other books on linux kernel. I wudn't say that this is the best of all three. But this book has done justice to its visioned objective.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, January 07 2002
I have read about 2/3 of the book - specifically the
first 1/3 and many topics after. I am still reading.
This book is excellent for such a difficult
and complex topic. It fills the gaps that the
How-To's and online docs don't cover! For such
a complex topic, the writing and editing is far
above average - indeed, while I could make suggestions,
more than likely they would only end up degrading
the material upon implementation.
The requirements are misleading, as in all technical
books forward. I suggest most readers have some advanced
C - by this I mean a true understanding of pointers,
structures and linked lists, and also have some
familiarity with x86 'kernel' mode. You should
have an Intel data book, and perhaps Tanenbaums book
on Operating System Theory handy (sorry O'Reilly, I
didn't check your catalog).
Like any technical book, plan at least 3 read thru's.
I want to say - again - I am most impressed with the
writing and the editing (often, editors don't get
proper pats-on-backs). In every OS book I've
perused, they mention a program 'loader' and don't specify it.
I've always wondered where Linux's 'loader' was. Now I know.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, November 25 2001
I would classify it in the classic category of Bach.
This book is not for casual reading if you want to get
everything out of it. First install LXR on your system
with the 2.2 kernel (Optionally 2.4 kernel can be indexed
to give a diff). Some difficult to explain parts can be
walked through the code.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, September 16 2001
This is the definitive book that has to be read by anyone trying out to understand kernel code. most of the chapters, althouh specific to linux explains in great detail many of the Operating System concepts(though specific to x86 arch only) .
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, September 11 2001
one of the best books i 've come across . barring networking ,it gives the
complete picture of the internals of the linub kernel.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, September 05 2001
A good systematic approach, special emphasis on hardware keeping x86 in view is a good choice. I would like to know whether the authors have presentation slides based on this book. That would be excellent to support the slides I am preparing. Please let me know at the earliest.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, August 06 2001
As a Linux newbie, I really found this book helpful, especially the source code listings at the end. Even though I don't yet understand it all, this book offers a practical pathway to grasping how the kernel works.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, July 19 2001
Undoubtedly, the best book on the linux kernel out there. Topics are clearly explained and organised. I really appreciate that many code examples are simplified to make them much more readable.
Anyway, don't just read the book pasively, but download the kernel, search the examples, study them with the book besides you. Don't expect to understand everything by the first look.
The book is based on kernel 2.2.x, with a paragraph at the end of every chapter explaining the changes in 2.4.x. I appreciate the book doesn't claim to cover the 2.4.x kernel, as some others do (just to find out, after buying them, that it's not true).
jaume
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, June 16 2001
Good amount of detail and better illustrations than most other Linux internals books. Sadly, already outdated, like so much of the Linux documentation out there. Is anyone working on documentation for Linux on the PowerPC platform?
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, May 04 2001
It's easier of understand than others, and the chapter of buffer cache is great. A Richard Steven's style would do the book excellent.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, March 28 2001
A nice book for understanding the Linux Kernel. Though fans of Bach would
be disappointed a little bit, it is certainly one of the best books
available on the linux kernel today.
The book doesn't covers networking related aspect, but that is understandable
since that will require a book in itself.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, March 06 2001
Good but not enough!
Maybe "Linux Kernel Internal" is a better book yet ;-)
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, January 26 2001
Excellent Book for indepth undertanding of Unix/Linux kernel.
Maybe more diagrams would have made this book one of the best.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, January 21 2001
This is the first book that really covers Linux internals such as buffer cache/page cache interactions. It is easy to read but provides a good level of details to experienced developers. It covers the whole kernel except
networking. If you are interested in memory management, process management and scheduling, file systems or interrupt processing and bottom halves, this book is a must!
It is based on the 2.2.14 kernel. Each chapter has an outlook to 2.4.x.
It does not cover other platforms than the x86. This makes it easier to read and understand, a outlook to other platforms would be useful however.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, January 14 2001
Interesting, but very very dull. I would have
appreciated more examples and much more code.
Understanding the Linux Kernel Review, December 25 2000
This book cover all the aspects of Linux.Any one read this book from beginners to expert.The content and the examples are very good.But the cost is very high.
Media reviews
"Would I buy the book? Undoubtedly, although I don't need it. However if you need to understand Linux source code, then this is the essential guide." - Jan Wysocki, news@UK, June 2001
"Despite the lucid and knowledgeable writing, you'll come up against some brain-stretching complexity. Nevertheless, this book is an important addition to the Linux canon." --Steve Patient, Amazon.co.uk
"Fortunately, times have changed, and now there are several good overviews of the Linux Kernel. Perhaps the most lucid is "Understanding the Linux Kernel" --John Lombardo, Embedded Linux Journal, June 2001
"Online documentation is prolific, but tends to be terse. Fortunately a growing body of literature is developing, a prime example of which is O'Reilly's
Understanding the Linux Kernel Readers will find much of interest in the well-written text." --Major Kearny, Book News, April 2001
"...covers a difficult-to-rasp and technical subject matter, but does it clearly and concisely...a solid grounding in the operation of the Linux Kernel. Rating 9/10." --Richard Drummond, Linux Format, March 2001
"So, taking it as a given the a book about Linux internals is a good thing, how good is this one? Happily, it's very good --better than any previous such book that I've seen. This is a good book. The authors have cracked open a large collection of code that's currently very relevant. If they are in for the long haul and release revised books in a timely way, then this will likely become and remain the definitive explanation of Linux internals." --John Regehr, slashdot.org, January 23, 2001
"O'Reilly continues its tradition of exhaustive and thoroughly lucid guides to all things technical with this thick guided tour of the Linux Kernal. What makes this book stand out among other guides to the Linux operating system is that it takes the time to explain why certain features of the kernal are good or bad for specific applications.It's only a matter of time before this becomes a textbook for advanced college course on operating systems. Highly recommended for serious programmers and application developers." --Netsurfer Digest, Dec 6, 2000
"An outstanding explanation of the kernel that should benefit almost any C/C++ programmer working on Linux. Any programmer who has jumped into the kernal knows there is a real need or a book that takes a reader by the hand and steps through all the major (and sometime minor) internal components and processes of the Linux kernel. Luckily "Understanding the Linux Kernel" not only does that , but it does it very well...the presentation of the material is very well executed, even by O'Reilly's normally high standards...a must-read for anyone doing non-trivial programming on Linux." --Lou Grinzo, internet.com, Dec 22, 2000
"a practical introduction to kernel internals for those who are new to the subject, and I strongly recommend it for any programmer who's competent in C." --www.kuro5hin.org, Feb 14th, 2001
"If you have reached the point where you have learned a few simple ideas about programming in Linux and you would like to know more about kernels then this book is probably for you." --Richard Ibbotson, Sheffield Linux User's Group, Feb 2001 "I am impressed both by the depth of coverage and by the readability of the text, especially bearing in mind the somewhat geek-like nature of the subject that's being discussed. Is the best explanation of Linux kernel internals that I've seen so far. This one's sure to be a classic, buy it if you can." --Developers Review, Feb 2001
"This is a good book. The authors have cracked open a large collection of code that's currently very relevant. If they are in for the long haul and release revised books in a timely way, then this will likely become and remain the definitive explanation of Linux internals." --John Regehr, slashdot.com, January 2001
"After reading this book, you should be able to find your way through the code, distinguishing between crucial data structures and secondary ones"--in short, you'll become a true Linux hacker." --Software World, January 2001
