Press Release
May 3, 2004
"Linux Unwired": A Complete Guide to Going Wireless with Linux
Sebastopol, CA--If you purchase a Windows or Mac OS laptop these days,
it's likely that it will come with a wireless card. There's little more
you need to do than turn it on to enjoy wireless access. For Linux users,
however, out-of-the-box wireless is neither commonly available nor
desirable. And it's not because Linux users necessarily choose to do
things in a more complicated manner than everyone else; rather, the beauty
of Linux is that it offers so much ground for customization and
flexibility. Configuring wireless access for Linux can be a little more
challenging than for other operating systems, but it offers unbridled
possibilities in terms of power and freedom. Those who want to take full
advantage of Linux's wireless capabilities will find a complete resource
to wireless configuration in Linux Unwired (O'Reilly, US $24.95) by
Roger Weeks, Edd Dumbill, and Brian Jepson.
Linux Unwired provides a detailed introduction to all the wireless
technologies supported by Linux and shows how to get all of
them--including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, GPS, and infrared--working
nicely and working together. Linux users will learn how to install and
configure a variety of wireless technologies to fit different scenarios,
including an office or home network and for use on the road.
"With the continued focus towards Linux on the desktop, [Linux Unwired]
really addresses a key issue, namely, how to make the various wireless
technologies work with a Linux installation, particularly on a notebook
PC," explains Weeks. "The book also showcases how flexible a Linux
wireless notebook can be--much more capable than a Windows notebook,
for instance."
"Linux is getting better all the time," adds Jepson, "and the ways that it
can be combined with wireless are growing all the time. Plus, there are
exciting developments that combine the power of Linux as a platform and
wireless, such as BlueFOAF--an application that scans your list of friends
from your FOAF (friend of a friend) file and allows you to associate them
with nearby discoverable Bluetooth devices
(http://usefulinc.com/edd/blog/2004/2/1)."
Bluetooth is especially handy for people on the move, notes Dumbill, as
there's no need to carry along a bag of assorted connectors. "You're
always likely to forget the most important one!" he says. "The Bluetooth
chapter in the book covers how to do everything from hooking up to the
cell phone, to networking and printing via Bluetooth. Aside from the power
and video cable, it's possible to completely remove cabling from your office!"
Other topics in Linux Unwired include:
Connecting to wireless hotspots
Cellular data plans you can use with Linux
Wireless security, including WPA and 802.1x
Finding and mapping Wi-Fi networks with Kismet and gpsd
Connecting Linux to your Palm or Pocket PC
Sending text messages and faxes from Linux through your cellular phone
With years of community involvement to go along with their combined
experience in wireless networks and system administration, authors Weeks,
Jepson, and Dumbill not only know how to go wireless, but why hackers
should do it in the first place. Linux Unwired shares this experience
with any Linux user who is ready go unwired, too. From understanding the
technology to putting it into practice, this book covers it all.
Additional Resources:
Linux Unwired
Roger Weeks, Edd Dumbill, and Brian Jepson
ISBN 0-596-00583-0, 297 pages, $24.95 US, $36.95 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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