``You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.''
Before you looms one of the most complex and utterly intimidating systems ever written. Linux, the free operating system for the 80386 and 80486. Linux, the great accomplishment of the free software world. Linux-the name is enough to strike terror into the hearts of men (and, of course, women, and perhaps small animals as well). Not only is it difficult to pronounce, it's almost impossible to comprehend.
Linux was produced by a mishmash team of UNIX gurus, hackers, and the occasional loon. The system itself reflects this complex heritage. The jungle is deep and dangerous. You are entering the realm of black magic and deep wizardry, of voodoo programming and subtle obfuscation. Monsters lurk behind every tree, ready to pounce. Making your way though it alone-well, you can forget about that.
You hold in your very hands the map and guidebook to the many-faceted world of Linux. Armed with this guide, neither the novice nor the guru need fear this system ever again. In fact, setting up your own Linux system can be a great deal of fun. Sit back. Relax. Read on.
This is the second edition of this book. The first edition was specific to the then-popular SLS distribution of Linux. Since that time, Linux has diversified in many ways, and many separate distributions are becoming available. This version is a complete installation and new-user guide, intended to be general for any distribution. The first three chapters have been bagged and replaced with two new chapters, much more comprehensive than the original. The appendices have been revised, and various sections have been tweaked to remain up-to-date with the many changes taking place within the Linux community.