Why is Linux so efficient? Is it the right operating system for a particular application? What can be learned from looking at the kernel source code? These are the kinds of questions that Understanding the Linux Kernel takes in stride in this guided tour of the code that forms the core of all Linux operating systems. Linux is presented too often as a casual hacker experiment. It has increasingly become not only a mission-critical part of many organizations, but a sophisticated display of programming skill. It incorporates many advanced operating system concepts and has proven itself extremely robust and efficient for a wide range of uses. 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. Major topics include:

• 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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Understanding the Linux Kernel Review,  February 08 2002
Submitted by asim   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Walt Smith   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Joy   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Mohan Kumar S   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by prashant jain   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by R. Prakash   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by William Supon   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Jaume Llardén   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by David A. Kelly   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Alejandro Lucero   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Sandesh Chopdekar   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Adriano Galano   [Respond | View]

Good but not enough!

Maybe "Linux Kernel Internal" is a better book yet ;-)




Understanding the Linux Kernel Review,  January 26 2001
Submitted by Brijesh Nambiar   [Respond | View]



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
Submitted by Martin Frey   [Respond | View]

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
Submitted by Will Stanley   [Respond | View]



Interesting, but very very dull. I would have

appreciated more examples and much more code.




Understanding the Linux Kernel Review,  December 25 2000
Submitted by viji   [Respond | View]

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.

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