Essential System Administration, 3rd Edition

Conventions Used in This Book

The following typographic and usage conventions are used in this book:

italic

Used for filenames, directory names, hostnames, and URLs. Also used liberally for annotations in configuration file examples.

constant width

Used for names of commands, utilities, daemons, and other options. Also used in code and configuration file examples.

constant width italic

Used to indicate variables in code.

constant width bold

Used to indicate user input on a command line.

constant width bold italic

Used to indicate variables in command-line user input.

Warning

Indicates a warning.

Tip

Indicates a note.

Note

Indicates a tip.

he, she

This book is meant to be straightforward and to the point. There are times when using a third-person pronoun is just the best way to say something: “This setting will force the user to change his password the next time he logs in.” Personally, I don’t like always using “he” in such situations, and I abhor “he or she” and “s/he,” so I use “he” some of the time and “she” some of the time, alternating semi-randomly. However, when the text refers to one of the example users who appear from time to time throughout the book, the appropriate pronoun is always used.