Books: A User's Report

Elizabeth Zinkann

This month's selections vary from shell programming to administration to a Web server reference. Specifically, they include: The Korn Shell: Unix and Linux Programming Manual, Third Edition by Anatole Olczak (Addison-Wesley); Tru64 UNIX File Administration Handbook by Steven M. Hancock (Digital Press); Linux for Windows NT/2000 Administrators by Mark Minasi with Dan York and Craig Hunt (Sybex); and Apache Desktop Reference by Ralf S. Engelschall, Foreword by Roy T. Fielding (Addison-Wesley).

The Korn Shell: Unix and Linux Programming Manual
Third Edition
Anatole Olczak
Addison-Wesley
ISBN-0-201-67523-4
446 Pages
$44.95
CD-ROM Included
http://www.aw.com/cseng
http:// www.informit.col.com

One of my favorite aspects of UNIX systems administration is shell programming. According to a recent issue of Sys Admin, many readers share this interest with me. Whether it is an affinity for the programming itself, or for the streamlined procedures it creates, the advantages of the shell are well worth learning. In the Third Edition of this Korn shell programming manual, Olczak has updated the text to reflect changes in "Korn Shell 93". He presents the basic ksh commands and interface, demonstrates how to program shell scripts, and includes coverage of pdksh for Linux.

The first chapter introduces Korn shell and describes where to get it and how to access it, both automatically and from the command line. In the succeeding chapters, Olczak addresses Korn Shell Basics, Variables and Parameters, Editing Commands, Job Control, Performing Arithmetic, The Environment, Writing Korn Shell Scripts, and Miscellaneous Commands. The Appendices contain A) Sample .p