System administrators want servers that are cheap, fast, reliable, and easy to configure. For many systems administrators, there’s only one choice: The stable, secure, and freely licensed FreeBSD. FreeBSD’s legendary uptime, community support, and transparency make it an ideal operating system, whether serving a simple web site or as part of a massive cluster.

Absolute FreeBSD, 2nd Edition is the newly updated edition of the best-selling and highly regarded guide to FreeBSD, now covering version 7.0. “Michael W. Lucas, one of a select group of FreeBSD committers, considers this his best work ever,” said No Starch Press Publisher William Pollock. “Having worked with Michael for years and knowing his dedication, that means a tremendous amount to me. I’m sure this book is just what the FreeBSD community has been waiting for.”

Written with the help and advice of dozens of FreeBSD developers, Absolute FreeBSD, 2nd Edition covers installation, networking, security, network services, system performance, kernel tweaking, filesystems, SMP, upgrading, crash debugging, and much more, including coverage of how to:

• Use advanced security features like packet filtering, virtual machines, and host-based intrusion detection
• Manage system-level software, add-ons, and even desktop applications
• Automatically configure hardware and manage network services and filesystems
• Set up email, IMAP, Web, and FTP services for both servers and clients
• Build customized live CDs and embedded FreeBSD devices
• Recover from those rare system crashes, debug problems, and prepare problem reports
• Monitor a system with performance-testing and troubleshooting tools

In a show of support for the FreeBSD community, Michael Lucas donated the very first copy of Absolute FreeBSD for use as an auction item to support the FreeBSD Foundation. Remarkably, the winning bid for the first copy was $600. And the winning bidder? None other than original BSD alumnus Dr. Marshall Kirk McKusick — additional proof that beginners and experienced system administrators alike will find that Absolute FreeBSD, 2nd Edition is the definitive guide to FreeBSD 7.0.

[tags]FreeBSD, system admin[/tags]