Linux Kernel in a Nutshell

"Linux Kernel in a Nutshell" by Greg Kroah-Hartman is a comprehensive guide to building, customizing, and installing the Linux kernel. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Kernel Configuration and Building: The book focuses on the essential steps required to build and customize the Linux kernel. It covers topics such as retrieving the kernel source, configuring the kernel, and installing it properly.
2. Practical Approach: The book is designed to be practical and accessible, requiring no prior programming experience. It assumes some familiarity with using Linux and basic command-line usage.
3. Customization: It emphasizes the need for customization, as no distribution can provide a kernel that meets all users' needs. The book provides insights into reconfiguring and rebuilding the kernel for specific hardware requirements, such as sound, wireless support, and power management.
4. Enterprise Features: The book also covers enterprise features like logical volume management, which is crucial for large servers.

Plot Summary

The book is organized into four parts:

1. Part I: Building the Kernel - This section covers the entire process of retrieving, building, installing, and upgrading the Linux kernel. It includes chapters on the introduction to kernel building, requirements for building and using the kernel, retrieving the kernel source, configuring and building the kernel, installing and booting from a kernel, and upgrading the kernel.
2. Part II: Configuration and Installation - This part delves deeper into the configuration process, including how to determine the needed drivers for your hardware and how to control kernel options at runtime.
3. Part III: Advanced Topics - This section covers more advanced topics related to kernel configuration and management.
4. Part IV: Reference Material - This part includes recipes for common tasks and reference material for further learning.

Critical Reception

The book has received positive reviews for its practical approach and comprehensive coverage of kernel configuration and building. It is praised for making the process of building a customized kernel accessible to users without extensive programming experience. The book's goal of encouraging more people to participate in Linux kernel development has also been noted positively.

Availability

The book is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license, making it freely downloadable and redistributable. It is also available in print format through various retailers.