"Hello everybody - I am doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional)". This was Linus Torvalds' first Linux announcement on August 25, 1991.
Those simple words describe Linux's humble beginning. It was developed as a clone of Unix. Now Linux is fast becoming the major alternative to Microsoft Windows. Linux comes in various distributions like Caldera, Distros, Geekdom, Mandrake, SuSe, etc., out of which Red Hat Linux is the leading Linux distribution which includes the basic Linux operating system with a number of free applications. Linux is a stable, inexpensive, reliable, secure, flexible and as user friendly as Windows. One can configure Linux as a server and also as a desktop computer. Red Hat includes a number of additional programs and applications that enhance the capability of Linux as the desktop, for small organizations, or as a server for the enterprise. Software like Samba and Open Office in Linux now make interoperability possible for both users as well as system administrators. Unlike Windows, Linux does not require hardware upgradation for its new versions. It is a relief for those IT managers who use a big chunk of their IT budget in funding Microsoft upgrades or licenses. Linux offers a low cost solution because of its open source. This book, by Michael Jang helps the user to get the most from Red Hat Linux.