Official Damn Small Linux Book, The: The Tiny Adaptable Linux That Runs on Anything

Product Author Bios

Robert Shingledecker’s IT career spans 35 years, beginning with hand-coding machine language programs targeted for Burroughs Corporation minicomputers. Later, he enjoyed using an assembler and then COBOL. Always having a passion for computers, he was an advocate for COMAL, and was an early hacker on MINIX and Coherent OS. In regards to Linux projects, Robert led the first large-scale deployment of Linux in the city of Garden Grove, California, where in 1994 he deployed Samba on DG/UX systems. He also designed a massively scalable Linux/AOLserver/Sybase e-commerce system. Robert then became CTO of several Linux-based dot-com companies. While building Linux-based, no install, live CD-ROM appliances, including firewalls, VPN, web, email, and database appliances, he became interested in Damn Small Linux. Soon, Robert joined John Andrews to help lead Damn Small Linux development. Now retired, Robert spends his time writing code and working on Damn Small Linux. He also enjoys traveling.

John Andrews is the creator of Damn Small Linux (DSL). As owner of a bead and jewelry store in 1996, John learned HTML and Perl to develop his own website. It eventually broadened to running websites for others on Linux servers. His interest in Linux encouraged him to switch to a Linux desktop full time. The appeal of fast and efficient applications led John to develop Damn Small Linux. After trying several mini-distributions, primarily for diagnostic and system recovery, John wanted to build a sub-50MB distribution that essentially had what  he needed to accomplish a day’s work; the result was the Damn Small Linux distribution. John’s proficiencies include Perl, shell scripting, Lua, awk, *SQL, php, and some C programming languages.

Christopher Negus has been one of the world’s leading writers of Linux books for nearly a decade. His Red Hat Linux Bible series has sold more than one-quarter million copies worldwide. Chris also authored or coauthored the books Linux Bible (2005 through 2007 editions), Linux Toys, Linux Toys II, and Linux Troubleshooting Bible for Wiley Publishing. For Prentice Hall, Chris is the editor of the Negus Live Linux Series and author of that series’ flagship book, Live Linux CDs. Before becoming a full-time author, Chris Negus worked on UNIX operating system development teams at AT&T Bell Labs, UNIX System Labs, and Novell in the 1980s and 1990s. In particular, Chris worked in the areas of UNIX system administration and networking. When not working on computer books, Chris likes to spend time with his family: Sheree, Seth, and Caleb. Chris also enjoys playing soccer, singing opera (when nobody can hear him), and making things out of old computers.

Make the Most of Today’s Smallest, Fastest Desktop Linux Distribution–Damn Small Linux!

Damn Small Linux (DSL) is a super-efficient platform for everything from custom desktops to professional servers. Now, DSL’s creator and lead developer have written the first definitive, practical guide to this remarkable system. The Official Damn Small Linux Book brings together everything you need to put DSL to work in just minutes. Simply learn a few essentials, boot the live CD-ROM, and master the rest...one step at a time, hands-on.

If you’re new to Linux, you can quickly discover how to use DSL to take your data on the road, safely running your programs and personal environment on nearly any computer. Easily adapt DSL to run on anything from an alternative device (Internet appliance, hand-held, diskless PC, or mini-ITX system) to an older PC that might otherwise be headed for landfill.

Use this book and CD-ROM package to

• Run DSL at blazing speed, from CD, USB pen drive, or directly from RAM
• Run DSL from your hard drive or in a virtual environment within Windows
• Add applications and create shareable extensions
• Customize and remaster DSL to create your own distribution
• Build a complete music and multimedia server
• Use Skype VoIP phone service in DSL
• Quickly set up an XAMPP Web server, complete with MySQL, PHP, and Perl, to host your personal Web pages

 CD-ROM Includes

• Several versions of Damn Small Linux that let you run DSL directly from the CD, a Windows desktop, a pen drive, or your PC’s RAM.
• Software packages (MyDSL extensions) including everything you need to create an Edna music server, Skype® VoIP calling client, multimedia picture frame, and tiny XAMPP Web server.
• Tools for rebuilding and remastering Damn Small Linux.

Your Practical, Hands-On Guides to Getting Real Results with Free Software

Every book in this series encourages and challenges you to advance in the free software world. Boot the accompanying live DVD or CD and watch the Linux system, applications, and content described in the book come to life. When you finish, you’ll know how to use, customize, and rebuild that open source software. Start as a novice, by trying out examples...and finish as a professional!

System Requirements

• Processor: 486DX (recommended Pentium I) or higher
• Memory: 32MB RAM or more (can run entirely in memory in 128MB RAM)
• Disk space: No hard disk space required to run from CD-ROM or USB thumb drive; 50MB minimum for frugal hard disk installs; 200-300MB recommended minimum for traditional hard disk installs
• Graphics: SVGA-capable card with monitor capable of 800x600 resolution

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xvii

About the Authors xix

Introduction 1

Part I: Using Damn Small Linux 7

Chapter 1: Overview of Damn Small Linux 9

Chapter 2: Booting DSL 29

Chapter 3: Using DSL Applications 47

Chapter 4: Configuring and Saving DSL Settings 71

Chapter 5: Extending Applications with MyDSL 99

Part II: DSL Beyond the Live CD 119

Chapter 6: Running a Native Pen Drive Install 121

Chapter 7: Running DSL Embedded in Windows 139

Chapter 8: Installing DSL in Alternate Ways 151

Chapter 9: Performing a Traditional Hard Drive Install 177

PART III: Creating Extensions and Remastering 187

Chapter 10: Adding Applications and Creating Shareable Extensions 189

Chapter 11: Setting up a Full Remastering Environment 211

PART IV: Making Damn Small Linux Projects 243

Chapter 12: Running DSL on Alternative Hardware 245

Chapter 13: Making an Edna Music Server in DSL 259

Chapter 14: Using Skype VoIP Service in DSL 271

Chapter 15: Running a Digital Media Frame with DSL 291

Chapter 16: Setting up an XAMPP Web Server in DSL 313

Part V: Appendixes 339

Appendix A: On the CD 341

Appendix B: MyDSL Extensions 345

Downloadable Sample Chapter

Download Chapter 1: Overview of Damn Small Linux

Index

Download the Index

Introduction

Download the Introduction

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 1 and Index)