Red Hat Linux Network Management Tools (CD-ROM included)

Red Hat Linux Network Management Tools looks at the considerable networking capabilities of Linux 2.2.x from the perspective of a network administrator responsible for fitting the open-source operating system (and its various utilities) into a large, heterogeneous computer network. Despite the title of the book, it doesn't limit itself to Red Hat Linux. The book is also careful to explain key networking technologies such as the TCP/IP protocol stack and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)--so don't be afraid to pick this book up if you're not a whiz at everything to do with networking. As the text introduces you to Linux's tools, you'll learn the technologies with which the tools interact.

The book approaches network-management matters one at a time with Linux tools. In explaining Ethernet monitoring, for example, the text introduces the tcpdump and ethereal tools, and then explains their functions. Readers get full documentation of the utilities, command-line switches and the like, annotated listings of the programs' reports, and descriptions of how to effectively use the reports. The book features particularly deep coverage of SNMP under Linux, with lengthy explanations of how SNMP fits into a well-managed Linux network, documentation of the Management Information Base II (MIB-II), object collection, and SNMP software. --David Wall

Topics covered: Tools and technologies for effectively managing TCP/IP networks involving Linux computers. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is discussed thoroughly and appropriately, and readers find out about the SNMP tools available for Linux. The book also covers other diagnostic and reporting utilities.