Tuning and Customizing a Linux System targets new users of Linux systems who already know the basics. There are a plethora of books about the basic tasks of installing, administrating, and using Linux- based operating systems (called "distributions"). At the other extreme, there are many books about advanced topics such as developing Linux software, modifying source code, and so forth. Tuning and Customizing a Linux System fills in a gap between these simple and advanced topics. Dan Morrill first describes what a Linux distribution actually consists of, and then explores three popular distributions in detail. This provides the reader with a complete, practical understanding of what is going on under the covers, without getting into arcane detail. By discussing three distributions, it also gives the reader an in-depth perspective into how different systems do things in different ways, which prepares the reader with insight to work with any distribution, even one not discussed in the book. Morrill also includes three real-world case studies. Readers will come away with a genuine mastery of Linux-based operating systems.