Acknowledgments

Writing a book about a server operating system, specifically the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, requires not only knowing the current information that needs to be put into print, but also in knowing the right people who can either provide or nudge us in the direction of the correct information. We appreciate the backing we received from the various support groups at Novell.

Peter Kuo: I am grateful that Kim Groneman (Chief Grasshopper Herder, Novell Product Support Forums) and John Cox (Chief Grasshopper Herder, Novell Developer Support Forums) tolerated my disappearance from the Forums for weeks at a time when busy meeting this book's schedule.

I am especially honored to have Jacques as the co-author on this particular book project. A big hug goes to his lovely wife, Carol, for allowing me to badger Jacques senseless until he agreed to write the book. I would also like to thank my parents for periodically sliding pieces of cold pizza under the office door to keep me writing. Special thanks go to SAB for calling me a "glutton for punishment" again when she was told that another Novell Press book was in the works. Finally, a nice juicy T-bone goes to Tasha, my beloved Golden Retriever, for tagging along for long walks in the knee-deep snow at Bruce's Mill Conservation Area (how come book projects always start in winter?!) when I needed to do some quiet thinking, and for tirelessly listening to all my complaints about book deadlines and RPM package dependencies.

Jacques Béland: As co-author of this book, I would like to express my thanks to Peter for his invitation into the world of technical writing. Over the years, Peter has been a mentor and a guide into the wonderful world of computing. Having the opportunity to collaborate on this work is something quite special. As Peter elaborated above, the support from my family has been wonderful. Both Carol and my son Eric have been quite patient as I horded computers and resources, testing and retesting applications. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Ted for his friendship and support. As the third member of the infamous Computer Room Crew from our university days, Ted has always been available as a sounding board, a computer resource and, when writing got really tough, a psychoanalyst. For that, I am truly grateful.

The folks at Pearson/Novell Press who were involved with this project provided much-needed guidance throughout the project. George Nedeff (our Project Editor) and Emmett Dulaney (our Development Editor) and Timothy Boronczyk (our Technical Editor) did an outstanding job in providing the much-needed prodding, shaping, and formatting of the book. This book would never have gotten off the ground if not for our Acquisitions Editor, Jenny Watson, for recognizing the need for it. A big hand goes to Timothy Boroncyzk, our Technical Editor, whose helpful comments and suggestions were invaluable to the accuracy of the material presented in this book.