Java and JMX: Building Manageable Systems

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2004-02-23

This book is divided into three parts. The first section is a history of managing computer applications and an explanation of why JMX is needed for Java applications. The second part goes into detail about JMX and the third section is about JMX applications.

The first section is an informative history of managing computer applications from mainframes to present day applications. I the reader can skip this section, if he or she just wants to understand JMX.

The second section explains Means and the tools behind JMX-based management. MBeans represent a resource that a management system will monitor and control. The MBean is the resource according to the management server. The book goes into great detail in creating and using MBeans, including the MBean notification events. In this part, as throughout the book, the explanations are clear and comprehensive. The examples fully show the user how it works and are explained completely by the authors.

This book has a serious and comprehensive style. The authors assume that the reader has a fairly extensive knowledge of Java. This book is an excellent introduction to JMX and is comprehensive in its coverage of all topics related to JMX. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about JMX.

Not just a cookbook.......2003-06-08

Unlike "JMX in Action" from Manning, this book goes beyond the How To of JMX.
It introduces the reader to the fundamental problems of systems management, before jumping into concrete implementations.
It explains the history of the industry from the days when hundreds of people shared one mainframe and sys-admin was the same as god, to the present days when everyone has access to hundreds of computers.
It also gives an overview of the numerous system management standards and explains why some of them were successful while others were not.
Before I got to the JMX chapters I understood how the veterans in the industry with decades of experience distilled the scope of systems management to a few basic concepts that define it.
It helped me make a better choice when thinking about which parts of an application should be manageable.
Very strong book.
Just be aware that it is not a very fun reading. The book uses a tight, dry and fast style. You better be serious about it before turning the front page.

Easy to understand.......2003-03-24

Remember when java burst onto the scene on 1996, and you could write cool applets that showed animations on a web page? Well things have progressed vastly since then, and especially after the dotcom crash, being essential is far more important than being cool. The emphasis with java has shifted from towards backend, web server-type applications, when you have to interact with legacy databases and management tools. The problem with the latter is that if you are writing a java application that is to be controlled by some management level software, this latter item could be furnished by several companies. It is expensive to customise your code for each management package; but not to do so may severely restrict your sales.

JMX, Java Management Extensions, arose to solve this puzzle. It is still fairly new, and not many java programmers may be familiar with it. If so, this new book [2003 vintage] will help educate you. The authors point out a simple analogy that may clarify. Shortly after java was introduced, there was a need to let java programs access data in databases made by various
vendors. The solution was an industry standard API, called JDBC. Each database vendor wrote an implementation of this API, which was hence called a JDBC driver. This let java programmers program to that interface and ignore any lower level details.

So if you can understand that, you can understand JMX. The difference is that here your java application will be controlled by some management software, whereas with JDBC, your java program would have been the controlling entity.

The bulk of the book goes into the details of the JMX API. [Ok, it may not be literally an application programmable interface, but conceptually you can think of it that way.] The exposition is straightforward and logical.

A nice resource for the aspiring JMX developer.

Book Description

The problem with most people in the area of finances is not a lack of money! No, it's a lack of understanding concerning all God wants to do for them financially.

Book Description

Recombinant proteins, produced in cells or microorganisms, play an important role in basic research, medical science and the biotechnology industry. Many foreign gene expression systems using mammalian cells, E. coli, insect cells, yeast and other organisms as hosts have been developed. However, only recently has the expression system of Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a host become a subject of focus, as it is expected to be profitable for expressing foreign genes. The reason for this is that S. pombe is evolutionarily more advanced than other types of yeast. This book describes the use of S. pombe in basic research and industrial applications.

Book Description

This book presents the third volume of a complete development of the new structural classification of minerals, which is based on the internal crystal structure, and is therefore its natural classification. Because of the large domain of the mineral kingdom, this work is divided in three volumes, in which the minerals are ordered from the structurally simple to the more complex.

Audience: This work will be of particular interest to teachers and research workers of in mineralogy, and in inorganic crystal structures in academia.

Book Description

This book is an authoritative review of current and future trends in the field of telecommunications. Written by industry experts who are developing leading-edge data communication networks, Fiber Optic Data Communication provides professionals and students alike with a look at emerging technologies and their applications. Four of the chapters have been revised from DeCusatis's best-selling book, Handbook of Fiber Optic Data Communications; the remaining eight chapters are all new. Seven helpful appendices, a glossary, and a list of technical acronyms are included. This book can stand alone or as a companion volume to DeCusatis: Handbook of Fiber Optic Data Communication, Second Edition (February 2002, ISBN: 0-12-207891-8).

* Includes emerging technologies such as Infiniband, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and MPLS Optical Switching
* Describes leading edge commercial products, including LEAF and MetroCore fibers, dense wavelength multiplexing, and Small Form Factor transceiver packages
* Covers all major industry standards, often written by the same people who designed the standards themselves
* Includes an expanded listing of references on the World Wide Web, plus hard-to-find references for international, homologation, and type approval requirements
* Convenient tables of key optical datacom parameters and glossary with hundreds of definitions and acronyms
* Industry buzzwords explained, including SAN, NAS, and MAN networking
* Datacom market analysis and future projections from industry leading forecasters

Average customer rating:
LIFE AT BLANDINGS : SOMETHING FRESH, SUMMER LIGHTNING AND HEAVY WEATHER
P. G. WODEHOUSE
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KUNACK

Average customer rating:
Life at Blandings: Something Fresh, Summer Lightning and Heavy Weather (OMNIBUS)
P.G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ8NOM

Amazon.com

Created at the outset of the Civil War to defend Washington, D.C., the Army of the Potomac had to contend not only with the skilled Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee, but the political pressures of the capital as well. In reading Jeffry Wert's The Sword of Lincoln, it's sometimes hard to determine which was worse. Though the largest and best-equipped Union army, the Army of the Potomac lost more battles than it won, certainly due in part to poor and inconsistent leadership. Yet in the end, the army prevailed due to the dedication of the foot soldiers who held on until final victory. Wert analyzes the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and others, but his main focus is on the army itself. Based on diaries and letters, many never before published, Wert closely examines the motivations, morale, and fortunes of the enlisted men and junior officers and shows how and why they held on despite dismal circumstances. He also studies the generals who led the army and offers fresh critiques of their service. Abraham Lincoln's role is also a major theme in the book as Wert discusses how the success of the Army of the Potomac was closely intertwined with Lincoln's own political fortunes. This cut both ways--Lincoln was able to directly inspire and encourage the troops stationed near the capital, but he also became so involved with day-to-day operations that he often interfered with commanders, creating resentment and ineffectiveness in the process. The Sword of Lincoln is the first in-depth study of the Army of the Potomac in over 50 years, and Wert has done an admirable job of condensing a substantial amount of scholarship into one lively volume. --Shawn Carkonen

Download Description

"The Sword of Lincoln is the first authoritative single-volume history of the Army of the Potomac in many years. From Bull Run to Gettysburg to Appomattox, the Army of the Potomac repeatedly fought -- and eventually defeated -- Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. Jeffry D. Wert, one of our finest Civil War historians, brings to life the battles, the generals, and the common soldiers who fought for the Union and ultimately prevailed. The obligation throughout the Civil War to defend the capital, Washington, D.C., infused a defensive mentality in the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac. They began ignominiously with defeat at Bull Run. Suffering under a succession of flawed commanders -- McClellan, Burnside, and Hooker -- they endured a string of losses until at last they won a decisive battle at Gettysburg under a brand-new commander, General George Meade. Within a year, the Army of the Potomac would come under the overall leadership of the Union's new general-in-chief, Ulysses S. Grant. Under Grant, the army marched through the Virginia countryside, stalking Lee and finally trapping him and the remnants of his army at Appomattox. Wert takes us into the heart of the action with the ordinary soldiers of the Irish Brigade, the Iron Brigade, the Excelsior Brigade, and other units, contrasting their experiences with those of their Confederate adversaries. He draws on letters and diaries, some of them previously unpublished, to show us what army life was like. Throughout his history, Wert shows how Lincoln carefully oversaw the operations of the Army of the Potomac, learning as the war progressed, until he found in Grant the commander he'd long sought. With a swiftly moving narrative style and perceptive analysis, The Sword of Lincoln is destined to become the modern account of the army that was so central to the history of the Civil War. "

Customer Reviews:

Terrible Swift Sword?.......2007-09-10

This book is an excellent source for an overview of the Civil War in the east. I found it very informative, but not weighed down with minute facts that are contained in many books about specific battles.

I agree that alot of the quotes seem to detract from the text a little, but most are necessary to get a true feel of how common soldiers felt fighting in the Army of the Potomac. Wert definitely ties the Army of the Potomac's successes and failures to Lincoln and explains the politics behind it's rather rare victories.

I find it fascinating that had it not been for Grant's war of attrition, the Army of the Potomac could possibly have been wiped out and the war would have ended in a truce or Southern victory. Prior to Grant (and even during his command) the Army could not settle on a solid leader who had the courage to take the initiative. Consumed by internal personal animosities within the senior leadership, and the constant trepidation of said leaders, it is a wonder that the Army of the Potomac survived at all.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the war in the east. Even if you think you know all there is to know, you may find yourself saying, "Gee I never realized..." once you get into this book. It is a very easy read and Wert's writing style is enjoyable and crystal clear. Well done.

Oddly lacking.......2007-01-30

This is a pretty good book, and other reviewers have done a good job of pointing out some of its strengths. That said, I couldn't really give the book more than three stars, because of the following issues:

1) If this is possible, the author has relied too heavily on quotes from soldiers letters and diaries. Obviously, such materials are a critical source for any historian, and used properly can really liven up a history and drive home key points. This author, however, goes too far, and the text is full of quotes like the following:
--"on a 'brilliant' day"
--"the enemy was 'upon' us"
--"in the 'freezing' weather"

The quoted materials (in single quotes above) don't add anything and end up being very distracting. Another problem is that the author relies too much on quotes rather than his own analysis, etc. to make his points, leaving at least this reader wondering whether the quoted letter, diary, etc., are representative or simply chosen to make the author's point. Moreover, there is too little consideration of "the big picture". Until this book I have probably never complained about a book having too many quotes...

2) In spite of his massive reliance on short quotes, noted above, the author neglects to relate the anecdotes, etc. which would have given the narrative more color and interest.

3) The tactical maps are adequate, but a few more strategic/operational maps would have been helpful.

While it might not be fair to compare them, I found Shelby Foote's three volume work (covering the entire war) to be much more interesting and informative than this book.

How the Army of the Potomac Overcame Adversity.......2005-08-30

What is the appeal of a new book on the history of the Army of the Potomac which covers material that has been well-explored many times? This book by the noted Civil War historian Jeffry Wert is a fast-paced, engagingly written one-volume account of the Army of the Potomac from the beginning of the Civil War until General Robert E. Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox in April, 1865. This book is valuable for several reasons. As with any important historical event, the meaning and significance of the Civil War is something that each generation and each reader must discover afresh for themselves. Wert's account, even if it were found to include no additional factual information, encourages reflection on the Civil War, particularly on the role of the Union's most famous army, and on other histories of the conflict. Furthermore Wert's account has a specific focus. Wert discusses the special difficulties that plagued the Army of the Potomac over the course of the Civil War, explains the sources of these difficulties, and shows how the Army ultimately overcame them. It is an inspiring story showing the value of persistence, commitment, and effort finding a goal, struggling to achieve it, and working to overcome adversity. This approach to the Civil War is convincingly presented here. Wert's heroes are the fighting soldiers in the Army of the Potomac as opposed, in general, to their frequently blundering leaders.

The Army of the Potomac's original mission was the defense of Washington D.C. That mission,and the proximity of the Army to the capital city, made the Army of the Potomac unduly visible and susceptible to political influence. Wert shows the importance of these factors to the performance of the Army of the Potomac in the field. The initial leadership of the Army, in particular the controversial General George McClellan, had a limited view of the aims of the conflict. McClellan did an outstanding job of drilling and training the Army and of instilling a spirit of cameraderie in the troops. But McClellan fought the war simply as a means of bringing the South back into the Union. This outlook, perhaps, was as responsible for his timid, cautious approach as a commander as was his view of military strategy.

Wert shows how McClellan's approach to the conflict, military and political, influenced the views of his successors as commanding generals: Pope (commander of the Army of Virginia) Burnside, Hooker, and Meade. Leadership of the Army had a cautious, defensive spirit and was subject of political interference. President Lincoln took an active role with the Army and his specific decisions and criticisms were sometimes merited, but sometimes not.

Wert gives a quick-paced account of the major battles of the Army, including First Bull Run, the Seven Days, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Overland Campaign, Petersburg, and Appomatox. In spite of the defeats or unsatisfactory results of most of these battles, Wert shows how the soldiers in the Army maintained their spirit, resiliency and sense of purpose. Although they faced many dark days, the troops sensed that their mission was greater than their leaders. They held on and continued against a spirited and well-lead opponent and ultimately were successful. One major turning point occured following the Battle of the Wilderness when, after a dreadful two-day battle on the field on which Chancellorsville had been fought, U.S. Grant (commander of the entire Union forces who became the de facto commander of the Army of the Potomac) turned the Army towards the South to pursue Lee's Army rather than retreat northward as had been the practice of his predecessors.

Wert offers clear and short accounts of the major battles of the Army of the Potomac without becoming bogged down in the detail of more lengthy histories. His purpose is less to explain military history than to show the spirit of the troops and the actions of their leaders. Wert drives home well the hardships of the campaigns -- the sickness and unsanitary conditions of the camps, the terrors of battle, the long night marches -- and the determination of the troops to surmount them. His account of the overland campaign in the summer of 1864, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, and Cold Harbor, is especially compelling.

Thus, even though he tells a story that has been told before, Wert's story will inspire the reader with its focus on the perseverance shown by the ordinary soldier and the face of extreme and protracted difficulty. This book will make a good introduction to the Civil War for those readers new to the subject and also has much to teach those readers with a longstanding interest in this great conflict.

Robin Friedman

A Good Brief History of the Army of the Potomac........2005-06-30

Jeffrey Wert's books repose in my Civil War study. His books
are always well written in a popular style appealing to general
readers. In his new work Wert has done a good job of telling the tale of the Army of the Potomac from its inception in 1861 to its
triumph over the Army of Northern Virginia in 1865.
What a story of courage, valor and perseverance. What a tragic tale of carnage on a previously unknown scale! In vivid prose Wert quotes first person accounts written by soldiers who bathed in the blood baths of the battlefields in Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania.
The Army of the Potomac was cursed by weak leaders. Consider:
1. Irvin McDowell-defeated at First Bull Run. He was not up to the job of wielding Lincoln's sword!
2. George B.McClellan-A pompous, ego-centric prima donna who could train and prepare an army. He was no warrior. After the stalemate of Antietam he was replaced. McClellan emerges in these pages as a nemesis to Lincoln who overestimated Confederate troop numbes, was slow and no match for the military genius of Robert E. Lee.
3. Ambrose E. Burnside-He failed miserably in command as the
debacle of Fredricksburg proves!
4. Joseph Hooker-Hooker was a good organizer but he was bested
by Lee and Jackson at Chancellorsivlle.
5. George Meade-This snapping turtle grouch but competent General won at Gettysburg but his pursuit of Lee was poor.
6. US Grant-One imagines if Grant had commanded in the Eastern theatre from day one! Grant won the war as his blue clad ribbon of cold steel rolled through the sanguinary battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, the Petersburg siege, the
Crater and ultimate victory at Appomattox. Grant was a great general who never quit until his sword destroyed the army of Lee,
The picture of the Army of the Potomac limned by Wert is that of a brave, well equipped, patriotic army led by many incompetent commanders. Infighting among the brass and political interference in Washington DC also hampered the effective of the
Army of the Potomac.
On Wert's work:
1. This is a good volume for the novice to Civil War study. Wert
explains all of the major campaigns fought on the eastern front in a clear, easy to understand style. Many veteran Civil War
buffs will say this information is "old hat to me". It is still
interesting and a good way to brush up on the personalities and
battles fought in the east.
2. The volume has good pictures and adequate maps.
3. The best part of the book for this reviewer was the quotes
(often colorful and profane!) written by the soldiers in blue
during their long odyssey from Bull Run to Appomattox Court House.
4. Anyone interested in the Civil War will profit by a day or two spent in Wert's company. I read the book in two days being
riveted by the often told but always fascinating story of this
star crossed but ultimately victorious army.
5.Wert has done his homework as page after page of primary sources in the extensive bibliograpy will prove to the reader.
6. Wert is good in quoting what modern historians such as Gordon
Rhea, Kent Masterson Brown, James McPherson and others have
written about a particular campaign.
There is little that is new here for the veteran Civil War Buff but it is a good book for folks eager to learn more or as
a great way to review the Army that was rarely Quiet along the
Potomac in the days when swords were removed from scabbards and Americans slaughtered one another on bloody battlefields.

Lincoln's Not-So-Sharp Sword.......2005-04-21

Mr. Wert has written a serviceable one volume history of the army formed with a mission to both protect Washington, D.C. and defeat the Confederate army in Virginia. This dual role, plus the difficult political imperatives of the war, poor general officers, and almost constant interference from nearby federal politicians, led to less than stellar results especially in the first years of combat. However, the troops did win thanks to Lincoln, Grant, and their own dogged efforts. Again, a good history but not in the very top flight of books on this important era.

The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac.(Book review): An article from: Parameters

Average customer rating:

The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac.(Book review): An article from: Parameters
J. Boone, Jr. Bartholomees
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Science & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000JMK32O
Release Date: 2006-10-16

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Parameters, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2006. The length of the article is 1181 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac.(Book review)
Author: J. Boone, Jr. Bartholomees
Publication: Parameters (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Page: 133(3)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac.(Book review): An article from: The Historian

Average customer rating:

The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac.(Book review): An article from: The Historian
Michael B. Chesson
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000VN7IWE
Release Date: 2007-09-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Historian, published by Thomson Gale on December 22, 2006. The length of the article is 576 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac.(Book review)
Author: Michael B. Chesson
Publication: The Historian (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 68 Issue: 4 Page: 852(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Informative, scholarly and entertaining.......1999-07-06

An invaluable resource for anyone working on the New Woman, this well-researched and highly informative book is both scholarly and entertaining.

Customer Reviews:

A thought provoking and clearly written book on neurochemist.......1997-02-19

This book is an excellent resource for mental health professionals who have a biopsychosocial perspective of the healing process. Hobson advocates for non-drug interventions which can bring balance to neurochemistry. An extensive discussion of sleep and its importance to health is also very thorough and thought provoking. A must read

Book Description

The importance of wetlands to life on Earth is now generally accepted. This is a reference book and identification manual for the vascular plants found in permanent or seasonal fresh water in the subcontinent of India south of the Himalayas. About 660 species are described, and all plants are illustrated by line drawings showing the diagnostic features. The text is written in a style for both experts and those with only a little botanical training. Scientists and conservationists will be able to identify the plants with accuracy and to build on this information to promote conservation.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books