[.ca] Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide (ISBN 0072131365)

From Amazon.co.uk:
Administering a Linux system isn't much like administering a Windows machine. Though the goals are similar and comparable problems arise under both environments, they each require administrators to adopt a certain way of thinking about processes and data. Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide helps readers adapt their Windows experience to Linux work. Author Steve Shah does a great job of clueing Linux newcomers into the environment. His explanations are clear, patient, accurate and useful, and they cover all aspects of the system administrator's job. He is careful to explain hundreds of commands in a logical way, including lists of options and examples of typical uses in many cases. But this is no mere command reference or novice's introduction. Shah doesn't shy away from explaining the really interesting aspects of Linux administration, including kernel compilation, Domain Name Service (DNS) configuration, sendmail set-up, and establishing firewall protection with IP chaining. For all of these subjects (and many more), this book includes clear statements of what concepts are relevant, which commands to issue, and what to expect in response. It's a great help in self-guided explorations. It's also worth having this book on hand for work assignments--you will find complete recipes for configuring all major Internet and local area network (LAN) services that also take into account easy maintenance and security. --David Wall

What a delight:
I now own somewhere around 20 books about linux or associated apps. I am willing to lend several of these to my close family or dear friends but only one that will have to be pried from my cold dead fingers. If there is one essential book for linux users, Linux Administration:ABG is it. It is not only informative but a delightful read. My strongest recommendation.

This is one of those good computer books:
Everyone who buys computer books probably has more than a few that cost big bucks, but are somewhere gathering dust. This isn't one of those books. This book is informative and most of all engaging. I enjoy reading it. This is my first review of a book and I buy lots of books. This one is worth recommending.

Linux administration made EASY:
Steve did a wonderful job with this book. He answers nearly all the important questions you have before finishing the book. It has a really good section on firewalls in Linux as well as compiling your own kernel. The section on DNS was really quite nice. I always had a difficult time understanding DNS in Linux until reading this book and have successfully set up DNS on a Linux Server. The CD in the book didn't work, but that's OK...Linux can be downloaded for free... If you've been afraid to really get your hands dirty setting up a Linux server, you've run out of excuses. Steve Shah's book will get you through it.

Great for MCSEs!:
Steve Shah clearly presents Linux concepts and common administrative tasks in a straight forward manner. For those of us more accustomed to the MS Windows world, he frequently compares the way Linux works to Windows 2000. A must have for MCSEs living in a heterogeneous network environment!

Fantastic first Linux book:
This book is what it says it is. A great Introduction to Linux. The book does a great job at showing how features in Linux relate to features in Windows. So if you are used to the Windows way of doing things, this book will make learning Linux very easy. I espcially like the information on compiling the kernel. This book really took away many miscomceptions that I had about Linux.