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Re: Book Recommendations...



on Sun, Oct 22, 2000 at 05:40:55AM -0500, MarkEmmanuel (mrodri@enteract.com) wrote:
> Hi all!!!  I installed Debian Linux on my Macintosh and I was looking for
> book recommendations for a beginner user.  The most I know about Linux/Unix
> are the basic commands like ls, chmod, and cd. (I love shell accounts...)
> I'm getting really tired of switching to MacOS so I can use the Internet as
> a reference and there are many common questions I'm sure the book can answer
> that the community doesn't have to.

My standard book plug follows.

========================================================================
Linux Books mini-FAQ
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com>
Written:  Saturday October  7, 2000
Modified:  Saturday October  7, 2000
========================================================================


In response to the perennial "read any good books" lately question,
vis-a-vis Linux and Unix, I've compiled the following.  Prices are
approximate.


General Linux & getting started guides.

    Mark G. Sobell, _A Practical Guide to Linux_, Addison-Wesley, © 1997 
    ISBN 0-201-89549-8, US$40

    Matt Welsh and Lar Kaufman, _Running Linux, 3rd Edition_  O'Reilly, ©
    2000.  ISBN 1-56592-151-8, US$30



General Linux/Unix system administration -- more advanced topics.  Each
of these references is a classic.  You don't need all three (though I've
got a copy of each), but you'll find within each the distilled wisdom of
experienced system administrators.

    AEleen Frisch, _Essential System Administration : Help for Unix
    System Administrators_, O'Reilly, © 1996, 788 pages.  ISBN
    1-56592-127-5. US$35

    Evi Nemeth, Garth Snyder, Scott Seebass, Trent R. Hein _UNIX System
    Administration Handbook_ (Bk\CD ROM), Prentice Hall, © 1995, 780
    pages, ISBN: 0-13151-051-7. US$75

    M. Carling, Stephen Degler, & James Dennis, _Linux System
    Administration_, New Riders, © 2000, 337 pages. ISBN 1-56205-934-3.
    US$30



It was the following two books (actually, the earlier _UNIX in a
Nutshell_) which put me "over the hump" in becoming familiar and
experienced with Unix and Linux.  I still refer frequently to each text
when trying to accomplish a complex system task or needing command
syntax and examples that the man pages just don't provide.

Brief command and system reference:

    Ellen Siever, Stephen Spainhour, Stephen Figgins, Jessica P. Hekman
    _Linux in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition_, O'Reilly, © 2000, 650 pages,
    ISBN 1-56592-167-4. US$35


Shell and tools "cook book":

    Jerry D. Peek, Tim O'Reilly, Mike Loukides, _UNIX Power Tools, 2nd
    Edition_, O'Reilly, © 1997, 1120 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-260-3, US$55



You want to reach out and touch someone?  The NAG, as it's
affectionately known, is available online in electronic format, but you
can take the hardcopy to your favorite cafe, the beach, or that most
popluar of technical reading environments, the WC.

Networking:

     Olaf Kirch, Terry Dawson, _Linux Network Administrator's Guide_
     (2nd Edition), O'Reilly, © 2000, 474 pages, ISBN  1-56592-400-2.
     US$35
     Online:  http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/linag2/book/index.html


...when you're tired of people reaching out and touching you...
Garfinkel and Spafford is a classic, though slightly time-worn.  Its
emphasis on philosophy over specific toolsets, and a strong vision on
the part of the authors makes it a worthwhile read even now.

Sonnenreich and Yates have published an excellet guide not just to
building a firewall (this Debian GNU/Linux fan highly recommends the
OpenBSD route), but some excellent front-matter on contemporary elements
and aspects of network security.  Be sure to look at the companion
website as it contains up-to-date information concerning recent changes
to software and distributions, and more advanced firewalling,
monitoring, and proactive security tools.

Security:

    Simson Garfinkel, Gene Spafford, _Practical Unix and Internet
    Security_, O'Reilly, © 1996, 1004 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-148-8 

    Wes Sonnenreich, Tom Yates, _Building Linux and OpenBSD Firewalls_,
    John Wiley & Sons, © 2000, 384 pages.  ISBN: 0-47135-366-3.  US$40



As Richard Stallman says, using vi isn't a sin, it's a pennance.  This
handy pocket guide will give you (or answer) a prayer.

    Arnold Robbins, _vi Editor Pocket Reference_, O'Reilly, ISBN
    1-56592-497-5, US$6.95
========================================================================


-- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com>     http://www.netcom.com/~kmself
 Evangelist, Opensales, Inc.                    http://www.opensales.org
  What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?      There is no K5 cabal
   http://gestalt-system.sourceforge.net/        http://www.kuro5hin.org
GPG fingerprint: F932 8B25 5FDD 2528 D595 DC61 3847 889F 55F2 B9B0

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