RE: newbie question

[Paul Newman pgen com]

I suppose the answer depends on what you know already about computing and
networking, and what you want to do with Linux on your computer.

I think if you are a "newbie" in the sense that you are a computer scientist,
system administrator or programmer, who is a "newbie" in the sense that they
know about system administration etc. but not about Linux, you can follow the
recommendations below, which might be more useful for sysadmin types than for
home-user types.

If you more fit the home user not sysadmin label, then go for the 24 hours book.
I got the 5.2 version of unleashed and its not oriented towards home users.
Having said that I havent read the SAMS book.

I think the problem stems from the amount of knowledge about computing that the
different books assume someone has.

I find 3rd edition Running Linux pretty good. It's Red Hat oriented. Anyone
disagree? The free LDP guides on www.linuxdoc.org are pretty good too (if you
have access to a printer that can do double-sided printing!) - they are
available as PDF files so you can look at them even before you install linux. I
am thinking of the Linux Installation and Getting Started guide and the Linux
Users Guide. And if you want to do any networking, I'd wager that the System
Administrators Guide is much more approachable for someone who has no experience
of networking than any of the "unleashed" type books. By networking here I dont
mean dialling up your ISP, I mean networking using ethernet / network cards and
cables and the like.

A home user's requirements are very different from the requirements of someone
who wants to run his corporate network and web site using Linux. Try and see
which audience a book is aiming for by looking at the contents. And ask yourself
what you want to do with Linux, and whether the book you are looking at tells
you how to do it.






ddowney codecastle com on 22/03/2000 09:28:53

Please respond to redhat-install-list redhat com

To:   redhat-install-list redhat com
cc:

Subject:  RE: newbie question




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> Which book is best for a newbie?
> Red Hat Linux 6 Unleashed
>       OR
> SAMS Teach Yourself Linux in 24 Hours, 2/e
>
> Jimmie

As an RHCE, i've found it to my benifit to be able to get information fast and
consice. The best books so far are Red Hat Linux Server ISBN# 0-7645-3337-1 and
Red Hat Linux Administrator's Handbook ISBN# 0-7645-4637-6 (The ultimate shop
manual). And for web programming I'd recommend Open Source Web Programming
ISBN# 0-7645-4619-8. When you get to the stage that you want to peer into the
kernel and not be blown away by it's confusing jumps from file to file and
coding features, I'd defintiely recommend Linux Kernel Internals 2nd Edition
ISBN# 0-201-33143-8. Clear, consice and to the point.

BTW, I'd suggest a subscription to Linux Journal as well. (www.linuxjournal.com)
:-)


--

David D.W. Downey   Red Hat Certified Engineer  Cert# 806100581800665
Assistant Site Manager  http://www.LinuxNewbie.Com  Come on, join us!
Resume is online - http://www.brainbench.com/transcript.jsp?pid=96113



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