The Accidental Administrator: Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide [Paperback]

Don R Crawley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2010 | Series: Accidental Administrator

The Accidental Administrator: Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide is packed with 44 easy-to-follow hands-on exercises plus numerous command examples and screen captures to help you build a working Linux server configuration from scratch. It's the most straight-forward approach to learning how to configure a CentOS/Red Hat/Fedora Linux server (the book is based on version 5.4 and 5.5), filled with practical tips and secrets learned from years of teaching, consulting, and administering Linux servers.  There is no time wasted on boring theory.

The essentials are covered in chapters on installing, administering, user management, file systems and directory management, networking, package management, automated task scheduling, network services, Samba, NFS, disk quotas, mail servers, Web and FTP servers, desktop sharing, printing, security, routing, performance monitoring, management tools, and more.
Here's what you'll find:

• How to configure an Apache Web server, including virtual hosts
• How to configure file and printer sharing for Windows clients with Samba
• How to understand Linux file and directory permissions

All this information is presented in a straightforward style that you can understand and use right away. The idea is for you to be able to sit down with your Linux server and build a working configuration in a matter of minutes.  Of course, some of the more advanced configs may take a little longer, but even so, you'll be able to "get it done" in a minimal amount of time!

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

This book, like the others in the Accidental Administrator series, is based on the student workbooks I wrote for my I.T. training workshops.  I specialize in accelerated training and this book reflects that approach to learning:  lots of material, delivered in a short amount of time.  I wrote it with the idea of giving you a lot of hands-on exercises and only the essential bits of theory and background information.  I tried to include lots of tips and shortcuts that I've learned and used in managing Linux servers.  (We use Linux servers exclusively in my business and I'm the guy who manages them!)  It was a lot of fun for me to write (especially going back through and testing the exercises) and I hope you'll enjoy it, too!

About the Author

DON R. CRAWLEY, Linux+, CCNA Security invested his 35 years of workplace technology experience and 15 years as a technical trainer in the Accidental Administrator book series. He is also author of Skillpath Publications best-selling Windows Wit and Wisdom and is President/Chief Technologist of soundtraining.net, the Seattle-based firm specializing in accelerated training for I.T. professionals on Cisco and Linux products, plus workplace skills for I.T. pros.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (October 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1453689923
• ISBN-13: 978-1453689929
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Linux

More About the Author

Don R. Crawley is President/Chief Technologist of the Seattle-based I.T. training company, soundtraining.net. He has more than 35 years experience working with workplace technology and automation and holds multiple technical certifications including Linux+ and CCNA Security. In addition to being a best-selling author, he has spoken before audiences in all 50 states and Canada, plus the United Kingdom and Australia. In his spare time, he plays the pipe organ, watches the ships on Puget Sound, and laughs with his family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little theory, lots of hands on, love it!, November 17, 2010

By 

Joshua Clarke (Seattle, wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Accidental Administrator: Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide (Paperback)

I picked this book up not because I needed it for work, but because I was personally curious about the inner workings of Linux. When they say there is very little theory and mostly interactive examples, they mean it, and if that is how your brain functions you will feel right at home with this book. I feel much more confident in my Linux skills now and may be investigating further for my own personal gain.

The book takes you through a fresh Linux install, to understanding the filesystem and command line, to getting the system online and hosting your email and web site (and everything in between). You can even learn how to turn your Linux computer into a router and firewall! Now I can get rid of that router I have to restart once a day.

One part that stood out to me was the sections on getting your Linux machine to talk with the other machines in your house. I was able to connect to both my Mac and Windows boxes with ease, and can even control them straight from the Linux machine.

If you suddenly find yourself as an "Accidental Administrator" and need (or want!) to use Linux, I would definitely suggest picking up this book. The step-by-step instructions alone can get you set up with everything you need for a functioning network or server.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the experienced PC user learning Linux., December 6, 2010

By 

Tyler Deweese (Burien, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Accidental Administrator: Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide (Paperback)

As a student of Don's, I can see how his logical, easy-to-follow and hands-on teaching style have made their way to his book. My biggest complaint with tech books is the huge amount of raw data (not fun) you must deal with before actually working on the items you want to learn (fun). This is a non-issue in Don's book. He has you on your first task, installing the operating system, almost immediately in the first chapter (seriously, it's like the third page).

This step-by-step method continues throughout the book. You can pick almost any task that you may be charged with (configuring an NFS server, for example) and find detailed, yet simple, directions on how to finish the job. During this process, you can't help but retain the information you've just worked with; it just makes sense.

I can honestly say I've learned more from this book than I have from various classes (not referencing Don's classes in this case, obviously) I've taken in the past. It's a fantastic read, and it will easily benefit people of all skill levels.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up and Running!, March 20, 2011

By 

Andrew - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Accidental Administrator: Linux Server Step-by-Step Configuration Guide (Paperback)

There are too many authors who think that once they've gone through installing linux, the next step, obviously, is to introduce the newcomer to bash, sed, and awk. The lessons often involve creating, saving, copying, arranging, renaming, listing, and moving stupid lists (States, fruits, vegetables, friends, etc). This must all be done using vi, by the way. Yes folks, that what's the fuss is all about. Let the loser non-geeks waste time doing productive things on Window$ while you impress yourself with stupid linux tricks using a 70's era text editor.

This book is the perfect antidote to such foolishness. It gets you up and running from installation to administration to networking. It's about getting linux to work in an actual job environment. There are no pointless cookbook style tips, tricks, and workarounds, and no time wasting lessons on obscure commands and utilities.

I hope the next books in this series (Bind and Apache Web Server) are published soon.