With roughly 20 million users worldwide, Linux is the most talked about success story of open source and free software. Even devotees of Microsoft Windows and Apple's Macintosh are attracted by the unsurpassed stability and flexibility of Linux, but learning a Unix-style operating system can be a daunting task. The second edition of Learning Red Hat Linux gives newcomers exactly what they need to get started. The book includes a complete Linux system CD-ROM from Red Hat Software, one of the most popular distributions of Linux in the U.S. Once it guides beginners through the process of installing and configuring this software, the book offers a thorough but gentle introduction to the basics of using Red Hat Linux. This new edition has been "upgraded" to cover installation and configuration of Red Hat version 7.2, with improved sections on how to use the GNOME and KDE desktop environments, and how to use the Red Hat Package Manager (RPM). Highlights of Learning Red Hat Linux include:

• How to prepare your system for installing Linux

• How to install and configure Linux

• How to install and configure the X Window System

• How to use X and the GNOME and KDE desktop environments

• How to obtain and set up Linux applications

• How to set up a Linux system for networking, either on your local area network (LAN), or via a dialup connection to the Internet

• How to install and configure Linux-based servers, including the Apache web server and Samba for integrated file and print services with Windows-based networks

• How to understand and write shell scripts to extend the power of Linux

• How to install, upgrade, and remove packages using RPM

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 38 Ratings

Excellent how-to oriented, bare bolts book - 2003-05-07
Reviewer Rating:
Excellent O'Reilly how-to oriented book containing the bare
bolts on installing Red Hat 8 with lots of pointers to more
information on hardware compatibility, additional software
packages, etc. It is *not* an in depth tour of Linux, rather,
it's a "how to get started" oriented book for those familiar
with Windows (or other OSes) but not necessarily with
Linux.

Included freebie: The book bundles Red Hat 8 on two CDs,
so you'll have the media in hand to get started quickly.
Also has an appendix on boot loader issues (useful if, as
many of us will want to do, one needs to dual boot Linux
and some other OS).

BTW, be sure you purchase the latest, 3rd edition (just
out this month). Among other updates, it includes R.H. 8 CDs
and information instead of the previous edition's R.H. 7.2
media and info.

for the uninitiated - 2004-01-21
Reviewer Rating:
If you are new linux or are thinking of building out a linux box then this is a decent place to start. The basics of unix style administration are explained about as plainly and simply as possible. One short coming of the book is the lengthy discussion of installation which admittedly used to be a harrowing experience 5 or so years ago (seemingly the main argument against the adoption of linux by microserfs), but in the hands of Red Hat has become nearly as painless a process as any windows install and therefore is not that necessary. The only other problem with this book is that the version of Red Hat is 8.0 (3rd edition) i believe and only has some middle variant of the 2.4 kernel (2.4.17 i think), this is not necessarily bad but the 2.6 kernel is out and Red Hat has a new approach to the desktop with its Fedora build. Only buy this if you are completely new to linux and want to learn the basics.

Looking for a shallow spot to wade into Linux? - 2002-09-17
Reviewer Rating:
This book is an excellent primer book for beginners jumping into Linux. More specifically, Red Hat Linux version 7.2 though they are currently working on 7.4 beta. The author presents the chapters logically beginning with step-by-step installation and leading into familiarizing you with the more useful applications available. I would have wished for a more thorough look into Samba and Apache but that may have been out of the target audience they were aiming for. There is information dealing with setting up networking, DHCP service and modem configuration. By the way, you might as well toss out your winmodem and obtain a hardware modem (external is the best) as the author does not mention the difficulty when trying to get one to work. You also get one full chapter dealing with shell commands which should wet anyone's appetite to learn more. Overall, not a bad book to begin with. Seasoned Linux professionals need not apply.

Great Book - 2002-07-03
Reviewer Rating:
The first thing that impressed me was the way Learning Red Hat Linux was written. It read more like a novel then a technical manual/book, and I found myself excited to see what was on the next page. The book is a quick get-you-started guide that explains what you need to know then moves on and does not spend too much time dilly-dallying.

There were some things that were skimmed over, but the author pointed out web sites that went into more detail. The chapter on shell scripting was a great introduction. For novice Linux users it is a great way to get your fingertips wet with the powerful command line, and shell scripting. The book quickly explains how to set up samba, ftp, email, Apache and SSH, as well as an introduction to the RPM package manager.

Added bonus was the two Red Hat 7.2 CD's so I didn't have to download them.

Microsoft OS readers should NOT pickup up this book, it will make you want to format your OS and install Linux, it did for me!

Don't buy unless you want an expensive, basic install guide - 2003-02-18
Reviewer Rating:
This book is no different from RedHat installation manuals/information that can be read on the web for free. Horrid as a reference manual. Buy 'Running Linux' instead. ISBN 156592469X. Regret that I ever bought this book. In addition it is old (RedHat 7.2 and not 8.0).

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