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Title: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 administration Unleashed
Author: Tammy Fox
ISBN10: 0672328925
ISBN13: 978-0672328923
Publisher: SAMS
Cost: $49.99
Format: Paperback, 624 pages
Published: April 20, 2007

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Administration, part of SAMS Unleashed series is a comprehensive overview of installing, configuring, maintaining and securing RHEL5 servers. This book covers everything from the various install methods in the first chapters through the appendix on virtualization using Xen.

The book is divided into six parts consisting of 25 chapters followed by four appendices and an index.

Part 1, Installation and configuration covers installation and updating, through various install methods to using YUM and other tools to keep your install up to date.

Part 2, Operating System Core Concepts details how Linux works as a kernel, fundemental structure, RPMs, analyzing hardware, storage and using 64-bit, multi-core and HT processors.

Part 3, System Administration is a guide to users, groups, backups and recovery and basic shell scripting with a touch on other scripting methods as well.

Part 4, Network Services covers a wide range of topics from the host ID of the server through common network services. These include NFS, DHCP, Apache’s HTTP server, BIND, Sendmail and remote access.

Part 5, Monitoring and Tuning walk the administrator through tweaking kernels, gathering and parsing logs and auditing processes.

Part 6, Security focuses on SELinux with touches on other firewall utilities and a more in depth look at system auditing.

The appendices feature management of proprietary kernel modules, virtual machines, ExecShield and it’s roll in preventing automated attacks and basic troubleshooting of your RHEL5 system.

Many budding System Administrators or seasoned pros switching operating systems are looking for that one book that will rest not on their bookshelf but on the shelf in the server room or open on their desk. If you’re using Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 this book may well be it.

Using this book a person with passing Linux knowledge would find the means to install multiple RHEL5 servers and clients, configure them, keep them updated, enable network services, ensure basic security and frant access to their users of the resources they would need.

Fox opts for the straight forward method of teaching and the result is a tight, concise text that seldom strays from the subject at hand. This book is for the working IT person who wishes to have the most information at their fingertips. If unsure how to accomplish one of the many tasks put before a Linux SysAdmin, this book through it’s index is a valuable guide. If unsure how to install and maintain a single instance of RHEL5 or a network of machines this guide will walk you through the process.

There are three areas where this book shines. The first is in the coverage of SELinux. There’s enough information here not just to get started but to really understand what Security Enhanced Linux is and how it is vital to any enterprise installation of Linux.

The second is the section concerning monitoring and tweaking your Kernel and other system processes. This is a great resource for any SysAdmin looking to track down a particularly meddlesome problem and also vital to securing your install.

The last (and my personal favorite) is the appendix concerning virtualization at the Kernel level using Xen. Here you’ll find a very complete guide to getting multiple virtual instances of RHEL5 up and running on the same hardware with multiple processors or cores.

If your enterprise is using or will use Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 you’ll want to have this book as a resource. If you’re serious about honing your Linux skills and have chosen this OS to work with you’ll find this book a great start.

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