(again, i realize this is somewhat off-topic for this list, but some
folks might find it useful if they're interested in RH certification.)
On Sat, 22 Jan 2011, g wrote:
> ok. i am asking.
>
> being that i am 'sold' on "Scientific Linux", i have been
> considering purchase of a new book on "Red Hat Linux".
>
> to get best of what is available, i am considering purchase of an
> exam book, as such is usually better for deep learning.
actually, that's sort of backwards. the design of the book i'm
talking about is to focus almost exclusively on what is required for
the RH cert exams, which means that quite a number of topics are
covered but *not* in excruciating depth -- only what you might be
tested on. so you will almost certainly, while reading the book,
think, "gosh, i wish that section had gone into more detail." but if
that's the case, there are all sorts of official RH docs online for
that. so don't have unreasonable expectations for this book. it will
definitely be informative, but it was written with an exam focus in
mind.
> so, to ask, what is name of new book that you reviewed?
not sure it even has a name yet. like i said, i literally returned
the last chapter i reviewed only a week ago. i didn't simply "review"
the book, i was one of the *pre-publication* reviewers, proofreading
it for correctness before it finally goes to press.
> is it shown on site yet?
not to my knowledge, but i'll bug my contact at pearson to get
something up, even if it's "coming soon, pre-order". here's the text
of the marketing blurb i have for it -- that should give you a good
idea of what's coming.
Hands-on Guide to the RHCSA, RHCE, and System Administration
All the hands-on labs, tips, scripts, and practical real-world
information needed to pass Red Hat’s RHCSA and RHCE exams!
Easy step-by-step coverage of all topics in Red Hat’s latest
RHCSA/RHCE exams 20+ labs, each with multiple real-world tasks: more
hands-on practice than any competitor Practical tutorials and
real-world tips for admins of all experience levels Downloadable
scripts available to supplement the book and increase your
troubleshooting skills
Page count: 550
Summary
Red Hat's RHCSA and RHCE exams have earned the industry's respect for
ensuring that certification holders truly have the skills they need to
succeed with Red Hat Enterprise Linux in production environments.
However, official course-based training for these exams can cost
several thousand dollars. This book doesn't just present a far more
cost-effective alternative: it gives candidates all the hands-on
practice they need, through a series of more than 20 realistic,
detailed labs. These exceptionally thorough labs are task based,
similar to what you might encounter on the exams. This will give
readers the background they need to perform key tasks, and get the
results they're trying to achieve. Built from content originally
published on the author's popular blog, Security Nut, this book
reflects extensive input and feedback from IT professionals and exam
candidates. It is organized to help readers learn incrementally, and
quickly find the related information they need. Each section logically
flows in the order you would accomplish tasks when setting up or
configuring a system. The author provides tutorials for administrators
at all levels of experience, dozens of real-world tips, and a set of
downloadable scripts designed to give students hands-on
problem-solving experience.
Author(s) Expertise
Damian Tommasino (NY, NY) is currently a Linux system administrator at
TradeCard and CEO of Modular Learning Inc., an online IT training
company. His current certifications include RHCE, RHCSA, MCSA, CCNA,
CCENT, MCP, Security+, Network+, and A+. He has a popular blog called
Security Nut (http://secnut.blogspot.com) that covers Red Hat, Linux,
Security, and more.
Audience
Beginners and seasoned professionals alike will find this book helpful
while preparing for the Red Hat exams. While it is recommended to
have some experience with Linux before taking the Red Hat exams, both
IT professionals and students will value this book.
For any IT professional or student with at least moderate Linux
experience, especially those who have worked with Red Hat Linux. Will
be especially valuable to those who are preparing for Red Hat's latest
RHCSA or RHCE exams.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. Installation
2. System Initialization
3. Disks and Partitioning
4. File Systems and Such
5. Networking
6. Package Management
7. User Administration
8. Network Installs
9. System Logging, Monitoring, and Automation
10. Kernel Tuning
11. SELinux
12. System Security
13. Remote Access
14. Apache & Squid
15. NFS
16. Samba
17. FTP
18. DNS
19. Network Services
20. Email Services
21. Troubleshooting
22. Virtualization with KVM
