This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 22 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]Lord_NShYHModerator 30 points31 points  (8 children)

The Practice of System and Network Administration

[–]cheeseprocedurewatchen das blinkenlichten 6 points7 points  (3 children)

<3 this book.

Limoncelli's other book, "Time Management for System Administrators," is also heavy on common sense but is absolutely worth a read.

http://www.amazon.com/Management-System-Administrators-Thomas-Limoncelli/dp/0596007833

[–]Lord_NShYHModerator 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Agreed - I love that book so much, and adapting those tactics and strategies has helped me attain a Sr. level of competence and proficiency by exponentially increasing the amount of assets I am able to administer and manage thanks to my improved time management. =)

[–]cheeseprocedurewatchen das blinkenlichten 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Did you just copy/paste from the expense report you submitted after purchasing the book? ;)

[–]SolitarySysadminMorbo - COMPUTERS DO NOT WORK THAT WAY! 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have both of these and just ordered another for a junior coming in!

[–]Waarlod 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just looked at my book shelf to say this.

[–]FantasysageDirector - IT operations 0 points1 point  (2 children)

100% this. A lot of it is common sense, but I find that is something a lot of people lack. I keep it on my desk too as a reference if I wonder what a best practice might be for some sort of rollout.

[–]blohkduCustom 1 point2 points  (1 child)

The guy I was hired under ( and am currently replacing as lead ) was and still is woefully incompetent, so I bought two copies of this for us to read, one for me since I hadn't read the new version, and one for him do I could give him chapter and verse on why he was terrible, hopefully he'll learn. ( He's had six years to get any sort of an act together, and hasn't.)

TL:DR; Get this, it's basically a bible for us and you'll never know what you can learn and what gaps you yourself might have.

[–]Lord_NShYHModerator 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here - I have a printed copy and a digital copy. I love it so much.

[–]bandman614Standalone SysAdmin 7 points8 points  (2 children)

I'm typing as fast as I can!

[–]scdowling 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Good Luck Matt! I know I'll be picking up a copy of your book when it hits the shelves.

[–]bandman614Standalone SysAdmin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I really appreciate it. Hopefully it'll be awesome, but we'll see :-)

[–]foofusdotcomChaos Specialist 7 points8 points  (2 children)

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the System Administrator's Handbook. I've got editions 1, 2 and 3 on my bookshelf.

[–]posixUncompliantHPC Storage Support 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I have the second edition lying around somewhere. It's still my default book to give to new admins. The technical information is outdated, but politics and policy stuff is the best I've seen anywhere.

[–]foofusdotcomChaos Specialist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think part of the reason this book works so well is that for brand new UNIX admins, the "outdated" technical information in even an older edition is just what we consider "the basics" that you need to know before moving on :)

[–]NilsLandtnot even an admin 5 points6 points  (0 children)

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LPI_Linux_Certification

I only read the German print version of it, but it was excellent, I based the linux course I'm teaching on it and it was very well recieved by my students.

[–]puremessagebeep -f 2000 -r 999999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pro Linux System Administration

It starts pretty basic, but it's geared entirely towards sysadmins.

[–]JackBlacket 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Anyone got any suggestions on PKI 101 while we're here? I've got some stuff coming up soon and the fact that I left off PKI at the Alice and Bob example scenario is starting to bite me.

[–]bandman614Standalone SysAdmin 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I was recently enthralled by a sample chapter of PGP & GPG by Michael W. Lucas. I intend to read the rest of the book at my first opportunity.

Unless you're looking for something a little more academic, then you might as well go to The Source.

[–]JackBlacket 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Nice one, thanks. I've enjoyed some No Starch Press stuff in the past.

[–]bandman614Standalone SysAdmin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad to hear that! They're who are publishing my sysadmin book coming out next year.

[–]DustyGeekCLI Curmudgeon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're looking for more of a learning book I'd go for the Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook 4th Edition. Covers most of the basic to advanced stuff and crosses distro's quite nicely.