I got my book 2 days ago and I’m currently playing with Debian :)

Just wondering what’s wrong with GUI? Why most of experienced admin here pointing out command line which is hard to use, IMPO.

The GUI tool helped me to set up firewall in just 2 minutes. A great book….

We are a large Microsoft shop and this book is quick start guide for us. Thanks for the review.

This book is not at all for experienced UNIX / Linux users. You search online using google.com/linux for most topics; no need to purchase this book.

But I do agree with rest of you about MCSE background. This is a perfect book for any Microsoft admin, wish I had something like this few years back!

it should also be noted that it is a bad idea to put a server on the internet before it is hardened.
This is another problem. I hope it will get fixed in next revision.

My overall point and experience shows that no one installs GUI / X on a production box. I’m also trying to forward these comments (discussion) to authors. Let us hope so it will get fixed.

HTH

The merits of installing a GUI-based tool can be debated, but in an instructional book aimed at (among other things) MCSEs from Windows environments – they EXPECT a GUI.

The authors also address the “GUI on the server” question on page 180:
“At this point, you may be wondering why we’ve included an application dependent on GNOME desktop. Recall that when we chose Fedora as the distribution for local networking, we did so because of its extensive tool set. Adding Firestarter fits into our philosophy without removing our ability to use the command-line interface.”

It’s perfectly fine to say “the book does not cover command-line firewall tools, but does cover a GUI-based tool – in my opinion no production server would have a GUI installed to support such a tool, and this chapter should be rewritten to cover a command line-based firewall”, but what you wrote is not accurate, IMHO.

If you want to extend such comments, fine, it should also be noted that it is a bad idea to put a server on the internet before it is hardened – the book discusses installing Debian with a netinstall CD-ROM image, which requires internet access to build the system. In theory a system could be compromised before installation is complete, resulting in a compromised server.

Firestarter and X is not installed on any production and or load balanced server. No wise admin will waste his/her resource on GUI. The book is aimed at experienced admin and I do expect to see an in-depth firewall, DMZ and other anti-dos related configuration. I hope 2nd version will improve.

Appreciate your post.

fanx

> which distro book covers Debian or Redhat/CentOS?

Debian but you can apply all the *instructions* to any other disro including CentOS.

Good luck with your RHCE exam!

Load balancing and other stuff is new to me. So I’ve just ordered my copy :D

Just a question – which distro book covers Debian or Redhat/CentOS?

Fanx.

As I said earlier they missed iptables (or automated script such as APF) and perl all together.

> How much detail do they go into on setting up these services?

If you are a little experienced admin – On 1-5 scale I will say 3. If you are a new admin – On 1-5 scale, I will say 4.

However Load-Balanced Clusters and ISPConfig (free web cp) chapter is done very well.

If you have 3 different books, it is better you wait for next release.

See Sample Chapter : Load-Balanced Clusters (PDF Format) and book TOC

HTH