This latest Redhat guide comes with the standard two disc set of Redhat 6.2 installation CDs for Intel compatible PCs. It starts with the usual description of the many and varied ways you can install Redhat's Gnu/Linux. The installer offers to set your machine up as a KDE or Gnome workstation among server and custom options, a change fully covered in the book.

The guide is now much thicker with detailed coverage of both KDE and Gnome desktops and utilities. Redhat's Gnome bias remains evident, which is understandable as it finances much Gnome development. With a working system the next important step is setting up Net access. You're led through the process using the new RP3 graphical utility in Gnome and the familiar kppp in KDE.

Most of the book is devoted to explaining and configuring Redhat Gnu/Linux features. This takes the form of introducing it, explaining what it's for, installing it if necessary, showing the graphical utilities used to configure it--where available--along with command line and initialisation file options.

There's no way Gnu/Linux system administration is a walk in the park, any more than it is with other computer operating systems, but Redhat's guide assumes little more than a willingness to learn on the part of the reader and in critical areas - such as security--goes into exhaustive detail.

The guide is organised functionally rather than theoretically to make it easy find out how to get things done: whether it's setting up new users, installing new software, configuring OpenLDAP or troubleshooting an X server. At the end you'll have a working Redhat system configured the way you want. The guide really finishes at this point so ideally, new users should also invest in a good overview of Gnu/Linux administration, such as Matt Welsh's excellent Running Linux. --Steve Patient END