The most popular commercial distribution of Linux is bound to attract the largest number of neophyte users, unfamiliar with the conventions of Linux but eager to push the highly capable operating system to the extent of its capabilities. Red Hat Linux 7.1 Bible: Unlimited Edition is a great choice for these users because it documents the latest Red Hat Linux release more or less fully--superhackers and software developers will of course want even more--but does so in a reader-friendly way that's easy to approach. You can use the work of author Christopher Negus as a guided tour of features you want to learn how to use (he explains how, for example, to automate the running of programs with cron and init), or you can use it as a reference (a table, to cite one, lists all legal security options for Samba).

Though some pages are taken up with notes about games and other stuff for which people don't typically buy books, this volume is remarkably free of padding. The inclusion of Red Hat Linux 7.1 on three companion CD-ROMs adds to the book's value. Though you'll want more if you intend to use Linux as a platform for really heavy-duty server work or programming, this book will very likely answer most of your questions if you want to configure the operating system as a workstation or a straightforward server for home or small-office use. --David Wall

Topics covered: Red Hat Linux 7.1 for use as a personal workstation or a server with uncomplicated configuration requirements. Installation and configuration of users, devices, and software comes first, followed by discussion of local area network (LAN) configuration. Matters of setting up Linux as server for files, printers, mail messages, and other standard services fill about half this book.