For The More Experienced - Red Hat ENTERPRISE LINUX 3 Reference Manual

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2.1.2. Introduction to Linux Newsgroups
You can participate in newsgroups by watching the discussions of others attempting to solve problems,
or by actively asking or answering questions. Experienced Linux users are known to be extremely
helpful when trying to assist new users with various Linux issues — especially if you are posing
questions in the right venue. If you do not have access to a news reader application, you can access
this information via the Web at http://groups.google.com/. Dozens of Linux-related newsgroups exist,
including the following:
linux.help — A great place to get help from fellow Linux users.
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linux.redhat — This newsgroup primarily covers Red Hat Enterprise Linux-specific issues.
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linux.redhat.install — Pose installation questions to this newsgroup or search it to see how others
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solved similar problems.
linux.redhat.misc — Questions or requests for help that do not really fit into traditional categories
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go here.
linux.redhat.rpm — A good place to go if you are having trouble using RPM to accomplish partic-
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ular objectives.
2.1.3. Beginning Linux Books
Red Hat Linux for Dummies, 2nd Edition by Jon "maddog" Hall; IDG
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Special Edition Using Red Hat Linux by Alan Simpson, John Ray and Neal Jamison; Que
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Running Linux by Matt Welsh and Lar Kaufman; O'Reilly & Associates
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Red Hat Linux 9 Unleashed by Bill Ball and Hoyle Duff; Pearson Education
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The books suggested here are excellent primary sources of information for basic knowledge about
a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system. For more in-depth information concerning the various topics
discussed throughout this book, many of the chapters list specific book titles, usually in an Additional
Resources area.
One excellent resource for aspiring system administrators is the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Introduc-
tion to System Administration. This book is designed to explain strategies for administering Red Hat
Enterprise Linux and is an excellent place to start for those learning the basics of system administra-
tion.

2.2. For the More Experienced

If you have used other Linux distributions, you probably already have a basic grasp of the most fre-
quently used commands. You may have installed your own Linux system, and maybe you have even
downloaded and built software you found on the Internet. After installing Linux, however, configura-
tion issues can be very confusing.
The Red Hat Enterprise Linux System Administration Guide is designed to help explain the various
ways a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system can be configured to meet specific objectives. Use this
manual to learn about specific configuration options and how to put them into effect.
When you are installing software that is not covered in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux System
Administration Guide, it is often helpful to see what other people in similar circumstances
have done. HOWTO documents from the Linux Documentation Project, available at
http://www.redhat.com/mirrors/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/howtos.html, document particular
aspects of Linux, from low-level kernel esoteric changes to using Linux for amateur radio station
work.
Introduction