10 CentOS Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

What if everything you knew about managing CentOS systems was just the starting point? Neil Smyth, a seasoned Linux system administrator with deep expertise in CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, crafted this book to bridge the gap between beginner basics and advanced system management. You’ll learn everything from installing the operating system and configuring GNOME, to setting up email, web servers, and dual booting with Windows. As you progress, the book dives into complex topics like LVM, KVM virtualization, SSH, and containerization, giving you a practical grasp of enterprise-level CentOS deployment. This book suits those ready to move from simple usage to confidently administering and securing CentOS 8 environments.

When Oliver Pelz first discovered the complexities of managing CentOS 7 servers in a high-performance research environment, he set out to demystify the process for others. This book offers over 80 focused recipes that take you from installing CentOS 7 to mastering server administration tasks, such as managing services, securing access, and setting up resource-sharing across networks. You'll specifically learn how to configure DNS, FTP, and database servers, dive into SELinux security policies, and even utilize Docker virtualization and Nagios monitoring. If you're aiming to build practical skills in administering CentOS 7 servers with real examples, this book is a solid guide, especially if you work in scientific or enterprise settings requiring robust server setups.

This personalized CentOS book provides a comprehensive guide to mastering administration and deployment tailored to your specific goals and experience level. It offers a tailored approach to core CentOS concepts including installation, configuration, security, and system monitoring, along with advanced deployment strategies suited to your environment. The book cuts through generic advice by focusing on practical, contextualized solutions for server management, networking, and virtualization. It integrates foundational Linux system administration with implementation-focused topics such as automation, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. By delivering a personalized framework, it fits your unique context and accelerates your path to proficiency in managing CentOS systems efficiently and securely.

Unlike most CentOS books that focus solely on theory, this one dives into practical deployment and management across diverse business scenarios. Timothy Boronczyk, drawing on his extensive experience as a lead developer and Zend Certified Engineer, guides you through everything from installation and networking to securing remote access and managing databases. You'll gain hands-on knowledge about configuring DNS, email, and web servers, alongside techniques for detecting network intrusions and leveraging virtualization. If you're aiming to master CentOS server administration with real-world applications and a clear path from setup to security, this book fits your needs perfectly.

When Timothy Boronczyk and Irakli Nadareishvili developed this guide, they focused on solving the challenge of managing CentOS servers across diverse business environments. You’ll gain hands-on knowledge starting from installation through configuring networking, managing users and software, to advanced topics like securing remote access and virtualization. For example, chapters on managing DNS, emails, and monitoring network intrusion provide concrete tools to safeguard your systems. This book suits system administrators and developers who need practical commands and configurations rather than theory. If you’re aiming to get a solid grip on CentOS 7 server management with real-life scenarios, this book delivers a straightforward, task-oriented approach.

What started as Shiv Kumar Goyal's hands-on experience with Red Hat and CentOS 7 turned into a focused manual for system administrators navigating daily operational challenges. You gain clear guidance on deploying and managing Red Hat/CentOS environments, with practical coverage of essential tools like HTTP, VNC, FTP, and SSH. The inclusion of step-by-step screenshots for installation and utilities for backup and restore makes it particularly useful if you need straightforward instructions without unnecessary filler. This book suits IT professionals and system admins seeking a concise reference for production environments rather than an in-depth theoretical text.

This tailored book provides a personalized framework for rapidly building CentOS expertise through a structured 30-day plan. It focuses on daily, actionable tasks that cover foundational Linux concepts, system installation, package management, user administration, security configurations, and real-world server deployment scenarios. By aligning the learning path with your existing background and goals, it cuts through generic advice and zeroes in on the precise skills you need to master CentOS efficiently. The book also addresses troubleshooting techniques and best practices adapted to your specific use cases, enabling a practical, hands-on grasp of CentOS system administration within a condensed timeframe.

Christopher Negus’s decades of experience working on Unix development teams at AT&T and Novell clearly shaped this guide, which dives deep into command-line mastery for Fedora, CentOS, and Red Hat users. You’ll encounter over a thousand Linux commands that go beyond basics—covering software management, system health monitoring, security tasks, and network access. This book is ideal if you're looking to strengthen your skills in administering Linux desktops or servers, especially within enterprise or development environments. The practical examples help you understand how to apply commands effectively, making it a solid resource for power users rather than beginners.

Andrew Mallett's extensive experience as a Linux expert reshaped his approach to teaching CentOS system administration. This book walks you through mastering key administrative skills like command line shortcuts, boot process analysis with MBR and GRUB, and managing software via YUM. You also gain insight into advanced topics such as centralized user management with openLDAP and configuration automation using Puppet, which can streamline your workflow significantly. If you're aiming to stand out as a Linux administrator or starting your journey in Linux system management, this guide offers practical, enterprise-focused knowledge without unnecessary complexity.

Foundations of CentOS Linux offers a detailed dive into CentOS, a free alternative within the Red Hat family, aimed at IT professionals who want to master enterprise Linux without licensing costs. Drawing from the authors' extensive experience, including Chivas Sicam's background as a system administrator and IT instructor, the book teaches you how to set up CentOS as a secure and efficient web services backend, while also preparing you for the Red Hat Certified Engineer exam. You’ll explore practical topics like managing Fedora clients alongside CentOS and configuring high-performance networks, making it ideal if you maintain servers or seek to deepen your Linux expertise.

Drawing from his experience with Linux distributions, Mr Nathan James Neil crafted this guide to demystify CentOS for beginners eager to master Linux server management. You’ll explore foundational skills like using the command line interface, managing users, and installing packages, before advancing to setting up a LAMP stack and deploying WordPress—practical steps that prepare you for real server environments. The book balances technical instructions with approachable explanations, making it suitable if you’re new to Linux or looking to expand your DevOps toolkit. Its concise 86 pages focus on essentials without overwhelming you, ideal if you want a clear, hands-on introduction to CentOS server administration.

When Mohamed Alibi first discovered the complexities of managing distributed bioinformatics infrastructures, he recognized the need for a focused guide on CentOS 7 server administration. This book walks you through configuring user permissions, securing your server against common attacks, and deploying essential Linux services tailored to your organizational needs. It also dives into monitoring hardware and software status, setting up virtualization, and exploring cloud computing on single-node systems. If you have some Linux experience and want a practical path to mastering CentOS 7’s latest tools and configurations, this book provides a clear roadmap without overcomplication.