7 Server Administration Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Jordan Krause brings his two decades of IT expertise and ten Microsoft MVP awards to this detailed guide on Windows Server 2022. You’ll find practical guidance on setting up and managing core services like Active Directory, DNS, and Group Policy, alongside modern tools such as PowerShell and Windows Admin Center for streamlined administration. The book dives into security enhancements including PKI and Defender for Identity, plus covers virtualization with Hyper-V and container integration, illustrating how to optimize and secure your server infrastructure. Whether you’re stepping up from desktop support or refining skills for complex environments, this book equips you with a solid foundation and up-to-date insights.

Mark G. Sobell's decades of UNIX/Linux training experience led to this detailed guide tailored for Ubuntu Linux versions 8.04 and 8.10. You’ll find hundreds of hands-on examples covering essential server setups like Samba, Apache, Mail, and DNS, alongside clear instructions on maintaining system updates using Aptitude and Synaptic. The book dives deep into configuring complex servers with JumpStart sections and offers practical troubleshooting through comprehensive indexes. If you manage or plan to manage Ubuntu servers and want a thorough, example-driven manual, this book aligns well with your needs, though it’s best suited for those comfortable with Linux fundamentals rather than absolute beginners.

This tailored book explores server administration with an emphasis on techniques customized to your experience and objectives. It covers essential concepts such as system setup, network configuration, security management, and troubleshooting, while examining advanced topics that match your interests. By focusing on your background and goals, it reveals a personalized pathway through complex server environments, facilitating efficient mastery of both Windows and Linux systems. Through this bespoke approach, you engage deeply with relevant knowledge and practical insights that enhance your control over server infrastructures.

Thomas Lee's decades-long immersion in IT, from early time-sharing systems to Microsoft certification mastery, shaped this detailed guide on automating Windows Server with PowerShell 7.1. You gain practical insights into managing core server roles, enterprise security, and Azure integration through over 100 hands-on recipes, including new content on the .NET Framework and WMI management. For instance, the chapters on Hyper-V virtual machine setup and advanced troubleshooting offer concrete scripts and techniques to streamline complex tasks. This book suits system administrators and engineers ready to deepen their automation skills and optimize Windows Server operations, though it assumes some PowerShell familiarity.

Jan Piet Mens brings decades of hands-on experience designing DNS and LDAP infrastructures across Europe to this detailed exploration of alternative DNS servers. You learn to evaluate various DNS servers not just by features, but by how they fit specific network scenarios, including integration with LDAP and SQL back-ends for scalable, multi-admin environments. The chapters on performance tuning, security considerations like DNSSEC, and specialized DNS servers provide you with a nuanced understanding rarely found in typical server guides. This book suits network engineers and system administrators seeking to deepen their practical knowledge of DNS beyond basic setups, especially if you manage complex or distributed systems.

What started as Evi Nemeth's pioneering efforts in UNIX system administration evolved into a resource that covers the full spectrum of modern UNIX and Linux system management. You’ll learn detailed methods for storage handling, network setup, security protocols, cloud infrastructure, and automation techniques, all rooted in real-world scenarios. The book’s breadth means it suits those managing anything from classic servers to cloud platforms, offering insights into DevOps practices and containerization. For anyone serious about mastering UNIX/Linux environments, this handbook delivers thorough, grounded knowledge without unnecessary fluff.

This tailored book explores a detailed 90-day plan for deploying and managing servers with precision and efficiency. It covers foundational concepts and progressively examines key steps from initial setup to ongoing management, ensuring each phase is aligned with your technical background and specific goals. The book reveals practical pathways to configure server environments, address common challenges, and optimize performance through a personalized approach that matches your experience level and interests. The tailored content bridges expert knowledge with your unique needs, making complex server administration accessible and actionable.

Pablo Iranzo Gómez and his co-authors challenge the assumption that Linux system administration is only for the deeply technical by presenting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 in an accessible yet thorough manner. You’ll learn how to deploy, configure, and secure RHEL 9 systems across both physical and cloud environments, with chapters dedicated to everything from user management and storage with LVM to firewall and SELinux hardening. The inclusion of practical examples and practice exercises, including guidance on passing the RHCSA certification exam, makes this an ideal guide if you want hands-on confidence managing enterprise Linux servers. This book suits those preparing for certifications as well as IT professionals aiming to sharpen real-world Linux administration skills.

Jay LaCroix leverages two decades of hands-on experience and a master's degree in Information Systems Technology Management to guide you through Ubuntu Server 22.04 with practical clarity. The book demystifies everything from installation on physical hardware and Raspberry Pi to deploying cloud servers and orchestrating containers with Kubernetes. You learn to configure popular applications like Nextcloud, automate tasks using Ansible and Terraform, and implement robust security measures. Whether you’re a system administrator or an IT enthusiast seeking to deepen your Linux skills, the detailed coverage of real-world server setups and troubleshooting will equip you for managing servers at any scale.