UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hey everyone,

Just to introduce myself, I'm a long time Windows admin who's being thrust headfirst into the world of Unix! We're taking on another business line that has a few Solaris 9 systems, so I need to get up to speed... or at least be able to SOUND like I am!

I took an intro to Unix class, and I think I have a basic understanding, but now I need to get into the deeper and darker stuff... and something more specific to Solaris.

I'd like to find out if anyone has any recommendations on a good Solaris book to further my understanding. Or, maybe it's best that I track down a Solaris 9 class or something.

Thanks in advance!

Most vendor classes are very expensive $2000 or $3000 per 5 day course.

If you have a local discount book store... go and look for any Solaris books there... Here in the DFW, TX area there are many discount stores who carry slightly damaged books or a chain called "Half Price Books" who resell books you sell back....

Also, on a website called www.half.com they sell books below retail as well as on www.amazon.com look for used books under the new listing for the same book, many times folks sell the same book for a fraction....

Solaris 9 search

Thanks Kalem! I'll check those out.

I also just found this thread that I'm going to read through.

As far as the training, I'm going to TRY to avoid any more, but I really think I need it, the company would pay for it anyway, so I might still consider that if you guys think it'd be worth it.

Thanks again!

Avoid Janice Winsor's books. They're awful. I can attest to this from first-hand experience, and if you look on any site that allows reviews, other reviewers will bear me out on this point. God awful.

I do find The Solaris Operating Environment Boot Camp to be an excellent book. It covers a lot of ground in a very practical way. I'm very glad I found this book when I was starting out at a job with a lot of Solaris involvement.

Depends on your location.

Though here in Australia I by from www.everythinglinux.com.au they deal with Linux though hold alot of stuff on UNIX. See if you got something like that in your town.

If you like to have a look at the book first instead of just reading reviews on the net. Then most large books stores have a store somewhere (normally in the main city CBD) with a huge computer section. Unix books are common there to.

For Solaris 8, I found Bill Calkins' books to be pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. Like the other posters said, try half.com and amazon.com also has sellers who sell used.

Here is the Link to Amazon

He also has one for Solaris 9.

Thanks a lot for all the helpful replies! This is an example of one thing that I'm excited to become a part of, which is a smaller community where (most) everyone is willing to help each other out. I haven't found anything like that in the Windows world so far.

Thanks again!