This is a good intro to Debian GNU/Linux. The book itself is well written and touches on most of the major points of Debian for the beginner. The biggest complaint I had with it was the included CD-ROM. I had purchased it with the intention of getting an official Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 {slink} workstation up and running. Unfortunately the version included with this book, although labeled "Debian 2.1" wasn't. Apparently VA Linux compiled a non-standard version they refer to as "slink and a half" that combines parts of the stable Debian 2.1 release {slink} with parts of the unstable 2.2 {potato} release. Nowhere on this web site, in the actual book, or on/in the accompanying CD-ROM is any of this mentioned.

Why O'Reilly chose to do this, I can't say. I had come to expect much better from them.

If you already have a CD-ROM set of the "Official Debian GNU/Linux 2.1" this book may prove very helpful getting it up and running. If you were looking to purchase this book with the intention of installing a stock Debian workstation from the included CD-ROM, you would be advised to look elsewhere.

Hopefully O'Reilly will either correct the version of Debian GNU/Linux included with this book, and/or CLEARLY label both the book and this website with the reality of VA Linux's "slink and a half".