This is the single most helpful computer book I have read. I have been dabbling with setting up a server for months. Today's servers utilize so many different technologies (HTTP, SQL, SSH, SSL, FTP, DNS, Mail) that just gathering the information to set up server with average features is a big task - especially if it is not your real job. It is pretty simple to find information on setting up a particular package, but not easy to get information to make it all work together.

This book takes a very clear flowchart approach and tells you what to install and in what order. If you want a web server, a mail server, a file server, or some variant, this book will help you to build it.

I know that seasoned system administrators frown on the scripted "type this and then this" approach to setting up a server but you have to start somewhere. This book will help you to set up a full fledged working and relatively secure server. From there if you want to learn more about a particular technology, great go right ahead and delve in deeper (with another more specific book.) You will after following the instructions in this book have a great platform to configure and expand.

I have read several other books on different variants of BSD and this one really pulled it all together.