Exam Guide?!, 20 Jul 2008
While this book will get you to grips with the basics of the linux operating system, and will have you using the core functionality with a reasonable level of adeptness, if you plan on using it to get through the Linux+ exam, think again.

The topics covered in the book don't go into nearly enough depth to get a newbie up to exam standard, and they are pitifully lacking in detail for the more experienced linux users to gain anything from.

The example questions and practice tests are largely unlike the real thing, concentrating on the topics covered by the book, rather than giving you a real insight into the CompTIA Linux+ exam itself.

For those seriously considering the exam, first of all, there are not 65 questions to answer in 90 minutes (as hinted by the book) but around 100. Secondly, you will be expected to know bash, tcsh & ash syntax, and not just use a combination of bash and gnome, and have a strong familiarity with a variety of servers and daemons, far beyond being able to configure and install open-ssh and an unsecure apache box.

My recommendation would be give this book a miss as an exam reference, but as a beginners guide to linux, it's not bad, hence the 2 stars.

Helped me as well, but..., 11 May 2008
I found the book to be really rather good. It is probably not suitable for the complete Linux newbie (but then if you were a newbie, you'd probably not be thinking of certification just yet). I had been using Linux for a couple of years when I decided to try for Linux+, and I got a decent pass first time (after three months practice), using this as my only cert. guide.

Where it falls down a little is the CD. The Flash-based practice exams are fine, and will work on your Linux PC (if you have the flashplayer plugin, of course). However, the pdf resources that were provided were nobbled with Windows-only DRM. I did complain to the publisher, pointing out the irony of this. Apparently they think that if they didn't do this, there would be a massive market for pirated versions of Linux+ flash cards.

I recommend it for the book. Just don't expect to be able to access the all of the supplementary material without a Windows installation.