Recommend a good book on Debian administration?

If you want cheap, just stick to the Internet and use the documentation provided by both Linode and the Debian Wiki. The latter has three sections geared toward administrators:

1. System Administration

2. Network

3. Command Line Interface

It is extremely difficult to put together any publication (let alone a printed one) which can simultaneously:

1. Be comprehensive

2. Be detailed

3. Address your chosen distro

4. Be up-to-date

The UNIX and Linux Administration Handbook (RIP, Evi) manages the first two, tries for the third by covering multiple systems, but has difficulty meeting the fourth. (Any printed material will have trouble with #4.) It is not exactly written as an entry-level book, but there is lots of useful detail squirreled away in there for intermediate-level admins.

Although I have not read the whole thing (and only have a previous edition), A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux actually seems to do very well on 1, 2, and 3. It is more accessible for the beginner. The two downsides as far as you are concerned are that it targets Ubuntu, not Debian, and is a few years out of date. Nevertheless, you may find it worthwhile and just have to fill in the gaps and differences using online resources.

In my experience, the best predictor of the usefulness of a printed book is its author. If you can get your hands on one of their books (say, from a library) you'll have a good idea of whether their writing style and approach is a match for you. Don't assume that books from a specific publisher will be good: even O'Reilly and Sams put out some stinkers.

@Vance:

The UNIX and Linux Administration Handbook (RIP, Evi)….

Wow, I hadn't heard about Evi until now. :( I think I might need to pick up that book as more of a sentimental thing than actually using it in-depth. I remember having looked at bits and pieces of the third edition as a kid getting in to Linux.

Sorry for thread hijack.

-Tim