Reddit mentions of CompTIA Network+ Deluxe Study Guide Recommended Courseware: Exam N10-005

I realize this is an old post, but I figured I would add my two cents in:

If you have no Linux Knowledge, I would recommend these two books:
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Unix-Linux-John-Muster/dp/0072226951

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Linux-Manual-Student-Edition/dp/0072226943/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

I would also recommend getting a book on windows server:
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Microsoft-Windows-Server-2008/dp/0470532866

After going over those you should have a fundamental understanding of Unix/Linux

Then I would recommend this if you need to brush up on your basic networking knowlege:

http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-Deluxe-Recommended-Courseware/dp/111813754X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369292584&sr=1-1&keywords=network+%2B+delux+guide

Some security theory wouldn't hurt: I'd recommend these in no particular order:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Basics-Information-Security-Understanding/dp/1597496537/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_7_FHWA

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1597496154/ref=s9_simh_se_p14_d0_i6?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=6289C56ED33B4C108B60&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1263465782&pf_rd_i=itia2300

And now we actually start getting into penetration testing:

http://www.amazon.com/Metasploit-The-Penetration-Testers-Guide/dp/159327288X/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_3_FHWA

http://www.amazon.com/The-Basics-Digital-Forensics-Getting/dp/1597496618/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_6_FHWA

http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Penetration-Testing-Highly-Secured-Environments/dp/1849517746/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_8_FHWA

http://www.amazon.com/Nmap-Network-Scanning-Official-Discovery/dp/0979958717/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_cp_10_FHWA



Full disclosure: I have used all these books in my studies. I am not affiliated in any way with these authors, this also isn't something you can just "master" in 24 hours; you may however learn a few cool tricks early. My advice would be to keep at it, not only read these books, but setup Virtual environments to test these concepts in.

Those books I listed should give you a fundamental understanding of: Linux, Windows server, Networking, Information security theory, computer forensics, and basic penetration testing.

I would also recommend you take up a scripting language, Python is pretty simple to learn if you haven't already, and insanely powerful in the right hands.

Oh, one thing I forgot. NEVER EVER EVER run Kali linux as your primary distribution, setup a duel-boot and use something like Debian as your "casual" computer, and then souly use Kali or backtrack as your "Network security distro"

Ninja edited by myself