At Dargslan, we believe the best technical books come from authors who live and breathe the technology they write about. Today, we are thrilled to introduce you to Miles Everhart — a veteran system administrator, security consultant, and one of the most prolific authors in our catalog with an impressive 21 published titles.
Whether you have picked up one of his Linux guides, followed his security hardening tutorials, or used his networking references, you have experienced firsthand the clarity and depth that Miles brings to every page. In this feature, we explore the man behind the books, his philosophy on technical writing, and what drives him to keep educating the next generation of IT professionals.
From Server Room to Writing Desk
Miles Everhart's journey into technical writing began the same way it does for many IT professionals — out of frustration. After spending 15 years managing enterprise Linux environments for financial institutions and healthcare organizations, he found that existing documentation and training materials consistently fell short.
"I kept seeing the same problems repeated across organizations. Junior admins would join the team, and the documentation they had access to was either hopelessly outdated or written for an audience that already understood the concepts. I started writing internal guides for my teams, and those guides eventually became the foundation for my first book."
That first book, a comprehensive guide to Linux system administration, was published through Dargslan in 2024 and quickly became one of the platform's best-selling titles. Since then, Miles has maintained an extraordinary pace of publication, releasing 21 books that collectively cover the full spectrum of modern IT infrastructure.
The Everhart Catalog: 21 Books Across Five Domains
Linux Administration and System Management
The core of Miles's catalog is built around Linux — the operating system that has defined his career. His Linux books range from absolute beginner introductions to advanced system administration handbooks that seasoned professionals keep within arm's reach.
What sets his Linux books apart is the emphasis on real-world scenarios. Rather than simply explaining how a command works, Miles walks readers through complete workflows: setting up production servers, troubleshooting performance issues at 3 AM, automating repetitive tasks, and building monitoring systems that catch problems before they become outages.
Security and Hardening
With cybersecurity threats evolving daily, Miles's security titles have become essential reading for administrators who need to protect their infrastructure. His books on Linux security hardening, security auditing, and security essentials provide practical, implementation-ready guidance.
His approach to security writing is refreshingly practical. Instead of theoretical discussions about threat models, Miles provides step-by-step hardening checklists, firewall configurations, and audit scripts that administrators can implement immediately.
Networking and Infrastructure
Understanding how networks function is foundational to any IT role. Miles's networking titles cover everything from basic TCP/IP fundamentals to advanced topics like VPN configuration, network segmentation, and infrastructure monitoring.
Web Servers and Application Deployment
Several of Miles's most practical books focus on web server setup and management. His guides to NGINX, Apache, and production web server deployment are consistently among Dargslan's top sellers, particularly with the growing demand for self-hosted applications.
Servers and Virtualization
Rounding out his catalog are books on server hardware, virtualization platforms, and data center management. These titles reflect Miles's extensive experience managing physical and virtual infrastructure at enterprise scale.
Writing Philosophy: Practical Over Theoretical
Ask Miles about his writing philosophy, and the answer comes quickly: "Every page should make the reader better at their job."
This philosophy manifests in several distinctive features that readers have come to expect from Everhart books:
- Real-world scenarios — Each chapter includes scenarios drawn from actual production environments, not contrived textbook examples.
- Copy-paste commands — Code examples and commands are tested on current systems and formatted for easy copying.
- Troubleshooting sections — Every major topic includes a troubleshooting guide that addresses the most common issues readers will encounter.
- Progressive complexity — Books are structured so that each chapter builds on the previous one, allowing readers to progress from beginner to advanced at their own pace.
- Platform-specific guidance — Rather than generic instructions, Miles provides specific commands and configurations for popular distributions like Ubuntu, CentOS/AlmaLinux, and Debian.
The Writing Process
Miles maintains a unique writing process that ensures technical accuracy while keeping content accessible. Each book goes through what he calls a "three-environment validation" process:
- Lab testing — Every command, script, and configuration is tested in a controlled lab environment running the specific OS version referenced in the book.
- Production validation — Key procedures are validated against production-like environments to ensure they work under realistic conditions.
- Peer review — Before publication, each manuscript is reviewed by at least two active IT professionals who provide feedback on accuracy, clarity, and completeness.
This rigorous process is why Miles's books have earned a reputation for reliability. When a reader follows an Everhart guide, they can trust that the instructions will work as described.
What Readers Say
The response from the Dargslan community has been overwhelmingly positive. Readers consistently praise Miles's ability to break down complex topics into manageable, actionable steps.
"I went from barely understanding Linux permissions to configuring and hardening a production web server in three weeks, all following Miles's books. His writing style makes you feel like you have a senior admin sitting next to you, guiding you through every step." — A Dargslan reader review
"What I appreciate most about Everhart's books is that they do not waste your time. No fluff, no padding — just clear, practical instruction that you can apply immediately." — Community feedback
What Is Next for Miles Everhart?
Miles is currently working on several new titles scheduled for release in 2026, focusing on emerging areas in infrastructure management. Without revealing too much, we can say that readers can expect new content covering container orchestration, infrastructure as code, and advanced monitoring strategies.
He is also revisiting and updating several of his earlier titles to reflect the latest OS releases and security best practices, ensuring that the entire Everhart catalog remains current and relevant.
Explore the Everhart Collection
With 21 titles covering Linux, security, networking, web servers, and infrastructure management, there is an Everhart book for every stage of your IT career. Whether you are just starting out or looking to deepen your expertise in a specific area, Miles's practical, tested approach ensures you will come away with skills you can use immediately.
Browse the complete Miles Everhart collection in the Dargslan bookstore and discover why thousands of IT professionals trust his guides for their career development.
Recommended Reading
Start your journey with these popular Miles Everhart titles:
- Linux Web Server Setup — Build production-ready web servers from the ground up
- Linux Security Hardening — Protect your infrastructure with proven hardening techniques
- NGINX Fundamentals — Master the world's most popular web server and reverse proxy
