The Ultimate Windows Server 2003 System Administrator's Guide

by Robert Williams and Robert Williams

The Ultimate Windows .NET Server System Administrator's Guide is an essential resource for planning, deploying, and administering a Windows .NET enterprise system. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201791064
• ISBN13: 9780201791068
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
• Length: 1008 Pages
• Weight: 3.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Start to Finish and Beyond

Often I pick up an "administrator's guide" and find myself staring at 300 pages of screenshots explaining how to insert the CD-ROM for installation and resize the task bar for better time/date viewing, written by someone who appears to be learning the topic while writing the text. Rarely do I encounter a resource such as this book that not only intelligently covers the basics but successfully tackles advanced topics as well, leaving the reader's intelligence un-insulted and providing a reference guide that will serve you well long after your initial read. The foundational information is here, from planning out the network on paper to installing and configuring the basic domain services. The deployment information is here, from server deployment to remote OS installations. General administration, including AD design, IP addressing, DNS, replication, user and group management, and group policies are all thoroughly discussed. More complex systems, such as VPN, security certificates, disaster recovery, terminal services, and indexing are also presented with just as much detail and knowledge as all other topics. Beyond what you would otherwise expect from this style of book are advanced topics that are typically not covered and therefore overlooked by many administrators. Such things as extending the AD schema, real-world security issues and solutions, clustering services, message queuing services, and a very extensive commands and utilities section are demystified, easily adding them to your skill list and making them a real possibility for inclusion in your environment. The title also provides an introduction to Microsoft SMS, Microsoft MOM, and the Windows Script Host (WSH). These sections are there to inform you of their role within a network, not to provide a learning guide or reference for the technologies. Those that have never administered a network before in their life, and are looking to this title as a student textbook should look elsewhere. Time is not spent covering the rudimentary basics that qualified IT professionals already have. Although a Windows background is very helpful, administrators of non-Windows networks looking to crossover will find this title inclusive of the background information they need to understand the Windows environment and to apply their current network administration knowledge. Every intrinsic Windows 2003 topic, from planning and deployment to management of core services, are covered in a logical and educated manner, providing you the information quickly and efficiently. Sections and appendices are well labeled and organized to make this not only an educational guide, but a desktop reference that will last you thru the life of the product. This is a must have for Windows 2003 administrators.

TREMENDOUS !!! Solid On ALL Fronts

I have never written a book review before but I am extremely impressed by The Ultimate Windows Server 2003 System Administrator's Guide. It is written with authority yet very easy to understand. It begins with a forward by the Microsoft executive in charge of Windows ... that alone is a solid endorsement. However, the real proof came when I needed to understand otherwise foreign concepts like Active Directory and the various security technologies. The book gave me the theory and then provided very human instructions on how to pull these concepts together in the real world. I have six other Windows Server 2003 including the sub-standard Manasi book that has now become a door stop. The "Ultimate ... Guide" is always at my finger tips unless of course a co-worker borrows it.

WELL STRUCTURED, DIRECT GUIDANCE

This book provides precisely the level of information required for Windows Server 2003 migration, maintenance and functional improvements. The authors use an approach that reviews basic concepts and then marches directly into how-too examples. Unlike other Windows books that include hundreds of pages on trivial items, these authors have pinpointed the most important and complex elements of the operating system and made them easily understandable. They also provide helpful notes and precautionary statements in areas where an administrator should not venture without proper planning. This has saved my bacon more than once. In our Windows administration team there are dozens of titles available for reference ... this is the one book that always get to the heart of the issue.

Another Great Book by Williams & Walla

Like their previous work on Windows 2000 Server, the authors come closer to answering all the questions a SysAd has about Windows 2003 than any other I have ever seen. It provided in depth chapters, as well as example implementations in clear understandable language, and with an organizational structure that was easy to follow. A great book well worth the money!

OUTSTANDING CONTENT AND REFERENCES

This book does an exceptional job of explaining the functions and features of Windows Server 2003. As an administrator responsible for managing many favors of Windows for a major university I particularly liked the cross references to older versions of Microsoft server products. Where functions or adminitsrative tools differed, a notation is provided so I can easily glide between the various operating systems.The authors provided a straight forward approach to installation and an excellent review of new administrative tools. For anyone concerned with security, the book provides in deepth explanations and practical guidance ... almost 400 pages worth. The chapters on active directory and networking were also stand-out. As an administrator, I also appreciated the quick reference appendix to command line administration. This is a solid winner.