Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell

by Mitch Tulloch

Book Overview

So you've decided to adopt Windows Server 2003? Whether you're migrating from Windows 2000 or directly from Windows NT, Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell is packed with the detailed information that you will need as you administer this OS. To-the-point chapters on migration highlight important new features such as enhancements to Active Directory, shadow volume copies, and Windows Update. Even better for experienced NT and 2000 admins are details about where Microsoft put familiar options, helping you quickly get oriented to the new platform. Those of you familiar with NT or Windows 2000 are well beyond the tutorial stage. Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell delivers a no-fluff guide with two alphabetical references, one for the GUI and one for the command-line. The Task Map chapter lets you find look up a task (such as "troubleshooting startup issues") to find appropriate topics in the references. Once you know where you're going, the book offers numerous step-by-step procedures in highly condensed form. This quick lookup reference is ideal for administration and deployment, as well as deeper issues such as planning, configuring, and troubleshooting. The GUI chapter is organized by topic according to major themes of Windows Server 2003 administration, providing one-stop shopping for busy admins. For example, if you want to find out about Active Directory and how to manage it, you'd begin by turning to Active Directory. Each topic begins with a description of basic concepts, followed by a description of tools (such as Microsoft Management Console snap-ins) used to administer the feature, instructions on how to perform common or important administrative tasks, and notes detailing subtle points and potential gotchas. Windows Server 2003 offers greatly enhanced command-line administration, and the command reference prominently highlights the many new commands in this release. Dozens of new commands and scripts have been added for administration of Active Directory, disks, event logs, Group Policy, IIS, network diagnostics, the pagefile, printers, processes, shared folders, and the Registry. The result is a Windows operating system platform that now rivals Unix in its ability to support command-line and scripted administration. Microsoft has introduced the right server for a world now dominated by highly distributed systems and web-based server applications, and O'Reilly has written a book that will earn a prominent place on administrators' desk tops.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0596004044
• ISBN13: 9780596004040
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 647 Pages
• Weight: 1.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Are you ready to take on Windows Server 2003...

Are you ready to take on Windows Server 2003 without a 1,500 page tome? This is the book; it has more Windows Server 2003 information per cubic inch than any other. Unfortunately, some things were left out. While the coverage of the pre-installed shell commands is excellent, the resource kit and support tools are ignored. Also missing are advanced features such as network load balancing, message queuing, and clustering. Still, an excellent book and definitely better than Stanek's.

An invaluable reference

Mitch Tulloch's "Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell" has 5 main sections. (1) A brief section on upgrading from NT or 2000 to W2003. (2) A brief section on changes from W2000 to W2003. (3) A small section outlining common administrative tasks (often referencing other areas of the book). (4) A "GUI reference" which is an alphabetical reference to the features and functions of W2003. (5) A command line reference. The last two sections occupy the majority of the book.This book follows the same pattern as Tulloch's "Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell". That is, topics are arranged alphabetically - the (seemingly) obvious way to organize information in a book that is meant to be a reference, not a tutorial. But the W2003 book also improves on the arrangement of the W2000 book.Tulloch's W2000 book had separate sections for the "concepts" and "tasks" of each topic. The W2003 book improves on this by combining concepts, tools, tasks and notes for each topic under a single heading. (By the way, the "notes" part of each topic alone probably makes the book worth purchasing). The beauty of this is that a topic can be easily found alphabetically with all the relevant information in one place. I do have a couple of complaints. Many items that were covered as separate topics in the Windows 2000 book are combined under a single section in the Windows 2003 book. For instance, encryption and compression, separate topics in the Windows 2000 book, are under "Files and folders" in the 2003 book, making them harder to find (at least to me). Some minor headings in the W2000 book are no longer in the W2003 book. Overall, I liked the more granular approach of the 2000 book, although I realize there is a limit to how granular you can get.The second complaint is that a few (very few) topics are strangely missing. There is, for instance, virtually nothing on the Registry or on Operations Masters - both important topics. (The 2000 book had the same omissions).Overall, I found Tulloch's W2000 book far and away the most useful of the dozen or so Windows 2000 books I have. It was not only the best organized reference book making information easy to find, but Tulloch's writing is clear and concise. It became the textbook that I use in my college classes. "Windows Server 2003 in a Nutshell" will now take its place. A great book that I already find invaluable.