Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed FROM OUR EDITORS
The Barnes & Noble Review
Windows Server 2003 Unleashed, Second Edition covers every aspect of planning, deploying, and managing Windows Server 2003 in any environment, including the global enterprise. What's more, it's just been updated to reflect the powerful new tools and "feature packs" Microsoft has introduced over the past year -- many poorly documented until now.
You'll walk through the entire process of planning, prototyping, migration, deployment, and installation. (Especially helpful: the sample unattended installation script and batch file. And speaking of migration, there's a full chapter on application compatibility testing later in the book.)
There's comprehensive coverage of Active Directory -- extensively enhanced in Windows Server 2003, and afterwards. Coverage new to this edition includes: DSML for accessing AD from XML web pages; Active Directory in Application Mode and Identity Integration Feature Pack, which improve AD's flexibility in testing and synchronization; improved remote administration, and more. AD planners will especially appreciate the authors' insights on designing OU and Group Structure, and their discussion of integrating Active Directory with non-Microsoft directory services.
There's a complete section on networking, with chapters on configuring DNS, DHCP, and IIS 6. You'll also find four full chapters on security: securing servers and network transport, using Passports, and leveraging security policies. The authors offer equally detailed coverage of user, group, and site administration; the Registry; group policies (including the new Group Policy Management Console); scripting; and Microsoft Operations Manager.
Other brand-new features and tools covered here: Software Update Services, Windows SharePoint Services Feature Pack, Windows System Resource Manager, log parsing, rights management, file replication management, and more.
Fault tolerance, backup/recovery, logging, debugging, capacity analysis, tuningᄑall that's here, too. Plus, you'll find bulleted lists of best practices in nearly every chapter. This book's almost as all-encompassing as the product it covers. Bill Camarda
Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2003 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Since the release of Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has made many feature packs available that were not in the initial release, including Group Policy Management Console, Windows Resource Manager, File Replication Services, Terminal Services Feature Pack, Timewarp Client, Windows Sharepoint Services, Automatic Deployment Services, Active Directory in Application mode, Identity and Integration Services, Windows Right Management, Directory Services Mark-up Language, Microsoft Audit Collection Service, Security Configuration Wizard, and File Replication Services Monitor.
This book is the second edition of the best seller Windows Server 2003 Unleashed. With Windows Server 2003 being released in April/2003 and the next release of Windows (codename Longhorn) not due out until 2005 / 2006, this second edition will keep the text viable with new updates to the core Windows 2003 code. There have not been changes to the released version of the server, but Microsoft has released approximately 15 features through the release of feature packs. The second edition covers these feature packs along with incorporating reader feedback to make the book an even stronger resource for the IT professional.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Microsoft's April launch of Windows Server 2003 signaled a newer, modular strategy; the company intends to continue delivering additional components for at least six months postlaunch. This means that libraries, though needing to invest in guides to the new server OS, may need to upgrade more quickly than in the past for coverage of newer components. These four titles will help start the collection. Intended for Windows Server 2000 administrators who need to update their skills, Delta Guide eschews the basics for changes in the new OS, beginning with selecting an edition and moving through interface and policy changes, security enhancements, new command line tools, and more. Online sidebars bring users up to speed in areas where their Win2k knowledge is lacking. Buy in conjunction with more thorough guides that also address the needs of beginning administrators. Beginner's Guide and Teach Yourself target beginning administrators, teaching via step-by-step chapters. In Beginner's, the notes and "Ask the Expert" sidebars add useful info, progress checks mid-chapter help break up lengthy prose, and projects and mastery checks close chapters. Teach ends chapters with a summary and Q&A and includes similar notes and asides, falling somewhat short in explaining what to do when its step-by-step instructions fail. Beginner's, for example, goes by degrees through setting up nonplug and play printers, while Teach merely directs readers to the Add Printer Wizard. Both are good bets for all libraries. Meanwhile, Unleashed is a comprehensive reference for intermediate to advanced administrators. Lists of best practices contain tips to keep servers running smoothly, along with rules and recommendations integrated into each chapter; larger libraries can consider. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.