Product Description

The Only Windows Server Resource You Need

The single most comprehensive and understandable book on the subject, Mastering Windows Server 2003 continues author Mark Minasi′s award–winning tradition of clear and comprehensive coverage of Microsoft′s Windows Server products. This book shows you how to plan, configure and install your network, keep it running its best, and fix it if it breaks. And you still get all the coverage you need for the Windows 2000 Server installations that remain part of your environment.

Coverage includes:
∗ Configuring IP, DHCP, DNS, and WINS to achieve the right foundation for your network
∗ DNS explained in everyday English, from basics to advanced design
∗ Designing, running, and maintaining Active Directory–based domains with Server 2003 and 2000 Server
∗ Running your own Web, FTP, and e–mail server with 2003
∗ Controlling hundreds, even thousands, of workstations with group policies and security templates
∗ Tuning and monitoring your network
∗ Securing your network from split–brain DNS to AD delegation to group policies, logs, IPSec, PKI and more
∗ Using Windows Server 2003 to share Internet connections
∗ Complete coverage of all new 2003 features
Real Solutions to Real Challenges
If improving the real–world performance of your network is the bottom line, this book delivers the goods. It shows you how to design and manage a multiple–platform network, build a Windows–based intranet, find the right data backup strategy, prevent and recover from disasters, and much more. There′s no end to what you′ll accomplish with practical, step–by–step instruction from the expert who has actually done it all on live networks!

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160189 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1753 pages

From the Back Cover
The Only Windows Server Resource You Need

The single most comprehensive and understandable book on the subject, Mastering Windows Server 2003 continues author Mark Minasi’s award–winning tradition of clear and comprehensive coverage of Microsoft’s Windows Server products. This book shows you how to plan, configure and install your network, keep it running its best, and fix it if it breaks. And you still get all the coverage you need for the Windows 2000 Server installations that remain part of your environment.

Coverage includes:

• Configuring IP, DHCP, DNS, and WINS to achieve the right foundation for your network
• DNS explained in everyday English, from basics to advanced design
• Designing, running, and maintaining Active Directory–based domains with Server 2003 and 2000 Server
• Running your own Web, FTP, and e–mail server with 2003
• Controlling hundreds, even thousands, of workstations with group policies and security templates
• Tuning and monitoring your network
• Securing your network from split–brain DNS to AD delegation to group policies, logs, IPSec, PKI and more
• Using Windows Server 2003 to share Internet connections
• Complete coverage of all new 2003 features

Real Solutions to Real Challenges
If improving the real–world performance of your network is the bottom line, this book delivers the goods. It shows you how to design and manage a multiple–platform network, build a Windows–based intranet, find the right data backup strategy, prevent and recover from disasters, and much more. There’s no end to what you’ll accomplish with practical, step–by–step instruction from the expert who has actually done it all on live networks!

About the Author
Mark Minasi has 25 years of experience in the computer business. He has been teaching professional seminars on networking since 1985, and has experience with IBM, Novell, and Microsoft–based networks. Mark has been a columnist for BYTE, AI Expert, Compute, and NT Magazine and is CNN′s resident computer expert.

---

Customer Reviews

Truly a server masterclass
Don't be put off by the fact that this book is more voluminous than the Bible. Or that it weighs over 3kg...

I like many others, I suspect, have used client side applications almost exclusively up to this point. Therefore with really no understanding of how to configure a server, I decided I needed to buy a book - and fortunately I chose this book.

Within 2 weeks, I have set-up IIS 6.0, configured DNS and installed the FrontPage Server Extensions. Yes, I could have just looked through the help menus, but this solution is much better.

If like me you have configured IP (Internet Protocol) addresses in order to connect up a network or just connect to the internet with a browser - then you will enjoy the in-depth analysis of just what exactly TCP/IP is and how to configure it in Chapter 6. If you don't know what 192.186.0.1 is, or how a subnet mask works then you sure will after reading this book.

DHCP, WINS and DNS is the subject of Chapter 7, which shows you exactly how Domain Name Resolution works, how to use forward and reverse lookup zones and is a massive help when figuring out what each of the different DNS record types are.

Chapter 17 covers IIS6, NNTP, SMTP, POP3 & More. Ever wondered what how a Microsoft based ISP sets up webspace for its customers? Well you can simulate this here by networking two computers and setting the one up as a web page server. Want multiple web sites using one IP address - no problem!

And that's before mentioning anything to do with Active Directory- which also gets a good airing.

The summary is that this book is an excellent starting point for server newbies, but it also is great for people migrating from NT4 or Server 2000. It certainly is a book that adorn my windowsill for years to come.

Excellent, but a lack of continuity in places
I bought this to get to grips with Server 2003, both to do MCSE exams, and to get some hands-on. It's really good, but in places the fact that it has different authors shows up. For example, Chapter 9's User Accounts section completely ignores the earlier chapters examples on how machines were set up. Chapter 5's section on RIS looked like it would be good to install, till I realised that I had to do AD first (Ch. 8), and DNS (Ch.7). Having a couple of spare pc's and a crossover cable is handy too.
The protected PDF is annoying, you can't even copy and paste from it, which I like to do when I find a good tip.
Overall, very easy to read (I even managed a solid 5 hours on a train journey, and not many techie books can do that!), and goes right back to explain basics - so, plenty of bits that more experienced readers can skip.
Great for an overview of the whole product, but you may want to partner it with an ExamCram if studying too.

God Send!!
Once again, Mark Minasi has gone to great depths to provide an absolute superb book.

If you want to learn Windows 2003 Server quickly, easily then this is the book for you. Again Marks comical style of writing makes the reading both entertaining and fun, but at the same time very professional. This guy really knows how to make learning fun.

If there is one book you buy this year, this has got to be the one... Well done Mark..