Customer Reviews

Exchange Server 2000 24seven

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the best books in my bookcase! I was disappointed with a number of other Exchange 2000 reference books, but this one hits the mark. The information is well organized and focus on information that an administrator needs to know. The author explains Exchange 2000 and its required integration with Active Directory exceptionally well. Also useful is information about customizing Exchange and security for Exchange servers. The author makes many useful suggestions and recommendations for implementing a secure and stable Exchange 2000 environment. Don't make this your first Exchange 2000 book, though (Mastering Exchange 2000 Server is a good starter book). And don't read the book without first learning basic Active Directory administration. This book is an essential reference!

Other readers have given this book five stars and for good reason. IMHO, if you are a real world administrator, this is the best book to have.

However, I wanted to review this book in the context of preparing for the 70-224 Exchange Server 2000 Admin exam. While not an exam book, 24x7 does present much of the in-depth information you need for study.

Since the author's intent is to give thourough expert coverage to the most important topics in E2K administration, this should not be your first book, Better to start with a primer that will orient you to this feature rich product with its many integration and deployment issues. A very good primer is the "Microsoft(r) Exchange 2000 Server Administrator's Companion". A second choice might be "MCSE Training Kit, Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server". As third choice, consider the preported companion to 24x7 is the Sybex "MCSE: Exchange Server 2000 Administration Study Guide". It consise and otherwise good coveage is marred by its many errors.

That said, this would be the next book to read, since it leads you into a more thorough, detailed, and I must say accurate examination of the same topics - all without being boring. Incidently, the great index makes this an excellent reference book for work.

The only other supplemental reading that might be needed are a few white papers and KB articles on FE/BE servers and database backup and recovery; topics that are nevertheless covered really well in this book. Avoid reading the "Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Resource Kit" which is not up to the standards of other Resource Kit documentation.

The one negative issue to note is that the author repeatedly references additional (but not essential) documentation on his website; a website which crashed and has yet to be rebuilt.

This book was the one of the last two books I bought on Exchange 2000 administration. I had already read Microsoft's Resource Kit, Administrators Companion, MCSE Guide, and Sybex's mastering Exchange 2000. Those books now hold up desks or collect dust on my shelf as they did not help much in the real world of Exchange administration, at least not compared to this book. If you want one Exchange 2000 book and are tired of the detail lacking information from Microsoft get this book! My only regret is it was the fifth book I read and not the first...what a waste.

As a former Microsoft Product Support Specialist for Exchange 5.5, Jim McBee's "Exchange Server 5.5 24Seven" was my all-time favorite reference. Now as an Exchange Administrator for a mid-size company implementing Exchange 2000, I was very glad to see Jim come out with this new volume. I have almost a dozen books on Exchange 2000, and, just as with his 5.5 24Seven, I am finding that I gravitate to McBee's 2000 24Seven before any of the others. Yes, even before Tony Redmond's. In my opinion, what makes his Exchange books so good is the way he presents the information. He has the ability to take complex material and explain it in such a way that it actually makes sense. What's more, his information is accurate; something not all of the Exchange books out there can boast. Please note that this is not another exam preparation book. McBee will take you under the hood so you can understand how Exchange 2000 works, but the theory is balanced with real world practical application for those of us who are in the trenches administering Exchange on a daily basis. If you work with Exchange 2000, you will not be disappointed with this book. In fact, I anticipate that it will become one of your most frequently consulted references.

BIG BOOKS turn me off. But dealing with Exchange 2000, there's no escaping big books. This one was far too interesting, and I read it almost cover to cover - all 800+ pages - except the TOC & index.

This is almost like the Bible of Exchange 2000 - deserves more than 5 stars. If you have time/resources to spend on or read just one Exchange Server 2000 book, buy this book without any hesitation.

Great book for Exchange 2000 administration. Great coverage on almost everything about Exchange 2000. Also serves as a great resource for the 70-224 test, in addition to the MS Press Exchange Server 2000 Impl. & Admin. Training Kit.

Particularly excellent coverage of the Exchange databases & disaster recovery. Clustering coverage is good. Can do with more coverage on messaging infrastructure design, but overall this book is perhaps the best book on Exchange 2000, (Not to say the Digital Press books which are more focussed on particular aspects are any less perfect - just different focus).

Bharat Suneja
MCT

Great book! I had administered earlier versions of Microsoft Exchange but was new to Exchange 2000. There was not a single question that I had that this book did not have an answer for. Outstanding!

This one of the best books I have had in my life. Not only provides information about the entire Exchange topic that a professional Exchange Administrator will need. It also provides a large amount of information that you must to know in order to ensure a healthy life of your Exchange organization.
From the examples that the author brings, you can clearly notice that he has an outstanding experience in the field; he doesn't anything for himself turning all his knowledge into this book.
The book itself is very well organized, and the guides for getting results are clear. I have followed those guides for topics that are rare as restoring the exchange databases, complex operations using the command line and Exchange, using the tools in the Exchange Resource Kit.
I have also found tricks in this book that senior Exchange Administrator colleagues don't know how I discovered. Many of my secrets reside in the pages of this book and when facing problems this is will be always my first resource.
Certainly, the book is not an introduction to Exchange, you may need to know or have experience with Windows 2000 and email operation, don't expect that this book will teach you on subjects like Active Directory or others related to Windows 2000. Understanding that, and without a doubt, I recommend this book.

As a network manager, I have no time to wade throught most of the horrible E2K books out there. I have to know what my email administrator knows so I made certain I was on top of my game with E2K by purchasing and working through 3 book, one being this one. When we went to roll out E2K and then maintain it, this book provided the most info and help. The other 2 I will not name as I would not be rude to drop anything less than 2 stars on an authors hard work - that being said I will keep that other two titles anonymous. Pick this one up, you will be happy you did.

This book is a complete guide that shaped my perspective in dealing with exchange at work. This is all of the real world, day to day "what you need to know and do" information that so many books lack.

If you are looking to study for the exchange exam this is the wrong item. Instead this very well written book will make you feel like the author is standing over your shoulder pointing out what is what, how to maintain and troubleshoot them all as well.

Full of checklists, how to's and the authors real world experiences and advice. Thanks Jim. Great job!

This is the best exchange book out there for the "Real world" exchange administrator. If you own the exchange system in your company, you dont want to miss this one...