Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003 R2 [Paperback]

Brad Price (Author), John A. Price (Author), Scott Fenstermacher (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0782144411 | ISBN-13: 978-0782144413 | Publication Date: January 4, 2006 | Edition: 1

• Active Directory stores information about a network's users and directories, making it easier to configure, manage, and update a network
• Windows Server 2003 R2 will include a new scripting engine to make Active Directory administration quicker and easier, plus a Group Policy Management Console for managing group and user accounts
• Geared to experienced system administrators, this book focuses on serious day-to-day needs and provides real-world solutions, including scripts that can be downloaded and implemented in any AD system

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In-Depth Coverage for High-Level Active Directory Administrators

If you're an Active Directory systems administrator, this

comprehensive guide to the Windows Server 2003 R2 version of Active Directory offers you targeted solutions for the day-to-day requirements of managing a system. From improving your

efficiency with ready-to-use scripts that can be downloaded

from Sybex's web site, to a full range of automation solutions for managing the accounts of users and groups, this book delves into detail at the advanced level you need.

Practical and immediate, Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003 R2 provides serious instruction for serious users, but also includes a refresher of the basics—a valuable resource you'll turn to again and again.

Coverage includes

• Understanding schema, the building blocks of Active Directory
• Organizing the physical and logical aspects of Active Directory
• Finding out what's new in R2 that enhances Active Directory
• Examining Microsoft's latest UNIX integration in R2
• Designing a rock solid Active Directory infrastructure
• Employing the new R2 scripting engine
• Managing groups, users, and computers
• Setting boundaries on policies, sites, and access
• Analyzing and prioritizing risk
• Troubleshooting at the highest level

All the ready-to-use scripts are available for download from the book's product page on www.sybex.com.

Leverage Real-World Solutions for Automating Management Tasks

Increase your Productivity with Five Full Chapters on Troubleshooting

Take Advantage of Ready-to-Use Scripts

About the Author

Brad Price, MCSE, MCT, is a technical trainer specializing in Active Directory and Exchange Server 2000 and 2003. He is the author of Active Directory Best Practices 24seven: Migrating, Designing, and Troubleshooting and MCSE: Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure Design Study Guide, both from Sybex. John Price, a Citrix Certified Administrator and Microsoft Certified Trainer, is a trainer and network engineer consultant specializing in Citrix enterprise implementations. Scott Fenstermacher is currently a network engineer for a top 200 software company. He has a degree in computer science and holds several certifications from Microsoft and other vendors, including MCSE, MCSD, and MCDBA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; 1 edition (January 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782144411
• ISBN-13: 978-0782144413
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #926,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Administrative Reference, May 8, 2007

By 

Jase T. Wolfe - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003 R2 (Paperback)

When I picked up this book, I was expecting something that focused on the Server 2003 R2 specific Active Directory additions and changes, as the title somewhat implies. Instead, you are provided a Windows 2003 Active Directory from A to Z for administrators that includes sections on the R2 additions.

Pretty much everything you need to know about the AD is covered. It starts with a very good overview of AD components and objects, leading into design objective and considerations for implementing an AD configuration appropriate for your environment. Once implemented, quite a few chapters are dedicated to administration of user, group, computer, and printer object using both the standard GUIs as well as command line tools; beyond standard tasks, delegation and auditing are also well covered. Group Policy topics include software installation, Windows settings, templates, AD object inheritance, and general AD storage and handling, again via the native GUI as well as the add-on Group Policy Management Console. Replication is also covered. Surprisingly, the authors touch on Schema extension, but failed to provide a useful "how-to".

Insofar as R2 specific sections, Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) and Identity Management for Unix both have very complete information for setup, configuration, troubleshooting, and administration both via the GUI as well as command line tools. I was disappointed in that Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) was only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the book, but never actually addressed.
Quite a few chapters are also dedicated to troubleshooting. These sections are well organized, easy to follow, and cover general troubleshooting methodology, available tools, and reference tables for understanding specific AD errors.

Two additional sections are included that may be of interest to some. The first is an introduction to / overview of -Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM). Not a complete overview of that product, but very detailed in how to use MOM to assist in troubleshooting AD events and issues. The second is an overview of ADSI scripting for administrators, less of a learning resource and more of a cookbook of specific task scripts administrators could find useful.

Although the book is often a little to "Microsoft is Super", and there are areas that contain a little too much history or background and could be paired down some, the writing style is otherwise easy to read and understand, keeping the reader as interested and as involved as is possible given what the topic as a whole. No assumptions about the reader's prior knowledge of the AD is assumed, making this not only a good learning source for some, but a reference guide for everyone as well. Although scripting is introduced, prior experience with VBScript is a must if you wish to really use that section, and you should not expect to walk away fully versed in ADSI. All in all, as it does cover the R2 additions, this is a good replacement text for other Windows 2003 AD titles.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality book, March 31, 2006

By 

Chris Silverman (Detroit) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003 R2 (Paperback)

This is the first AD book I have purchased, but I'm not completely new to AD. I have been working with AD for a while, but wanted something to take me to the next level. This book if very comprehensive. It's nice that scripting is included in this book and I don't have to buy another book for that. The scripting chapters are HUGE.

I like the style of this book. It introduces a topic, get's you familiar with it, then dives deep. I've read all but 3 or 4 chapters and love it. I've had it for about 6 weeks now, and still find myself referencing it almost daily.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for all levels, July 13, 2006

By 

Michael L. Delange "Propeller Head Extraordin... (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003 R2 (Paperback)

This book is a fantastic resource for novices and experts alike. I relate this to a buffet of knowledge. If you are starving, there is plenty of content to fill you up. If you simply want to graze, there is enough high-level practical knowledge to appease.

The chapters are very well written and you can tell the authors have worked hard avoiding the "bland technical trap" that I so often encounter in this industry. These guys go above and beyond to educate while keeping you interested enough to keep turning pages.