Microsoft® Windows Server(TM) 2003 Inside Out (Paperback)

by William R. Stanek (Author)
Key Phrases: terminal services, network load balancing, recovery console, Active Directory, Group Policy, Cancel Figure (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Take your Windows Server 2003 knowledge to the next level! Designed for Windows system administrators, this definitive resource delivers in-depth information about installing and configuring Windows Server 2003, performing upgrades and migrations, automating deployments, implementing security features, managing software updates and patches, administering users and accounts, managing Active Directory® directory services, and more. With INSIDE OUT, you’ll discover the best and fastest ways to perform core administrative tasks, with an award-winning format that makes it easy to find exactly the tips, troubleshooting solutions, and workarounds you need. In addition, the CD-ROM contains an eBook and more than 100 timesaving tools and scripts.

About the Author
William R. Stanek is a leading technology expert who has authored more than 25 computer books. With more than 20 years experience in advanced programming and system administration, he has extensive experience developing server technology, encryption, and Internet solutions. William has an MS with distinction in Information Systems, a BS in Computer Science magna cum laude, and 11 years of military service where he was awarded nine medals including the U.S. Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross. His most recent books are Micrososft Windows Server 2003 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant, Microsoft IIS 6.0 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1488 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (July 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735620482
• ISBN-13: 978-0735620483
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,003 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, July 8, 2004

By	John H (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

Had this for about a week now... haven't had a chance to read the whole thing but what I've read has been outstanding. This book is probably best for the Windows Server 2003 admin who wants to get the most out of the OS. You probably couldn't go past this book for its great design, excellent writing style and breadth of advice. The book revealed features I had no idea were present in 2003, and told me enough to begin using them. It's incredible how up-to-date this book is especially when it comes to AD. It covers all the latest.

I also have Minasi's book. I have to say this book is in many ways better. The AD section in this is understandable and extremely thorough. Minasi's is all over the place. This book has better Registry, DNS, networking, RIS, DHCP, printer, storage, and terminal services sections. Overall this is a much better book and I gave Minasi's book a 5 so this has got to be a 6! Stanek's Pocket books are well know for being clear, concise and thorough. This is being more of the same and you get a book packed with nearly 1500 pages! In short I think if you are looking for a complete Windows 2003 reference book this is the one. If you're looking for a quick ref as well pick up Stanek's Windows 2003 pocket admin. I use both all the time now.

What impressed me most about this is the attention to detail. Stanek tells you more than how and why it works. He provides expert advice to make Windows run better with less problems and when you have problems there's complete solutions. Nearly every chapter in the book provides troubleshooting, tips for maintaining it over time, tips for making it work better, tips for working around known issues. When it comes to networking every technology is covered with many security, design and implementation options provides.

For anyone studying for MCSE, this book is a must. I have learned more from this than my MCSE course books plus it covers everything those books cover. Another plus for the book is the CD which comes with an e-book version of the book, the Windows 2003 Resource Kit, and a lot of extras. This book has already made me a better administrator (and I am pretty good). I plan to read the book cover to cover to learn even more. I wouldn't be surprised if the Windows bootcamps start handing this out. It's the one I'd want to get if I was starting out and it's pretty darn good for us pros as well.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent W2K3 Administrators book, September 14, 2004

By	Scott Rue "Scott" (Blue Springs, MO USA) - See all my reviews

No Windows server book can cover every subject but Windows Server 2003 Inside Out comes close. Stanek's Inside Out is the second big Windows book I purchased (after Minasi's Mastering). In all honesty Stanek's is a more complete book but both are good.

Inside Out covers many topics not covered in Mastering including upgrades, migration, unattended installs (separate from RIS), clustering, DNS architecture, AD architecture, AD design, AD recovery, AD replication, group policy managment, print server migration, and the list goes on and on. Plus where it counts Inside Out is more detailed, accurate, and easy to understand.

With Inside Out, its details, details, details and it makes all the difference. Like when you are installing a domain controller Stanek remembers to tell you how to prepare, what to expect, and what to watch out for. He tells you how to search your entire system with a single command for encrypted files that will get hosed if you don't watch out and do what he says before installing. Stanek points out all the little tips and tricks.

I've always had a hard time learning things but this book made it so easy for me. Pick any subject, look it up in Stanek's book and read it to find out everything you wanted to know. One area of the os I thought I knew was the file system. It was an eyeopener to read Chapter 20. I didn't know you could do half of that with NTFS. Everything I've looked up has been this way so far.

I can't recommend this book highly enough! Microsoft should use this book in their training courses.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best technical book on Windows 2003...Outstanding, October 5, 2004

By	Benjamin Foster "Ben" (Fayetteville, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is better than any other books out there that do nothing more than tell you how things SHOULD work; this tells you how things DO work. Our primary domain controller crashed and resisted all attempts at restores. We continued to have network problems with it out of the chain. I knew pretty much nothing about administering active directory (besides the basics of adding groups, users, etc.) and picked this book up to try to help us. There was a section in it about the first server that gets active directory installed serving as the operations master and how to seize that function to another server. After seizing that and a few others, our domain started behaving itself again. Along the way, I picked up some other useful knowledge and now our domain is actually running faster. The book also showed how to do proper back ups and restores of Active Directory so we never have this problem again.

I would echo what others said that this book will help you with specific problems. I was impressed with the author's use of real-world scenarios and experience as well as the graphics and screen shots to help you.

Highly recommended.