Mastering Windows 2000 Server (Hardcover)

by Christa Anderson (Author), Brian M. Smith (Author), Doug Toombs (Author), Mark Minasi (Author, Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Mark Minasi rocks the casbah as far as Microsoft's enterprise operating systems are concerned--his books have been bestsellers for a long time, and deservedly so. Minasi's latest offering, Mastering Windows 2000 Server, upholds his tradition of technical accuracy and thoroughness, presented in a shell of pedagogical soundness. This heavy, hardback volume goes far beyond the usual feature-by-feature documentation. In addition to the how-to material, the book includes details (roughly, oh, a zillion of them) that clearly derive from experimentation and an exhaustive study of Microsoft's support databases.

A typical example of Mastering's thoroughness (for which Minasi's three coauthors deserve credit, too) is its explanation of how to restrict access to programs on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 clients. (They're covered in these pages on the logic that homogeneous Windows 2000 networks are rare.) In that section, you'll find not only instructions for locking down programs via the Registry, but also a discussion of ways to get around Registry restrictions (via Cmd.exe, macro languages, and so on)--almost everything gets that kind of attention. And administrators will appreciate being able to locate the information that they want (in the depth in which they want it) with just a quick index scan. Users of the Macintosh and Novell clients: look here for the help that you need in getting machines to interoperate properly. --David Wall

Topics covered:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and its applications in organizational networks
• All aspects of the operating system and its connectivity
• Hardware
• Groups and users
• Folder sharing
• All sorts of networking subjects
• Heterogeneous networks
• Windows Terminal Services
• Internet services

Product Description
Coverage of the architecture, features, specifications, and applications in Windows 2000. The text includes information about Active Directory, system policies, the registry, Windows Terminal Server and more. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1593 pages
• Publisher: Sybex Inc; 2nd edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782127746
• ISBN-13: 978-0782127744
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,362,803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth its weight in gold, January 10, 2001

By	Steven Nicolaou (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the book that made me wonder how come all those other technical books make learning Windows 2000 such a difficult and confusing task. I was lucky though since this was my first book on Windows 2000 and I got it at a time when I really needed to get to grips with it fast.

With absolutely no experience in Windows NT 4, networking or administration, I had to learn Windows 2000 Server and the theory at the same time, including DNS, WINS, DHCP, TCP/IP, Active Directory, scalability and security. I literally read the whole thing over a weekend and went ahead the following week to single handedly set up a Windows 2000 based LAN for a small company, and was able to easily cope with all their demands. The network was soon up and running with the Active Directory, DNS, WINS, DHCP and TCP/IP in perfect working order. It is no exaggeration to say I owe the project's success to this book alone.

Mark and his team's writing style make reading it a pleasure. Depth of content gives you a deep feeling of satisfaction that you've covered the subject thoroughly and gained a very clear picture. This is the book by which I judge the quality of other books on Windows 2000 topics, and I have yet to find one that contained something this book didn't tell you and nowhere near as clearly or comprehensively. I have not yet needed to look at another book on Windows 2000 Server, and nor do I think I will.

The book starts out with an introduction to Active Directory, installation (local and remote), the MMC, the Registry, Hardware installation and Storage Management, followed by Managing User and Computer Accounts, File Sharing, Software Installation, Network Printing, Connecting PC Clients and Macintoshes, Terminal Services, How Running a Big Windows 2000 network is different, Novell Netware Integration, a massive 250 pages on TCP/IP in Windows 2000, Internet Information Services, Tuning and Monitoring, Backup and Disaster Recovery, the Remote Access Service and ends with a handy appendix explaining over 30 of the most useful Performance Objects that can be used in the Performance Monitor.

Mark Minasi has deep insider's knowledge of the product and you can sense his enthusiasm as he shares his knowledge with you, leaving nothing out and all with a light touch of humour and very well organised. This is the best book on Windows 2000 Server and I would especially recommmend it to those just starting out, although I'm sure it's every serious administrator's essential Windows 2000 companion too.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cannot say enough about this book!, March 28, 2000

By	Timothy L. Warner (Syracuse, New York) - See all my reviews

I am an NT administrator and technical trainer trying to quickly get up to speed with Windows 2000 Server. Mark's book is just the ticket. Let's face it- the guy not only knows the product backwards, forwards, and diagonally, but he knows how to TEACH the relevant concepts.

This book is serving the dual purpose of helping me prepare for the Windows 2000 MCSE exams as well as gain the necessary skills to do meaningful consulting with Windows 2000.

In summary, the book is purposely structured to be of maximum benefit to people with or without prior knowledge of Windows NT. Current Windows NT experts will doubtless learn some new pointers about NT as they learn brand new stuff about Windows 2000. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT for Beginners, August 10, 2000

By	"hwonders" (Butler, PA USA) - See all my reviews

I am new to Windows 2000 Server having bought it to start a web server for my small laboratory services business. The book was rated highly so I gave it a try. When the title says MASTERING it really means you better have prior MS Server experience as a prerequisite to using this book.

Much of the writing in this book assumes a working knowledge of the basics including installation, network setup, server configuration and more. For example, only brief descriptions were given of some entries required during installation. Many install topics where barely mentioned at all even though the concept and proper configuration of these are critical to proper install and server configuration. Some topics are discussed in great detail but seeking this information out among the entire text was difficult at best. The organization and flow of the text in this book could not be easily applied to a new install / setup situation.

In short this is not a HOW TO type of book and you should look elsewhere if you are a beginner.