Great reference for the difficult topics
Way back early in my career, this book was helpful in explaining some of the hardest topics to master when addressing Windows Servers, namely DNS, DHCP and Active Directory. Some of the rough patches in these topics quickly get smoothed over and confidence in them will build for you here. Back when I upgraded my NT MCP to an MCSE, this book was quite helpful. As I write this review the MCSE is being phased out for the current MCITP, for which I hold both the Enterprise and Server Administrator certifications. I credit this book for helping to get me to where I'm at today, a thriving, experienced Network Administrator and Consultant.
DO NOT BUY if you want to learn Win2k Server!
I bought this book because I wanted to learn how to use the software. This book does nothing but explain what certain general aspects of the program (and networking in general) are, but NOT how to use them. This is not a "how to use" manual. If you know basic info about networking do not buy this book because that's all you really get. So, I repeat, this book does instruct on how to use Windows 2000 Server! Don't waste your money and time!
little bit about everything, not enough about anything
I bought this book because I wanted a simple introduction to using windows as a server. I was very dissapointed to find that the entire first third of this book is a very basic rundown of networking in general, ethernet, bus/star topologies, tcp/ip, etc. Then the book spends two chapters on active directory, which is useless as not even Active Directory For Dummies could cover the whole topic. It also covers being a "print server" and manages to devote an entire chapter to "right click -> share". Overall I literally learned nothing useful. I'm still unsure about adding/managing user accounts, and know nothing about IIS.
Broad and easy to understand
I would highly recommend this book to beginners in using Windows 2000 Server, as well as those who are new to networking in general. I expected this book to be entirely devoted to the actual operating system, but the first two parts of the book cover basic characteristics of any network, and what you will need to set one up. After this fine introduction, the authors guide you through installation, configuring, and maintenance. Their style remains clear throughout the book, the jokes are not as corny as in some other Dummies books, and the directions are clear. A good book for studying Win 2K Server *and* networking in general.
A Very Good Reference book
First I want to make it clear that the review of this book entitled "Good prep book if you supplement it" by "tonywr" should be removed because I believe he wrote the review for the wrong book. I believe he was reviewing "MCSE Windows 2000 Server for Dummies (with CD-ROM)" by Curt Simmons. Why do I believe this? First of all, this book does NOT come with a CD-ROM, the reviewer clearly stated that his book did. Secondly, this book is not intended to be a guide for the MCSE Windows 2000 Server test(70-215) or any other MCSE test. It is merely a book to help you set up a windows 2000 client/server network. It does so very well. If you have never set up a server before this book will show you exactly how to do it. And further, it will show you some basic adminstration of your network. It is a good first step in client/server networks for people who have very little knowledge about computer networks. I do not have enough time right now, so I will not give a review of this book. I just wanted to point out that the other review should be disregarded, as the reviewer did not actually read this book, although his opinion of this book would be correct that it will not be sufficient alone to help you pass the MCSE tests, but that is because this book has nothing to do with the MCSE tests, other than the fact that this book and the MCSE Windows 2000 Server test(70-215) are both about windows 2000 Server.
(6 reviews)
