Book Reviews

Quick Windows 2000 Overview

<i>Configuring Windows 2000 Server</i> provides overview information for almost any level of Windows 2000 administrator.

• By Stewart Cawthray
• 09/01/2000

Configuring Windows 2000 Server by Curt Simmons, an MCSE and MCT, is an excellent companion reference to any Windows 2000 course or text. It provides a good overview of the many new features of Win2K Server in a well-laid-out and easy-to-read format. The concise descriptions and step-by-step instructions allow even a novice Win2K Server administrator to quickly find and configure most of the features in this huge new operating system.

Simmons’ book starts with a thorough and well-designed table of contents. The chapter titles are descriptive and grouped together into four major areas: Introducing Windows 2000 Server, Hardware and Disk Management, Networking, and Managing Clients and Performance. In addition to the chapter titles, subheadings are included, allowing you to quickly locate specific topics without resorting to the index. The orderly table of contents also provides a quick view of the book’s scope, and is helpful when you’re standing in a bookstore trying to decide which book to buy.

The book then provides a brief but encompassing overview of Win2K Server, both what is new and what has changed. While it’s not a detailed look at each feature, the overview provides more information on the product’s scope than you might get from a one-day technical seminar. I was impressed by the inclusion of some of the more obscure improvements in Win2K Server, such as Windows Quality of Service and Web-Based Enterprise Management.

The author walks you through the major features of the product, providing not only simple descriptions of the features, but easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions on how to perform basic configuration. These instructions are coupled with plenty of relevant screenshots, which help you match the text instructions to the screens that Win2K Server will display.

If you’re using this book to prepare for Win2K certification, you’ll find that it lacks the depth of troubleshooting information that you’ll need to pass the exams. Simmons’ coverage of the Active Directory is focused on the tools used to configure and manage the directory service; it provides very little information on the design of an Active Directory. However, the book would make an excellent supplement to any Win2K exam preparation strategy.

If you’re a novice user, you’ll find simple descriptions and instructions that will make learning Win2K easier. If you’re new to the product, you’ll need to combine this book with other, more detailed books or courses to ensure a complete understanding. Advanced users who are familiar with Windows NT will find Simmons’ book an excellent quick reference to learn the new features of Win2K.