Book Reviews
Quick Windows 2000 Overview
<i>Configuring Windows 2000 Server</i> provides overview information for almost any level of Windows 2000 administrator.
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.
About the Author
Stewart Cawthray, MCSE, ITIL Service Manager, is an IT management consultant for Hewlett-Packard.