Mastering Windows Server 2003

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Summary: Thank You, Mark Minasi!!!
Review: This book is just amazing! As someone who is fairly new to administering Windows 2003 (um, and Windows 2000 and Active Directory), it has proved to be a GODSEND! This is THE book that I grab everytime I need to learn how to set something up. Mark has this incredible ability to feel like he is right in the room with me, looking over my shoulder. His explanations are great. And, I for one, am glad that I get LOTS of pages for my money. I didn't know the first thing about DNS, Active Directory or Windows 2000/2003 Server when I picked up this book and now my test domains are simply humming along. I picked this book up in a bookstore after reading bits and pieces at the bookshelf. I came out to the Amazon site to get the ISBN number for a colleague when I read some of the reviews. You guys are crazy. I've read a ton of technical books and none of them come close to this one, in terms of what you get for the money. And why on earth would you think that you should be able to print from the CD? What's the copyright good for, if I could print a copy out for all of my friends. I'm sure it took a lot of effort to write this book and I, for one, am willing to pay for it. I'm sold. Thanks Mark. You made my life much easier.

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Summary: Couldn't put it down...
Review: I received my copy of Mark Minasi's book, "Mastering Windows Server 2003", the other day. I don't normally sit down and read a technical book from front to back; however, once I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down! Mr. Minasi has a style of writing that makes even the driest of subject matter interesting. I like his examples of how to accomplish something, and at the same time tells the pitfalls and the "best practices". His sense of humor is appreciated. I already own Mastering Windows NT Server 4 and Windows 2000 Resource Kit both at work and at home. And, again, I have purchased this book for both. I use these books before I go searching anywhere else. His books have been the end of many a heated debate on how things should be implemented. You just can't go wrong with purchasing Mark Minasi's "Mastering Windows Server 2003".

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Summary: Lots of Theory But No Labs
Review: While the book is highly detailed, it lacks in one very critical area: Labs. Or rather, lack thereof. Theory is fine but it would have been far better had Mark included some Labs for those of us with two or more systems that you like to make use of the theory. So if you're looking for something "hands-on", this is NOT the book for you. Historically, Alan R. Carter has written similiar books (NT 4.0, W2K) with excellent Labs, but so far nothing on Server 2003.

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Summary: A must have for any serious networking person!
Review: I have been taking classes in all facets of networking for the last 2 years. When I took a Windows Server 2000 class the instructor literally threw out the textbooks we were using for a book called "Mastering Windows Server 2000" by Mark Minasi. That book has been my server bible, until now. I bought the 2003 version and am very glad I did. Mark gives you all the technical details about the new product and provides step by step operations that you can follow as if you were looking at a lab book. He goes into great detail (which is very necessary) on all aspects of Windows Server 2003. There is a lot of insight as to what really works well, and what you should be aware of when implementing this product in a live environment. Lastly, Mark's writing style is simply a joy to read. Let's face it, networking books usually aren't the type thing you read and enjoy immensely, but with Mark's humor and witty analogies the material comes to life and leaves a lasting impression. If you're going to be using Server 2003, buying this book is a wise choice.

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Summary: It's not always easy being the best
Review: I am the Publisher of an IT Pro computer imprint that has tried producing competing books to Mr Minasi's for many years. Having published computer books since 1994, I can say with considerable experience that there are few computer books that stand the test of time and remain head and shoulders above the rest from edition to edition: MASTERING is one of those titles. Mark and his coauthors have set a standard that they should be proud of. Reviewers who complain about the fact that the book is too long and dense (excuse me, why did you buy a 1700-page book???), repeated information from his earlier editions (I suppose you'd be happier if MS changed every feature each time rather than making progressive improvements???), etc., make me believe that a certain audience hypercriticality and sour grapes must be part of the cost of success. My advice to potential buyers: pay attention to the audience that has spoken by buying this book over 2 to 1 over all others in this edition as well as the others. If this is not a five-star computer book, I don't know what is!

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Summary: outstanding
Review: Let's get something straight right off the bat: this book isn't short, brief, or for the faint of heart. It's nearly 2000 pages, it's heavy, and it's full of enough information to make your head explode...but that's the point. Windows, server especially, is a VERY complex operating system, with enough concepts, features and configuation options to fill 10 books of this length. What Minasi and his friends accomplish with Mastering Windows Server 2003 is to sum it all up in one place, and do it in a manner where it's useful as both a front to back tutorial, and a quick reference guide. His writing style is simple, to the point, and at times comical. He walks you through configuring nearly everything, step by step, but also explains things, in great detail...WHY you want to configure something in such a manner, and even warns that when you add the 2nd host to your Network Load Balancing Cluster there will be a long delay. It's little things like that which make this book shine.

I purchased this volume as part of the Windows XP/2003 box set. I've yet to be disappointed by the other texts as well.

Congratulations go to Minasi and his cohorts.

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Summary: AMAZING book from Mark Minasi !!
Review: I was lucky enough to stumble across Mark Minasi's Mastering Windows NT Server 4 book several years ago and have been a huge fan even since. The new Mastering Windows Server 2003 book caries along the great tradition of Mark's previous editions. I almost feel as though he as talking to me personally at times. Mark's books have been the single greatest learning resource in my I.T. career and have empowered me beyond my wildest dreams.

The folks out there saying this is a rehash haven't taken the time to thoroughly read the book. There is a ton of great information on 2003. A lot is similar to the 2000 book simply because 2003 isn't a great departure from 2000. Get this book and find out for yourself. I am the senior network engineer for a fortune 500 company and it this book stays open on my desk at all times. Thanks Mark!

Ken Sliger
Senior Network Engineer
TruGreen

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Summary: THEE Windows Server 2003 Manual
Review: This book more than met my need for learning Windows Server 2003. Our non-profit was looking to migrate from NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2003, this book helped us plan it and execute it flawlessly. What is really helpful is all the examples of common mistakes so that I could avoid them. In this field there is little time to learn a new technology but this book made it possible for me to do so. The text is easy to read and in fact fun. Mark keeps it quite humorous yet focused. It is as though he is sitting there guiding you through all the steps. I also have his Windows XP Professional book and highly recommend it as well. It is a necessary part of any network administrators library, even replacing the ones you get from Microsoft.

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Summary: Fine book, CD version is limp!
Review: Like Minasi's "Mastering 2000..." book, this one is an enjoyable read, very instructive and very complete. Unfortunately, the CD version here has the same fatal flaw as the "Mastering 2000" version: the PDF cannot be annotated or highlighted.

I know what you're saying: "But I have a photographic memory and can remember where the really good stuff is on any of this book's 1616 pages." You'd better.

Seriously, Minasi must have grasped this defect and pointed it out to SYBEX. Hopefully, they fix it before Minasi writes the next one. I got my copy for free, otherwise I'd have bought it used, refusing to reward SYBEX with another sale in the primary marketplace.

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Summary: THE MOST POWERFUL WINDOWS SERVER BOOK
Review: I have been working with Microsoft network operating systems since the early NT 4.0 days. We are now up to the Windows Server 2003 generation and each and every MS environment I have engineered and managed have been with these books. MARK MINASI's Mastering Windows Server books are the absolute most complete, advanced, detailed, entertaining, and REAL WORLD ACCURATE texts.
Whether you are a help desk technician just learning the nuts and bolts or an enterprise level systems engineer designing and deploying multi-thousand object Active Directories; this is the book to have.
Mark takes the most complex topics such as DNS, Group Policy, and TCP/IP and makes them a fun and unforgetable mastery experience. I use "mastery" because you have full command of a topic when you are done and can put it right to work on the spot.
Mastering Windows Server 2003 is the ultimate tool for Windows 2000/2003 networks!