Rating: 
Summary: Worth its weight in gold
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great book....and it's HUGE!!!
Review: This is a HUGE book. My Windows XP Inside Out book looks little compared to this thing. I mean, that book is gigantic, and so is the amount of information contained here. Mark knows how to write well, he does so by keeping the reader interested in the topic. If you're thinking about managing your own server, then you must get this book. Not only that, but here you learn everything else that you need not only to manage a server. Users will learn how to configure DNS, Active Directory, DHCP, File servers, Print Servers, Domain Controllers, Security Policies, User Accounts; in other words, how to administer a server based on Windows 2000. My complaint is the following. This book, while is has a lot of Windows information, it also contains information that the reader might find important but irrelevant or obsolete at time of reading. Examples: The birth of DNS, the birth of the Internet, the birth of Windows, WINS, and blah blah. Yes, these are useful topics, and of course, the more you know the better; but I think they should have been included in a different book. I found myself skipping a lot of chapters and sub-chapters because of this. On the other hand, the information is quite helpful if the user has time to read. If you just want to learn how to master Windows 2000; you'll find yourself skipping a few chapters. This book is VERY broad & I recommend it to administrators or people who are administering a server version of windows. For regular version of windows 2000 just get another book; this one is mostly for server stuff. Even though you can learn about user accounts, file and securities, it's mainly directed to administrators. If you just want to learn Windows 2000, look at a regular version of Windows 2000; and not the server version.
Rating: 
Summary: Great writing but beware; the e-book has problems
Review: I installed Win2K Server some time ago but decided it was time to go back to the basics and really improve my overall understanding of the product (particularly AD). I bought this book on the basis of its great reviews and it has not disappointed so far. (I'm reading this one cover to cover!) Mark Minasi's style is eminently readable and his depth of knowledge of the product is not contaminated by the dreaded Microsoft sycophancy that seems to plague other authors. My only complaint is that the book is large and heavy and is not very manageable in bed or bath (both favoured reading places of mine). In an effort to ease my aching arm muscles I decided to install the e-book version on my laptop and immediately ran into problems with Sybex's security protection. The e-book will NOT run with Adobe Acrobat Reader 6 and Sybex glibly suggest installing Version 5 (off the CD). I suggest Sybex extract their collective digit and fix the problem as my laptop is getting rather full and I really don't want to create further clutter. Besides, this kind of little annoyance take the gilding of Mister Minasi's Masterful Masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: It keeps getting better!
Review: I did a review of Mark's book on 02/11/01 for the second edition which I really enjoyed and I am not going to repeat most of what I covered there. The third edition is a nice improvement - particularly in the area of Active Directory and the all important DNS. I recently achieved my MCSE certification for Windows 2000, and after reading over a dozen Windows 2000 books I will say that in my opinion Mastering Windows 2000 Server 3RD Edition is the best single volume Windows 2000 book available. If you are considering studying for the W2K MCSE I highly recommend that you read this "real world" book FIRST all the way through instead of trying to concentrate on areas pertinent to each exam individually. A good understanding of Tcp/Ip, DNS, and Active Directory (including group policies and delegation), that this book will give you, is crucial for your success. The chapters on IIS and Terminal Services were much better than anything I read in any of my "core four" books. Mark's writing style of course is very enjoyable and his tips are much appreciated. Now being a little critical, I would have liked to have seen info on configuring remote access policies, certificate services, and ipsec - maybe next edition. Still a must own book for serious Windows 2000 Server users.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE for all NT/2000 Admins or wanna be's.
Review: I have attended Mark's classes, receive his free newsletter and have attended some of his sessions at NT conferences. In a world where it seems to be a difficult thing to get good solid reliable information about software products, Mark brings a whole new meaning to the term technical writer. He is not only incredibly well versed about NT and 2000 (among many other topics), he has a talent that I have yet to see expressed in any other technical manuals that I have read. He has the rare ability to harness his great intellect regarding a subject matter into real world writing with great humour that is almost as easy to read as fiction. I look forward to curling up with Mr. Minasi's new works as soon they are released and Mastering Windows 2000 Server Third Edition is no exception. Thank you so much, Mark, for making my job as an administrator much easier. I wasn't looking forward to making the transition to Active Directory in my very large non-homegenous university environment, but you have actually made this an exciting venture with my newfound knowledge. Thanks for being such a great teacher!
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing about Radius
Review: Although ths book comes back in a keword search for RADIUS, it has nearly NOTHING to say on the topic. In fact, I may well have said more about RADIUS in this paragraph than the book says. Maybe it's good for other topics, but sorry for RADIUS
Rating:
Summary: another awesome book
Review: Mr Minasi has done it again with his Mastering Windows 2000 Server. As with the NT version it really is the only source you need to wade through the miriad of tasks required to effectively manage a Windows network.
Rating:
Summary: Best of all the best..
Review: the best book a man could ever produced to the authors"You're the Man!!.." to Mr. Minasi and others ,Good Luck to all of you,
I'm waiting for the Windows server 2003 Just from you Guys,if its already here in the Philippines, I'l be the first one to buy.. Thank you very much and keep it that way, God Bless....
Rating:
Summary: Good Price
Review: If your going to Fairleigh Dickinson University and taking up Network Security Professional you will need this Book the price is Great
Rating:
Summary: Great material !
Review: Just to confirm other posts. This is THE book for W2K Server and more. I loved Active Directory and Network Infrastructure parts. Sure there are other books out there, some more useful some less on any specific subject but this is the one you want if you really want to see what's cooking in Windows technologies from an objective, professional and appealing point of view.
Great job, Mark !
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