Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Corrupted File
Review: This comment only applies to the Digital Download version - I got a corrupted file so I couldn't open the file in Adobe Acrobat. As Amazon only allows ONE download, I couldn't try downloading the file again and had to wait for 3 days since I had originally wanted this file as Amazon only communicates via e-mail.

Rating:
Summary: This book delivers what it promises.
Review: When I volunteered to join the technology comittee at my kids' school, I found out that I needed to get up to speed on computer Networking. It's a small school with an entirely volunteer tech support staff and the previous network administrator wanted to leave the committee.
I consider myself to be a power user when it comes to computers, but I did not have a real good grasp of how networks operated. This book bills itself as "a handy all-in-one guide which provides a bird's-eye view of all the important (network) stuff". I found that it did cover all the aspects of setting up and running networks: large, small, and even wireless. The book starts by covering information that is universal to all networks (terminology, network planning, etc.). It progresses through various aspects of network installation and configuration, security issues, specific network functions, and finally, information specific to several different server operating systems. Operating systems covered include Windows 2000 and 2003 server, Novell Netware 6 and 6.5, Linux, and Mac OS/X Server.
While this book probably won't provide enough information for you to become a certified network administrator, I feel it does a great job of explaining what you need to know to get up and running.