Rating: 
Summary: Very good
Review: As a part of an ISA Server evaluation team for my company, I used this book to quickly get up to speed on all that ISA Server has to offer, particularly Enterprise policy configuration. The book is well written and makes sense, which is more than I can say for a number of technical books I have read lately. I found it helpful, so I'm recommending it.
Rating: 
Summary: Alright - I guess
Review: Before I ever even thought of installing ISA, I read the book from cover to cover. Once completed, I installed ISA and referred back to the book for additional guidance. I'm still looking for the additional guidance. This title does a great job of introducing ISA to the reader. It spends chapters of time covering the ISA concept, architecture and Microsoft Minimum Requirements. From there, however, the book gets a little more glossy and sales brochure like. Deployment scenarios, installation and (very) basic configuration are covered, but the author has chosen to really only cover the installation of ISA in an enterprise / array configuration, leaving the stand-alone server installation out in the cold. Past the installation, the author tour guides you through the basic setup of the server (which actually was very handy and without this it would have taken me quite a while to figure it out) and then moves on to briefly cover some of the major selling points. What is really missing from this book is any specifics, or even an in-depth, point by point reference covering of the interface and components. For example, the author covers setting alerts for Intrusion Detection, but instead of explaining the configuration choices for each of the five actions, the author tells you that "Depending on your selection, a different window will appear that enables you to configure the option you selected." The title is helpful, and I am glad I read it. But I find myself looking for a more in-depth reference that I can really learn ISA from.
Rating:
Summary: Alright - I guess
Review: Before I ever even thought of installing ISA, I read the book from cover to cover. Once completed, I installed ISA and referred back to the book for additional guidance. I'm still looking for the additional guidance. This title does a great job of introducing ISA to the reader. It spends chapters of time covering the ISA concept, architecture and Microsoft Minimum Requirements. From there, however, the book gets a little more glossy and sales brochure like. Deployment scenarios, installation and (very) basic configuration are covered, but the author has chosen to really only cover the installation of ISA in an enterprise / array configuration, leaving the stand-alone server installation out in the cold. Past the installation, the author tour guides you through the basic setup of the server (which actually was very handy and without this it would have taken me quite a while to figure it out) and then moves on to briefly cover some of the major selling points. What is really missing from this book is any specifics, or even an in-depth, point by point reference covering of the interface and components. For example, the author covers setting alerts for Intrusion Detection, but instead of explaining the configuration choices for each of the five actions, the author tells you that "Depending on your selection, a different window will appear that enables you to configure the option you selected." The title is helpful, and I am glad I read it. But I find myself looking for a more in-depth reference that I can really learn ISA from.
Rating:
Summary: Focused and easy to read
Review: I have read several of Curt Simmons' Windows 2000 books, so I was happy to pre-order this one. I'm not quite finished with it yet, but Simmons' typical style of concise and focused writing is the same here. The book is very clear, easy to read, and is full of step by steps and explanations. It makes sense of all the policy issues and policy elements and more difficult firewall configuration tactics. You won't have to skim through pages and pages of blubbering text - everything here is important. The book includes a trial version of ISA Server Enterprise edition on CD-ROM. Overall, I'm very pleased.
Rating:
Summary: This book is good
Review: I'm sure I'll want a technical reference for ISA Server, once one is released, but this book gives you a clear picture of ISA Server configuration and management. It is very readable and presents ISA server in a clear and logical manner. It is a must have if you are just getting started or if you need to bring all of the pieces of ISA Sever into clear focus.
Rating: 
Summary: Puh-leeze! Reads like a Microsoft reviewer's guide.
Review: It's not so much that this is a bad or poorly written book (it isn't!), but it is seriously flawed: - The vast majority of the book is about installing and configuring ISA, with relatively little coverage of ongoing using or troubleshooting. - There is a lot of very basic stuff, as well as a lot of stuff that you'd normally find in a Microsoft reviewer's guide for ISA. For example, an entire chapter on how ISA fits into IP (and an intro to TCP/IP), an entire chapter on system requirements. - Too much FLUFF! In addition to the 9 blank, lined pages of "NOTES", the 25 pages listing (doublespaced) TCP known-ports, and the extra large font that pumps the index up to 24 pages, there are too many step-by-step, illustrated, descriptions of how to do basic tasks. Subtract the fluffiness noted above along with a few other egregious instances, and you're looking at a 250 or 300 page book, not a 408 page book. The only reason I read this book was because I was paid to do so. I don't use Microsoft software anymore, but I've used (and reviewed for publication) enough of it for a lifetime. Which is another reason not to buy this book--but an entirely different issue altogether. If you must use ISA, or if you must consider using ISA, this book will actually be worth it--it comes with a 120-day trial version of the software (another odious practice, but that yet another issue as well).
Rating: 
Summary: Good on configuration
Review: The title of this book tells you that it focuses on the configuration and administration of ISA Server. Specifically, it deals with ISA Server array configuration, cache configuration and functionality, and firewall configuration, along with other services such as VPN support, publishing, etc. I found the book very focused on tasks, which is good. If you're wanting long dicussions about security and ISA architecture, buy something else. But if you want a task oriented book, this one is good.
Rating: 
Summary: Unacceptable!
Review: This book guides you through the basics of how to install the ISA Server software. From there, it provides a very top-level informational base of what it should do and the theories of why it should work. There are absoulutely no practical examples, troubleshooting tips, or other information that you could not find on Microsoft's support site. It's a waste of time and energy. All in all, the book cover alone should give it away! On the other hand, if you have absoulutely no clue on what you are doing, this book can provide you with the basic ABC's of ISA. But again, if you are an experienced IT professional--definately pass!
Rating:
Summary: Couldn?t keep me awake
Review: This book was so basic and boring I couldn't stay interested for more than two pages. Lots of fluff little content. After forcing myself to read the majority of the first 6 chapters I resorted to the on line documentation from Microsoft. The book leaves out how the product actually works. IE (Data Flow and Evaluation) The book focuses how the product relates to mouse clicks, dialog boxes, and installation routines. If you have no router / administration experience and don't care to know how the product works but need to install ISA server this would be an excellent book. For seasoned administrators trying to incorporate ISA Server into a pre existing security concept you'll find this book isn't even heavy enough to be a doorstop. In short the title "Configuration and Administration" is very accurate. It will tell you where and how to click but if you want to know more either read the on line documentation or wait for the next book to hit print.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn¿t keep me awake
Review: This book was so basic and boring I couldn't stay interested for more than two pages. Lots of fluff little content. After forcing myself to read the majority of the first 6 chapters I resorted to the on line documentation from Microsoft. The book leaves out how the product actually works. IE (Data Flow and Evaluation) The book focuses how the product relates to mouse clicks, dialog boxes, and installation routines. If you have no router / administration experience and don't care to know how the product works but need to install ISA server this would be an excellent book. For seasoned administrators trying to incorporate ISA Server into a pre existing security concept you'll find this book isn't even heavy enough to be a doorstop. In short the title "Configuration and Administration" is very accurate. It will tell you where and how to click but if you want to know more either read the on line documentation or wait for the next book to hit print.
| 
