Rating: 
Summary: This book contains misinformation
Review: I purchased this book to supplement my MCSE training- After finding several large discrepancies with Microsoft's recommendations, I returned the book. For example, I believe it is on page 150 where the book states to use Uptomp.exe from the W2K resource kit after adding a processor. This goes against Microsoft's recommendation (see Q234558). In fact, I couldn't even find this utility on the W2K resource kit. Uptomp.exe was a utility used for NT. After missing a practice test exam due to this, I felt like I couldn't trust the materials in this book any longer and took it back.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome
Review: I used it for 70-215 Windows 2000 Server Exam and it complimented Exam Cram2 and Sybex excellently. It has more information than you'll need for the test but just enough for the job. Humorus and witty writing that doesn't insult your intellegence like Mike Meyers' Passport's or bored and perplexed like Micro$oft. It has quite a few chapters devoted to Active Directory so it also makes a great introductory to the 70-217 (which you should pass before you take the 70-216, 70-216 is a killer). I don't know how it holds up to Server 2000 by Mark Minasi but it surpasses all the other books on server (and I've read them all). It's only has two faults. One: It is not an introductory book, it require a fair amount of survey knowledge. I recommend Reading Sybex's 70-215 book first. Two: Is that it was written just as 2000 came out and has yet to be updated (still contains practical knowledge). If Boswell came out with a 2nd edition, I'd buy it full price and have it shipped overnight. But even as a 1st edition, it far out paces most server books that are even in their 3rd edition. You can't beat it a it's price.
Rating:
Summary: Inside W2K server - Excellent source
Review: I'm about 3/4 through the book but love it. Very well written and logically organized. The networking and DNS chapters gave me a much better understanding of NT-TCP/IP concepts - cleared up many misconceptions for me. My main focus when buying the book was for Active Directory and VPN but the book is so well designed I'm giving it a thorough reading from beginning to end. The author points out certain areas where functionality has changed between NT4 and W2K so the reader can avoid erroneous assumptions. All in all a very complete source.
Rating:
Summary: The Inside Track to W2k
Review: If your new to W2k and are looking for a text to provide you a step-by-step tutorial on how to perform admin chores, this book may not be for you. However, if you want to understand some implementation details and gain some knowledge to help you solve the tough problems - buy this book. This book is not dry, William Boswell has a writing style which is very readable and never boring. This book deserves a solid five stars.
Rating:
Summary: You should not skip this one! Great book!
Review: In general I don't like technical bibles like this one. If it's possible I avoid thick technical books with more than 1000 pages or so because I simply don't have time and discipline to stick with such book. Despite of my habit I bought this book thinking that a good reference guide will at least come handy in the following months. But...after reading first few chapters I was surprised how readable this book is and now I'm reading it from cover to cover. The amount of technical details covered in this book is amazing. Author definitely knows what he's writing about from his own experience. You'll find description and precautions about (almost) every item from Windows 2000 arsenal; Installation, DNS, Active Directory, Data Storage, Security, Kerberos, Group policies, Remote Access, Recovery...you named it. The structure of the book is straightforward and the number of typos is minimal considering the size of the book, thanks to excellent job done by technical reviewers! You can choose your own path of reading or follow the author like me. One last reminder to those of you who are searching for definitive Inside Windows 2000 book. If you are network administrator then this is the book to start with (it's also more than excellent starting point for all MCSE's out there preparing for upgrade exams), on the other hand I found David Solomon and Mark Russinovich book "Inside Windows 2000 Third Edition" invaluable for application developers or network administrators curious about OS internals.
Rating:
Summary: You should not skip this one! Great book!
Review: In general I don't like technical bibles like this one. If it's possible I avoid thick technical books with more than 1000 pages or so because I simply don't have time and discipline to stick with such book. Despite of my habit I bought this book thinking that a good reference guide will at least come handy in the following months. But...after reading first few chapters I was surprised how readable this book is and now I'm reading it from cover to cover. The amount of technical details covered in this book is amazing. Author definitely knows what he's writing about from his own experience. You'll find description and precautions about (almost) every item from Windows 2000 arsenal; Installation, DNS, Active Directory, Data Storage, Security, Kerberos, Group policies, Remote Access, Recovery...you named it. The structure of the book is straightforward and the number of typos is minimal considering the size of the book, thanks to excellent job done by technical reviewers! You can choose your own path of reading or follow the author like me. One last reminder to those of you who are searching for definitive Inside Windows 2000 book. If you are network administrator then this is the book to start with (it's also more than excellent starting point for all MCSE's out there preparing for upgrade exams), on the other hand I found David Solomon and Mark Russinovich book "Inside Windows 2000 Third Edition" invaluable for application developers or network administrators curious about OS internals.
Rating:
Summary: Certification be damned, sometimes you need real answers
Review: It's one thing to find a book whose scope and depth are appropriate to a subject, and wherein the technical details don't seem merely pasted from an RFC or help documentation. It's another to find this sort of uncommon quality coupled with a lucid and engaging writing style. No, I'm not implying that this is would be the equivalent of a "Windows 2000 for Dummies." Far, far beyond that. This book covers the details more than the generalities, and the prose is two notches above that of nearly any other technical reference I've used, and is matched by well-detailed coverage of all the major areas that an administrator will have to engage Windows 2000. The text is written from the perspective of a seasoned pro who's standing beside you with commentary on practical implementation details, not a fresh-faced technical trainer who's walking you through all the common GUI's. If you REALLY want to know how to approach administering Windows 2000 enterprise, and appreciate good writing, get this book. It's not geared toward certification, it's geared toward real-life issues.
Rating: 
Summary: Inaccuracies Makes This Book a Poor Choice
Review: Probably like most people, I was initially attracted to this book by its sheer scope and size (close to 1500 pages). However after a few attempts at using this book to troubleshoot real world problems, I have to agree with another reader that this book has too many inaccuracies to warrant purchasing. For example, not too far into the book on just page 18, there is wrong advice on how to adjust the size of a memory dump. Instead of a simple checkbox as the author wrote, Windows 2000 server has a listbox which allows the system administrator to select any one of a number of choices.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Technical Reference, but, ...
Review: There are a disturbing number of misprints. The section on Active directory is excellent and if you have a very good understanding of AD, you can read through the mistakes and misprints. The book contains some step-by-step procedures for demonstrating a successful administrative chore - a feature which will prove invaluable. It is only the misprints cause this book to be 4 stars rather than 5.
Rating:
Summary: This book contains misinformation
Review: This book is a great addition to any W2K networker's library. It provides real-world examples, helpful troubleshooting tips, and is written in an easy to read format. It is also helpful as a review and technical resource for those individuals working on their MCSE's in W2K. It provides a good background, and many of the screen shots and menus that (unfortunately) must be memorized in order to pass the MCSE exams. It's not designed as an MCSE study book, but nonetheless it is useful and necessary information.
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